Carbon Dosing: Vinegar Only vs Vinegar/Vodka mix
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Rmckoy
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Vodka is more potent and requires less compared to vinegar .
@Randy Holmes-Farley can explain a lot better
@Randy Holmes-Farley can explain a lot better
redfishbluefish
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Either one has been used as an effective carbon source for growing bacteria. I see the primary difference between the two is that you need considerable more vinegar (acetic acid) because it is typically only at 5%. I personally use a combination of vodka and vinegar....a DIY version of NOPOX. It is made by mixing 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI. Dose per NOPOX directions.
Saltyanimals
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Based on that DIY NoPox receipt, do you dose according to the NoPox guidance? I assume the DIY has an unknown potency comparison to the name brand version.
Saltyanimals
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Thanks. I've seen @redfishbluefish comment on several occasions the DIY NoPox receipt so wanted to double check. I just finished off a 500ml bottle of Brightwell Biofuel and it literally took about 30 days of daily dosing to reduce my nitrates. Wouldn't budge at all for first 3ish weeks where I thought maybe BioFuel didn't like my tank for some reason. That's when I decided to give NoPox a try after I finished the Biofuel bottle where I stumbled on the DIY NoPox.
Assume all carbon is similar, I thought the switch to (DIY) NoPox would be a no brainer since I have plenty of vodka and vinegar around the house =) Just mixed some up, but I'm actually planning to wait to see what happens when I stop dosing for 3 days. I assume the NO3 and PO4 will start creeping up which is fine as I'm trying to get to a balance where I might get away with a weekly carbon dosing instead of daily. I can't see a wide enough weekly swing of NO3/PO4 to cause issues. I may be wrong.. experiment will I do.
Assume all carbon is similar, I thought the switch to (DIY) NoPox would be a no brainer since I have plenty of vodka and vinegar around the house =) Just mixed some up, but I'm actually planning to wait to see what happens when I stop dosing for 3 days. I assume the NO3 and PO4 will start creeping up which is fine as I'm trying to get to a balance where I might get away with a weekly carbon dosing instead of daily. I can't see a wide enough weekly swing of NO3/PO4 to cause issues. I may be wrong.. experiment will I do.
Gtinnel
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I have been on the fence about starting carbon dosing but I’m always a little nervous to start adding something new to the tank. I have read about the diy nopox from several sources and they’re all about the same recipe.
Saltyanimals
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Don't fix what's not broken. I'm only about 10 years into the hobby and never even thought about it until I finally started having NO3/PO4 issues. This is part of my "taking care of water" journey since I don't WC and have a larger (overstocked) system. Ultimate goal is low maintenance hence my question about DIY weekly NoPox to address my nutrient issue vs maintain another doser head.
Gtinnel
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For years I had problems with too low nutrients but over the last 9 months or so I have had the opposite problem and my nitrate and phosphate are higher than I’d like. I’m either going to start carbon dosing or start running a refugium again. I’d probably prefer the refugium but I’ve learned a from my past that I’m not too good at harvesting chaeto when I should.
