Vinegar Dosing Starting Point/Guidelines

Drauka99 · Dec 30, 2015

Tank info:
93 Cube
40 Breeder sump ~25 sump volume
~125lbs LR between sump and display
15 gallon refugium with LR and Cheato
Vertex 180i Skimmer set to slightly wet skimming (really dark green tea)

Tank has been maturing for the past 9 months and I have concentrated on the fish list for the past several months. I added 3 lyretail anthias a while back and upper the feeding regimen to help them get established.

I have been getting a pretty bad case of cynao algea after the increased feedings (no doubt about the cause) I have scaled back the feeding now that the Anthias and other fish are all plump and happy.

My question is, I keep seeing good write ups on how to begin and proceed with Vodka dosing but I am not seeing something similar for vinegar. Is there a write up or should I just go with the same system as used with vodka but substitute vinegar?

My numbers aren't off the chart yet, ~15ppm Nitrate and .08 Phosphates and very very little algae in the tank, just cynao.

Usctom · Dec 30, 2015

I believe vinegar would be 8x the amount of vodka.

Tru REEF · Dec 30, 2015

I've read that carbon dosing actually helps cyanobacteria im not sure of the article, but u can google it. Second i would dose good bacteria called Pristine. I use this and it works. it creates more good bacteria that eats all the food source for cyano leaving it to starve.

Drauka99 · Dec 30, 2015

I have seen reports that vodka dosing sometimes seems to promote cyano bacterial outbreaks at times but it seems vinegar doesn't have the same reputation. I am fine with some cyano, if I can get the numbers low I am pretty sure I will see it all but disappear. I am not one of the pristine reef seekers, I believe a small amount of algae is good for our tanks.

Tru REEF · Dec 30, 2015

That i agree(some kind of algae), but in my experience only good cyanobacteria is dead cyanobacteria. It will spread fast extremely fast when it take root try to eliminate all of it, unless u dont have corals for it to cover.

Drauka99 · Dec 30, 2015

very few corals and I have a turkey baster handy.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 30, 2015

Organic carbon dosing may help reduce cyano, or may make it worse, depending on whether the cyano species you have can consume the organic you add.

Trying it for a while is a fine plan, then alter course if needed.

While the time course for dosing and the amounts for different size tanks seems wrogn to me (to slow to ramp up and too little for large tanks), here's a discussion of vienegar dosing

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium

If I were you, I'd start at 10 mL per day, dosed very slowly during the day.

Drauka99 · Dec 30, 2015

sounds like a plan Randy. Thanks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 30, 2015

You're welcome.

Good luck.

Drauka99 · Jan 1, 2016

Would adding the daily amount of vinegar to my ato resivoir be detrimental? I use a 5 galon container and it lasts 7 days. I could theoretically add 70ml of vinegar and dose it that way, correct?

Just trying to come up with a way to spread out the doses without a dosing pump. It's on the list for purchase but funds aren't there yet.

I could also set up a drip of a diluted vinegar solution if that would be a better method.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 1, 2016

Drauka99 said:
Would adding the daily amount of vinegar to my ato resivoir be detrimental? I use a 5 galon container and it lasts 7 days. I could theoretically add 70ml of vinegar and dose it that way, correct?

Just trying to come up with a way to spread out the doses without a dosing pump. It's on the list for purchase but funds aren't there yet.

I could also set up a drip of a diluted vinegar solution if that would be a better method.

That would likely not be optimal. The diluted vinegar in ATO water is good food for bacteria in it, and I'd expect some degradation in it.

One way to deal with the pH drop and manual dosing is to add calcium hydroxide to the vinegar until no more dissolves. That dose can then be added all at once with no pH concerns.

Anthony kolodziej · Jan 1, 2016

sorry to jump the thread , didn't know where to ask this question but I have been slowly taking my reef off vinegar and am down to about 20-23 mils per day . can I completely stop now ? system Volume is around 350 gallons

Drauka99 · Jan 1, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
That would likely not be optimal. The diluted vinegar in ATO water is good food for bacteria in it, and I'd expect some degradation in it.

One way to deal with the pH drop and manual dosing is to add calcium hydroxide to the vinegar until no more dissolves. That dose can then be added all at once with no pH concerns.

Do you happen to know about how much will dissolve into a gallon of vinegar?

Either way that sounds like a perfect method to use till I get a dosing pump. Thanks

Triggreef · Jan 1, 2016

Drauka99 said:
Would adding the daily amount of vinegar to my ato resivoir be detrimental? I use a 5 galon container and it lasts 7 days. I could theoretically add 70ml of vinegar and dose it that way, correct?

Just trying to come up with a way to spread out the doses without a dosing pump. It's on the list for purchase but funds aren't there yet.

I could also set up a drip of a diluted vinegar solution if that would be a better method.

But wouldn't that cause cycle in your ato? And then bacterial bloom? I imagine these carbon sources will also feed freshwater bacteria versions as well.

Drauka99 · Jan 1, 2016

Yes I am certain. That's what Randy means. I hadn't thought about it that way but it is logical.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 1, 2016

Anthony kolodziej said:
sorry to jump the thread , didn't know where to ask this question but I have been slowly taking my reef off vinegar and am down to about 20-23 mils per day . can I completely stop now ? system Volume is around 350 gallons

The bacteria present that we're feeding on it may die as you reduce the dose, so lowering it slowly may spread that out and minimize any issues from it. So I'd drop by half a couple of times over a week is so, and then stop.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 1, 2016

Drauka99 said:
Do you happen to know about how much will dissolve into a gallon of vinegar?

Either way that sounds like a perfect method to use till I get a dosing pump. Thanks

It can be calculated. It is about 34 grams per liter. Just add excess and you can reuse the solids.

Drauka99 · Jan 7, 2016

Nitrates have fallen to around 10ppm. Cyano growth has slowed way down. Looks like it might work fine for me. Going to hold at 10ml for another week and see what everything tests at then.