Vinegar dosing

[Lifer]

I've been vinegar dosing on my 105g for a while now and my question is does vinegar breakdown into Freshwater? As I've noticed that my salinity has dropped over time. Is it possible that the vinegar is causing it?

 

[sghera64]

I've been vinegar dosing on my 105g for a while now and my question is does vinegar breakdown into Freshwater? As I've noticed that my salinity has dropped over time. Is it possible that the vinegar is causing it?

Vinegar is at best 5% acetic acid (bug food) and 95% “fresh” water. It does not break down into water. It IS mostly water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But too little to be noticed. [emoji3]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s like a tiny bit of extra top off. It cannot be the explanation for dropping salinity.

 

[Cory]

I've been vinegar dosing on my 105g for a while now and my question is does vinegar breakdown into Freshwater? As I've noticed that my salinity has dropped over time. Is it possible that the vinegar is causing it?

I agree with everyone. But vinegar will lose potency because it evaporates so you must keep it tightly closed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree with everyone. But vinegar will lose potency because it evaporates so you must keep it tightly closed.

Actually, that's true of vodka, but not vinegar. The acetic acid in vinegar has a high boiling point than water and so will evaporate a bit more slowly than the water in it. Consequently, it will get a bit more concentrated over time, if there is evaporation.

 

[Lifer]

It’s like a tiny bit of extra top off. It cannot be the explanation for dropping salinity.

Well I'm not sure. I went through a gallon of vinegar in 30 days so won't be a gallon of FW added?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well I'm not sure. I went through a gallon of vinegar in 30 days so won't be a gallon of FW added?

Yes, so did I.

But presumably you added more than 30 gallons of fresh water over that time, and how did you determine how much to add?

Assuming you keep the tank water level the same, it won't matter if it is all fresh water top of, or a tiny bit of vinegar plus fresh water to maintain the same level.

Even if you used pure vinegar for all top off, it won't change salinity any different than pure water for top off.

 

[Lifer]

Yes, so did I.

But presumably you added more than 30 gallons of fresh water over that time, and how did you determine how much to add?

Assuming you keep the tank water level the same, it won't matter if it is all fresh water top of, or a tiny bit of vinegar plus fresh water to maintain the same level.

Even if you used pure vinegar for all top off, it won't change salinity any different than pure water for top off.

OK so I guess what you're saying is since the ato uses the water level it does not matter with the vinegar since it would just mean less FW being pumped in..... It would equal out

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK so I guess what you're saying is since the ato uses the water level it does not matter with the vinegar since it would just mean less FW being pumped in..... It would equal out

Right.

 

[Stlouphil]

Right.

Boy, this is ballsy of me. Jumping into a discussion in the chemistry forum. Lol i would suggest that replacing skimmate with top off water over time is most likely causig downward creep.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Boy, this is ballsy of me. Jumping into a discussion in the chemistry forum. Lol i would suggest that replacing skimmate with top off water over time is most likely causig downward creep.

Well, that’s a good jump. [emoji3]

 

[Cory]

Actually, that's true of vodka, but not vinegar. The acetic acid in vinegar has a high boiling point than water and so will evaporate a bit more slowly than the water in it. Consequently, it will get a bit more concentrated over time, if there is evaporation.

Oh thats great. One good reason to hate vodka and love vinegar.

I got confused because my vinegar started to smell less and less like vinegar. But then remembered its part water and vodka it was mixed in. So its likely bacteria consumed it?

 

[Lifer]

Boy, this is ballsy of me. Jumping into a discussion in the chemistry forum. Lol i would suggest that replacing skimmate with top off water over time is most likely causig downward creep.

Well you might have a good point since I use a wet skim.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oh thats great. One good reason to hate vodka and love vinegar.

I got confused because my vinegar started to smell less and less like vinegar. But then remembered its part water and vodka it was mixed in. So its likely bacteria consumed it?

It's possible, depending on how much you diluted it.