Vodka dosing on a 10gal nano

[Tom Reefer]

Hi all,
I thought it might be an interesting thread? I've researched all there is on carbon dosing to lower nitrates in aquariums, none of which mention doing it on as little water volume as 10 gallons. Understood, its a very small amount of water, and stabilization of that amount is a factor.

I do frequent water changes (40% weekly) on my nano, but water change is easy with a 5 gallon bucket. My bio load is at capacity (softies and clownfish pair). My thoughts of carbon dosing vodka came, when I thought, if I could lower my nitrate without as many water changes, as well as get better coloration out of my coral, that would be great. I admit Im pushing the limit with this experiment, maybe a little OCD. I've done the math on the dosing quantity, and have begun my experiment.
Here are my starting dosing quantities. I can keep the thread posted.

.05ml, thats 2 drops from a 1ml syringe daily. Increasing a little each week until I see nitrate decrease. I will be going super slow, and testing nitrate daily.


My nitrate isn't that high, 5ppm on Sunday mornings before my water changes

Tom

 

[Tom Reefer]

Here is my build. Mini refugium, reefglass protein skimmer, and AI prime led.

 

[Luno]

If you haven't started yet I would consider vinegar over vodka for a small tank. Off the top of my head it's measurements require roughly 8 times that of a vodka dose. Much easier to dose the correct amount.

I have a 15g nano and dose vinegar, worked upto a maintenance dose of 7.5ml per day. I have a huge bio-load for a 15g with 2 clowns, a flame angel and a mandarin, tank is sps dominant and feed 3/4 frozen cube, pinch of pellets, phyto and ammino's daily and my nitrates stay at 1-2.

 

[recess62]

Please don’t take this the wrong way but why do you want to complicate things by carbon dosing? Your tank is awesome. You are maintimg your nutrients low with water changes. If it ain’t broke why mess?

 

[azreeftank]

I agree if you are going to do this go with vinegar over vodka. Vodka could give you bad Cyano. I went from NoPox to vodka to vinegar and never looked back. It’s cheaper than the other two and tanks looks better than ever

 

[NS Mike D]

what are your ntirates and phosphates now? i can't imagine with your corals so full that you could have a need to lower your nitrates. Carbon dosing is a solution to a problem, but you never made it clear that you have a problem.

 

[x2uranium]

+1 on the vinegar I had unwanted strands of Cyano when I vodka dose.

 

[Luno]

what are your ntirates and phosphates now? i can't imagine with your corals so full that you could have a need to lower your nitrates. Carbon dosing is a solution to a problem, but you never made it clear that you have a problem.

I agree with you that his corals or his tank doesn't seem to be suffering from high nitrate issues. But he is doing 40% water changes twice weekly to keep his nitrates at 5ppm and was considering carbon dosing as a way of lessening this large water change.

Also carbon dosing is just another method of denitrifying same as having a refugium, a dsb and live rock. I wouldn't really consider it a solution to a problem more so an alternative to other methods.

 

[Tom Reefer]

Thanks for your comments guys! I will consider the vinegar over vodka. I have some distilled in my kitchen. I've read lots on vinegar as opposed to vodka. Randy wrote a great article on this. I just started dosing so, I could easily switch over. Some dose both for possible bacteria diversity, but Ill try the vinegar. As far as why Im doing it. It's more for experimentation. I've been in the hobby for a long time and just like to try different things. If I see adverse effects, I will just stop.
Thanks again.

 

[Tom Reefer]

If you haven't started yet I would consider vinegar over vodka for a small tank. Off the top of my head it's measurements require roughly 8 times that of a vodka dose. Much easier to dose the correct amount.

I have a 15g nano and dose vinegar, worked upto a maintenance dose of 7.5ml per day. I have a huge bio-load for a 15g with 2 clowns, a flame angel and a mandarin, tank is sps dominant and feed 3/4 frozen cube, pinch of pellets, phyto and ammino's daily and my nitrates stay at 1-2.

Hi Luno,
Talk about bio load! haha. And yes it is 8X that of vodka dose. What is your water change schedule and amount? btw, I chose to dose vodka because I like to take a quick swig after each dose!

 

[lauderdalestunner]

The export of nitrates with the input of elements provided by the water changes is exactly what you’re looking for. Why dose?

 

[lauderdalestunner]

I could be wrong but it’s anaerobic bacteria that you are feeding with the vodka, not sure if you’ll have enough surface area to be effective in a 10 gallon tank. Beautiful tank! I’d just buy an extra 5 gallon bucket mix my water and look for an easier way to do water changes. You have something working IMO if it ain’t broke do t fix it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, carbon dosing has benefits beyond nutrient reduction as the bacteria can feed filter feeders. I think it could be a fine plan.[emoji3]

 

[Tom Reefer]

Hi Lauderdalestrunner,
As I said in my prior posts. I'm doing 40% water changes weekly. I'd like to experiment to see if I can get my nitrates low enough so I can take a break from weekly water changes. Believe me, I have had my problem algae in this 10g nano even with the water changes. The issue with a nano size aquarium of 10 gallons, is its volatility to water parameters changing in a matter of days if not a day. So, Im experimenting with something that might get me a little more stability. I've also seen some nice color improvements from other reefers from dosing carbon. So, a little functional here as well as experimentation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I could be wrong but it’s anaerobic bacteria that you are feeding with the vodka, not sure if you’ll have enough surface area to be effective in a 10 gallon tank. Beautiful tank! I’d just buy an extra 5 gallon bucket mix my water and look for an easier way to do water changes. You have something working IMO if it ain’t broke do t fix it.

I’m not sure if we really know how much is used aerobically for simple bacterial growth, how much in low O2 settings for denitrification, and how much is used directly by larger organisms that take up, say, acetate directly (e.g., corals are known to do this),

 

[madweazl]

IMO, carbon dosing has benefits beyond nutrient reduction as the bacteria can feed filter feeders. I think it could be a fine plan.[emoji3]

Something I hadn't considered!

 

[Larry L]

I agree it's probably better in this case to dose vinegar than vodka, because with the larger amount of vinegar to dose (compared to vodka) it gives you more flexibility to adjust the dose size.

I'd suggest doing an experiment first before you start dosing: Measure your nitrates and phosphates and then stop doing water changes for a little while to see what happens to those numbers, so you can get an idea of where those numbers might head, and also get an idea of how your corals react at higher levels. A softy plus fish tank can run very successfully at nitrate levels way higher than 5 ppm, so maybe you can cut way back on your water change frequency but still maintain a healthy tank and not have to fuss with dosing at all.

 

[Tom Reefer]

IMO, carbon dosing has benefits beyond nutrient reduction as the bacteria can feed filter feeders. I think it could be a fine plan.[emoji3]

Hey Randy! haha, its been a while since I've posted in any forum online. I took a break from large scale reefing due to life changing events. I've been able to get back into it with this little 10g nano. I did the large gallonage reef tank back when Anthony Calfo and Julian Sprung were just boys. hahaha. I read your article on carbon dosing as well as the ones from 20 years ago also. haha.
I obviously agree with your comment. I'd also like to see if I can divert some of the biology/chemistry away from nuisance algae that confounds me still after all these years.
It's like living on the razors edge with nuisance algae. Some periods of perfection, then suddenly wham! cyano

 

[Tom Reefer]

I agree it's probably better in this case to dose vinegar than vodka, because with the larger amount of vinegar to dose (compared to vodka) it gives you more flexibility to adjust the dose size.

I'd suggest doing an experiment first before you start dosing: Measure your nitrates and phosphates and then stop doing water changes for a little while to see what happens to those numbers, so you can get an idea of where those numbers might head, and also get an idea of how your corals react at higher levels. A softy plus fish tank can run very successfully at nitrate levels way higher than 5 ppm, so maybe you can cut way back on your water change frequency but still maintain a healthy tank and not have to fuss with dosing at all.

Hi Larry,
Great point, However, You can't tell that to the problem algae and cyano that can occur at 5ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, while I too slightly prefer vinegar, it would be easy to dose vodka. Just dilute it before you measure it out.