Carbon dosing - what do YOU use?

Eienna · Dec 21, 2013

I want to start carbon-dosing my tank, but considering that vodka is also used to euthanize fish I'd rather use something made for the purpose. What do you guys use? I have some Seachem Excel for planted tanks...would that work?

Just as a side note, did you guys know that there's a state in which it's illegal to get a fish drunk? XD

dadof4 · Dec 21, 2013

I've used Vodka with out a problem in the past and it worked very well. I like Vodka VS some of the others due to the purity of it. There can be additives to some of the cheaper vinegars and I've heard ("a friend of a friend's great uncles third cousin twice removed" type heard) that depending on the sugar it can leave residue along the waterline. With Vodka you just have to start really slow and nitrate the amount up every few days. There are charts, I think the one I have is from RHF, that are great guides to dosing.

The other good thing I found with Vodka is that you dose the reef with 0.2 ml and the reefkeeper with 1 ounce twice daily, makes the day much smoother!

Daniel@R2R · Dec 21, 2013

dadof4 said:
I've used Vodka with out a problem in the past and it worked very well. I like Vodka VS some of the others due to the purity of it. There can be additives to some of the cheaper vinegars and I've heard ("a friend of a friend's great uncles third cousin twice removed" type heard) that depending on the sugar it can leave residue along the waterline. With Vodka you just have to start really slow and nitrate the amount up every few days. There are charts, I think the one I have is from RHF, that are great guides to dosing.

The other good thing I found with Vodka is that you dose the reef with 0.2 ml and the reefkeeper with 1 ounce twice daily, makes the day much smoother!

+1 I dose vodka, and I love it. No problems at all. It does the job and uses smaller doses than other forms of carbon.

CKI · Dec 21, 2013

I'm a vodka doser!

Eienna · Dec 21, 2013

Is there a particular brand you guys think works well?

NanaReefer · Dec 21, 2013

Why are you wanting to dose?

joeyhatch11 · Dec 21, 2013

I vodka dose and have been doing so for about 5 weeks now. It's been great, with very nice results. I started slow (only have about 40G total system) Dosing .7ml now and the tanks health has never been so gppd. Water is crystal clear, my SPS are really doing well and have encrusted there frag plugs a lot faster than in the past without dosing. So I really think the vodka has helped a great deal.

Eienna · Dec 21, 2013

NanaReefer said:
Why are you wanting to dose?

To help grow denitrifying bacteria...

After doing more research I'm finding out I need a skimmer first. Still interested in the replies for later, though! Keep 'em coming!

reefhappy · Dec 21, 2013

I use vodka, the cheap Skol 80 proof ($11 a fifth). No need to buy high dollar vodka.

cmaxwell39 · Dec 21, 2013

I have used vodka in the past, but after a while I started having an issue with cyano. I switched to vinegar and have had very good results with that.

The nice thing about vinegar is that it is much more difficult to overdose. It takes 8 times as much vinegar as it does vodka to get the same amount of carbon.

Usctom · Dec 21, 2013

Vinegar here. I mix it with my kalk. Defiantly want a skimmer.

Mike J. · Dec 21, 2013

Usctom said:
Vinegar here. I mix it with my kalk. Defiantly want a skimmer.

Same here. And a good skimmer is a prerequisite requirement.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 21, 2013

Eienna said:
Is there a particular brand you guys think works well?

Just buy the cheapest rot gut you can find.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 21, 2013

cmaxwell39 said:
I have used vodka in the past, but after a while I started having an issue with cyano. I switched to vinegar and have had very good results with that.

The nice thing about vinegar is that it is much more difficult to overdose. It takes 8 times as much vinegar as it does vodka to get the same amount of carbon.

I have a buddy who uses part vodka and part vinegar to avoid that issue. It has worked great for him. I've not yet had that issue.

mike007 · Dec 21, 2013

One teaspoon brown sugar every other week. Works great.

mainereefer · Dec 21, 2013

the problem is once you start you cant stop or the algae will come back with a vengeance! I'm a strong believer in stability and if your adding vodka or sugar your tank isnt stable and something is wrong. fix the problem and there is no need to add poisonous chemicals to the tank.

Reefing Madness · Dec 21, 2013

mainereefer said:
the problem is once you start you cant stop or the algae will come back with a vengeance! I'm a strong believer in stability and if your adding vodka or sugar your tank isnt stable and something is wrong. fix the problem and there is no need to add poisonous chemicals to the tank.

Vodka aids in the removal of Nitrates first and foremost, phosphates secondary, and very minimal at best. This is a very cheap way of ridding the system of nutrients without buying all those reactors that people use, just needs to be dosed a couple times a day.
I've been dosing for years, and have a very healthy system. I just have a skimmer, and use liquids to help remove excess nutrients from the water column, with no shock to the inhabitants.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 21, 2013

mainereefer said:
the problem is once you start you cant stop or the algae will come back with a vengeance! I'm a strong believer in stability and if your adding vodka or sugar your tank isnt stable and something is wrong. fix the problem and there is no need to add poisonous chemicals to the tank.

This statement is only true if your using carbon-dosing as a solution rather than as part of your maintenance. Carbon-dosing (vodka, vinegar, sugar, etc) is an export aid just like bio-pellets, GFO reactors, or other types of reactors (or even a protein skimmer). Dosing is not an indication of a problem any more than these other maintenance tools are. They are all methods of export. Dosing is just another way to maintain stability. The one thing this statement does remind me of is that vodka dosing should not be viewed as a short-term solution but as longer-term maintenance...just like any other maintenance.

mainereefer · Dec 21, 2013

lol my 120 ran for 8 years without sump, skimmer........ again stability..... if you have a problem fix it dont put a band aid on it

so if you have to much nitrates and phosphates just add chemicals instead of limmiting the addition of the problem? wow and we wonder why newb reefers have problems!!

Daniel@R2R · Dec 21, 2013

mainereefer said:
lol my 120 ran for 8 years without sump, skimmer........ again stability..... if you have a problem fix it dont put a band aid on it

Don't know of anyone who advocates a skimmerless system. Congrats on your system, but it's the exception not the rule. Most people rely on tools and equipment (nutrient export tools, dosing, etc) for maintaining stability (hence, the term "maintenance"). I'll bet you have a maintenance routine as well...that's how you "maintain" stability...just your using different tools.