how fast does vodka effect the system

wingman1234 · Nov 28, 2009

i recently switched over to vodka about 4 days ago and i was wondering how quickly my phosphates are lower and when there should be some color increase.

JR's Reef · Nov 28, 2009

What was you using? It takes longer to get phos down using vodka. Just depends on how fast you up the dose so you should start seeing a differece in a few weeks

jmuzzey · Nov 28, 2009

Do not rush it, and test regularly to see if phosphates are falling. If this is the first time you are trying a dosing system like this, and your tank is established, it can take quite a while to lower the phosphates in your water. Then when that drops along with your nitrates, you will start to pullphosphates that are bound in your rock. That can take time to happen, it all depends on your nutrient levels to start with and how old the tank is.

The important thing is, remember to go slowly, nothing in this hobby that is good happens quickly.

Fireworm · Nov 29, 2009

I agree go slow. I noticed a difference in my tank in about 3 weeks, but my tank had not been set up that long, and my bio load is very low

wingman1234 · Nov 30, 2009

ok thanks everyone

ca2or · Nov 30, 2009

jmuzzey said:
The important thing is, remember to go slowly, nothing in this hobby that is good happens quickly.

I've read that somewhere

Braves Fan · Nov 30, 2009

A man at our LFS started three weeks ago, his nitrates havn't started getting lower yet but he said his corals are looking alot better. He also said he is started to get some sort of redish brown algee in the tank.

electraglide999 · Nov 30, 2009

strout said:
He also said he is started to get some sort of redish brown algee in the tank.

I am starting to get this also, do I keep dosing or what?

wingman1234 · Nov 30, 2009

does it look like a red slim

BlazinNano · Nov 30, 2009

I use to dose vodka. The redish brown algae is everything starting to die. Make sure you have a good skimmer that can handle all the bad stuff that is now dieing. Also go very slow and if you have SPS watch them. If you go to fast the tips of all SPS can burn. Try to feed amino acids too because when all is said in done your water will be completely clean with nothing in it. You will need to feed more once everything is complete. Test everyday and just go SLOW!!!!!!!!