Vodka dosing @ 15ml and no change

[aquablizz]

I am now dosing 90gal fish only tank and sump with 15ml of vodka,, My nitrates were at 50 and I still see no change in that level.. I am seeing a change in the amount of skim being pulled off per day and also I feel that I am starting to develop a slight bit of slim on the display tank glass at a more rapid rate then normal.

My question to the forum members is do you think this is an indicator that things are turning around as far as the Nitrates are concerned?? I have been dosing daily for 2months and worked my way to 15ml but want to hold at that.

All fish are healthy and phosphates are near zero..

Thanks in advance
blizz

 

[Zack K]

I have not had any success with Vodka Dosing. My tank has Nitrates at 160ppm and even after 2 months of vodka dosing it hasn't moved. I am following. Interested to see how this plays out.

**Edit** If everything is healthy, what is your reasoning for wanting to lower the nitrates?

 

[joaocdestro]

I have a 220 galon mixed reef full of sps with 16 fish - 1ml of vodka/day at 13:00 and my nitrates 0-0,5ppm. When my nitrates goes zero i take off the skimmer cup few days because that skimmate is a good food source for corals.

 

[aquablizz]

I have not had any success with Vodka Dosing. My tank has Nitrates at 160ppm and even after 2 months of vodka dosing it hasn't moved. I am following. Interested to see how this plays out.

**Edit** If everything is healthy, what is your reasoning for wanting to lower the nitrates?

My reason for trying to get the nitrates down is I've been kicking around the idea of introducing some LPS corals and didn't think they could survive in that environment.

blizz

 

[jwshiver]

What was your NO3 before you started carbon dosing? Is it the same, higher, lower? Try 20% to 30% water changes each week for a few weeks and reduce feeding if possible. The white film on the glass is normal from carbon dosing. If you have to clean your glass every day your dosing too much. I would recommend breaking the dosing up to morning and evening instead of all at once. Good luck.

 

[aquablizz]

I guess my main question or concern is other than a turn for the better as far as the nitrates, I'm hoping there are other indicators that would show up telling me I'm moving in a positive way.

blizz

 

[aquablizz]

I do 20% water changes every 3 weeks and very skimpy on my feeding. Was hoping the fuge would do a better job with exporting.. Coraline growth is everywhere. I like the idea of splitting the dose schedule. Maybe I'll also back off a couple ML.

Blizz

 

[jwshiver]

I do 20% water changes every 3 weeks and very skimpy on my feeding. Was hoping the fuge would do a better job with exporting.. Coraline growth is everywhere. I like the idea of splitting the dose schedule. Maybe I'll also back off a couple ML.

Blizz

I would still recommend 20% weekly at least for 4 weeks in a row just to help get the NO3 down. I was having the same problem a year ago before I decided to start vodka carbon dosing and then I committed to the Zeovit system that still employees carbon dosing with their product. Large weekly water changes help bring the NO3 down.

 

[redfishbluefish]

............. and phosphates are near zero.

That's your problem. For any form of carbon dosing to work, you need both nitrates and phosphates. With no or very little phosphates, the bacteria doesn't have all it needs to grow and multiply.

 

[aquablizz]

Presently I have no problem with algae,, hair or otherwise so if I'm understanding you correctly, I have to introduce / dose phosphate so I can get a handle on my nitrate??

Blizz

 

[jwshiver]

That's your problem. For any form of carbon dosing to work, you need both nitrates and phosphates. With no or very little phosphates, the bacteria doesn't have all it needs to grow and multiply.

Agree.

 

[andrewey]

It's possible that you need more time to see results. It's also possible that you are phosphate limited which is why your nitrates aren't lowering. It's possible you still need to increase your dose. Lastly it's possible you are underestimating how much you are feeding/introducing nitrogen compounds into the tank and may take longer for your dosing to catch up. It's likely one of the four. WCs can help, but it's not necessary for the vodka dosing to work. If conditions are suitable for bacterial growth, you have a way of exporting additional bacteria, and your input isn't larger or equal to your export, it will work 100% of the time.

 

[aquablizz]

think I'll stop dosing and just start drinking... probably easier to stick with fish only,, the hobby is supposed to be enjoyable not stressful..

I can put the Tito's to better use I think..

thanks for all the input

blizz

 

[jwshiver]

If your careful and go slow you can try this product, http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/neophos-balanced-phosphorus-supplement-brightwell-aquatics.html

 

[andrewey]

Sounds like you'll be stopping. If you do decide to start again and you want to reduce phosphate, in addition to dosing neophos, you could simply reduce your skimming, reduce your gfo, or increase your feeding.

 

[Zack K]

I would still recommend 20% weekly at least for 4 weeks in a row just to help get the NO3 down. I was having the same problem a year ago before I decided to start vodka carbon dosing and then I committed to the Zeovit system that still employees carbon dosing with their product. Large weekly water changes help bring the NO3 down.

The problem with weekly water changes is it does not fix the nitrate problem. It just band aids it. This is how it was explained to me in my situation https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/in-need-of-serious-assistance.288229/

 

[aquablizz]

Thanks everyone for you helpful information. I'm in the process of doing another water change but feel like it's a losing battle.
My Aquac 180 is kicking butt and the macro in my fuge grows like crazy but just not exporting enough,, I feed only what can be eaten in 2 minutes and my fish load is 4 fish approx. 14 inches of fish total so I'm not sure why I can't get the nitrates down.

blizz

 

[jwshiver]

The problem with weekly water changes is it does not fix the nitrate problem. It just band aids it. This is how it was explained to me in my situation https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/in-need-of-serious-assistance.288229/

Weekly water changes in conjunction with carbon dosing and reduced feeding helped me. I wasn't seeing a reduction in nitrates when I started carbon dosing until I started 30% weekly water changes and fed only 3 times per week. After about 5 weeks I went to 10% weekly water changes bumped up the feeding slightly and continued with the carbon dosing and everything stayed fairly stable. I believe in my case overfeeding was the culprit. No surprise!

 

[Djveestylz]

I did both of vinegar and vodka work flawlessly. In 2 months I was up to 40mls. Total water volume 250. 180g tank

 

[lauderdalestunner]

Also vodka dosing and only seeing minimal results as of lately, but the skimmer is a bubble machine. Just ordered a block of marine pure and going to pull my bioballs [emoji26] they have been with me from day one 2002. My only other nitrate source is my sand bed I think. I have a large engineer goby that has a tendency to stir things up......