Vodka to VSV

[richard.oberholzer.923]

Hi Randy

I have been dosing vodka for about 2 months and wanting to change to VSV. Can you help me with the amounts I need to start dosing or other suggestions.
Thanks
Richard

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much vodka are you dosing now?

Why are you wanting to switch?

 

[richard.oberholzer.923]

5ml per day. And have read that having different strains of bacteria is better. I have been battling no3 for long and has been an factor to my cyano algea problem. This is my algea scrubber.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not convinced that using multiple different carbon sources results in any real difference when organic carbon dosing (either in driving different strains of bacteria, or in having those different strains do anything different that you can detect), but there's nothing wrong with trying it.

I'd probably try mixing vinegar with the vodka first, and then see what the results were before moving on to adding sugar as sugar seems somewhat more problematic than other sources for people.

But in general, switching from 5 mL vodka to 3 mL vodka plus 15 mL vinegar seems a good transition for you without a big change in total carbon dosed.

Then later adding 1/16 - 1/8 teaspoon sugar to that mix.

 

[richard.oberholzer.923]

Thanks for that I'll give it a shot. What would be your choice if you had to dose?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I found just vinegar worked better in my tank than just vodka, and I think vinegar is used by a wider variety or organisms than vodka (including corals), but I've not tried a mix. If I were you I'd try the vodka plus vinegar and see how it works.