Vodka dosing @ 15ml and no change

[FishLover01]

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 can help get you to a level that is safer for fish. If you're at 100ppm and you do a 50% water change, then your nitrate reading should be 50ppm after the water change. You're correct in that the water change won't necessarily fix the issue of why you have high nitrates to begin with. Could be because of ineffective filtering, ineffective skimming, overfeeding, introducing NO3 to the tank via tap water. The list goes on and on...lol.

 

[Paul Carpenter]

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

I've been successfully vodka dosing my 700 gal system and I have a large skimmer rated for a 2000 gal system which I think is important. . I dose 40 ml a day using a drip system over 8 hours. . I feed fish and corals heavyly 2x or 3x a day. Nitrates fluctuate between 0 and 10 depending on how much I fed that week. Phosphates are usually about 0.03. My nitrates were 40 to 80 before vodka and I fed much less. My advice to you is to continue at 15 ml or 20 ml daily max. Increase skimming if possible. Your tank might need a few more months to catch up if there were heavy organics pent up in the system (rock and substrate etc). Continue water changes. I do 15% every 6 weeks. Certainly spread out the vodka dosing during the day as much as possible. I think your on the right track. Just wait!

 

[40B Knasty]

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

What kind of live rock do you have and how much?

Here is what I am seeing as far as math goes to have 100% water turnover per month.
90g x 20% = 18g per 3 weeks = 208g per year
You want to be:
90g x 25% = 22.5 gallons per week = 4 weeks of 100% water turned over = 1080 per year
Or what BRS recommends
90g x 15% = 13.5g
90g x 30% = 27g
90g x 15% = 13.5g
90g x 70% = 60g
= 114g Giving you a 130% water turned over = 1368 per year
You are 872g off per year to hit the bare minimum. IF you have 90lbs LR w/ good porosity.

 

[aquablizz]

A lot of great information out there.... I have had this fish only tank up and running for nearly 20 years. My problem is not following the advise that "if it's not broke, don't fix it".. LOL
I still have a healthy tank for the fish irregardless of the nitrate problem everything else is stable and the display tank looks nice IMHO. The thought of introducing some LPS corals is what has created this headache. I'm certainly not going to do 20%water changes weekly for the rest of my life just to support a few corals. I only did a 25% water changes once every two months for all these years and never had any problems. Even with the nitrate coming down below 10, I realize there are other parameters that have to be considered for good growth. Would probably need better lights, possibly a chiller, A lot to think about in the next few days. I hate to let something like this beat me so for the moment, I'll do WC once a week for the next month and keep dosing at 15ml. I hope the hell I don't spoil the fish.

Thanks again
Blizz

 

[alex.mccann99]

I have always had great success with Vodka dosing. I always used the 100 proof, don't know if that matter so much. I used a BRS 1.1ml doser. Would dose about 1.5ml in morning and another 1.5ml in afternoon. I feed daily, sometimes twice and had a lot of fish. My nitrates stayed around 0 most the time. My question to you would be, what kind of Test Kit are you using, are you sure it's accurate. I always had good success with the Salifert test kits. You might check that out because 15ml is a lot to not be seeing any results from. My tank was a 60 cube with a 20 sump. I have vodka dosed on and off for years and never had 0 results.

 

[aquablizz]

I have always had great success with Vodka dosing. I always used the 100 proof, don't know if that matter so much. I used a BRS 1.1ml doser. Would dose about 1.5ml in morning and another 1.5ml in afternoon. I feed daily, sometimes twice and had a lot of fish. My nitrates stayed around 0 most the time. My question to you would be, what kind of Test Kit are you using, are you sure it's accurate. I always had good success with the Salifert test kits. You might check that out because 15ml is a lot to not be seeing any results from. My tank was a 60 cube with a 20 sump. I have vodka dosed on and off for years and never had 0 results.

I use all API test kits and they are all well within their expiration date.
blizz

 

[aquablizz]

I took a sample of my water to a local fish store for testing,, he confirmed that my nitrates are at 40 ppm and my phosphates are at .07,, My API phosphate kit jumps from .25 to zero. My question is with only .07 phosphate, should I continue to dose with vodka or give up the ship..
All the fish seem happy but dosing 15ML daily maybe they are all on a load...LOL

Blizz