Vodka vs Vinegar vs No3Po4x

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, my main reason to dose organic carbon was not to reduce nutrients, but to create food for filter feeders.

 

[ksed]

FWIW, my main reason to dose organic carbon was not to reduce nutrients, but to create food for filter feeders.

Did you prefer to use macro algae to control nutrients?

 

[john.m.cole3]

IMHO,
I tried all 3 and had mixed results at best. NoPox is wickedly strong and if you aren't careful you will have other issues other than traits. I added more biomass and began to use Microbacter7 and I could not be more impressed.
I now just do a maint dose every other day when I clean out my skimmer cup, no issues since..

what is your maintenance dose vs tank volume? I just ordered some Mb7

 

[Reeferdood]

40 ml every other day...

 

[Ocelaris]

What's the difference between a carbon biopellet reactor and dosing a carbon source like this? Can it also lower phosphates as well, or do people still rely on gfo?

 

[Waterjockey]

I personally have used Nopox and can say I have had positive results, however, Po4 are not controlled by the Nopox and then have a GFO reactor to help control Po4.

And my nopox is almost over and I plan to try the vodka or vinegar, but still do not know which of the 2 decide and how to make the transition from Nopox vinegar or vodka.

If you were to switch to straight vinegar, you would need to use approx 4 times the vinegar (4 ml vinegar for every ml NoPox dosed), and about 1/2 the amount of vodka (1/2 ml vodka for every ml nopox) to get roughly same amount of carbon dosed. Obviously adjust based on testing but it's a good starting point to convert

 

[Waterjockey]

What's the difference between a carbon biopellet reactor and dosing a carbon source like this? Can it also lower phosphates as well, or do people still rely on gfo?

Assuming you are using a skimmer, carbon dosing will drop nitrates and phosphates. However it will drop nitrates much more than phosphates. That's why people who dose carbon also also sometimes use gfo, or dose nitrates as well.

 

[john.m.cole3]

If you were to switch to straight vinegar, you would need to use approx 4 times the vinegar (4 ml vinegar for every ml NoPox dosed), and about 1/2 the amount of vodka (1/2 ml vodka for every ml nopox) to get roughly same amount of carbon dosed. Obviously adjust based on testing but it's a good starting point to convert

that gives clear direction to those ready to switch over to vinegar or vodka alone

 

[john.m.cole3]

I started NOPOX today. 3 ml per 100 liters, so I dosed 9 ml today. Nitrates are 40, phosphates are .042.

 

[Bubblebass]

Dosed vodka:vinegar mix for 3 months slowly working my way up as to not mess up anything. I mixed 750ml 40 proof vodka to 250ml 5% vinegar in a jar and started with 10 ml a day in my 130 system, increasing by 5 ml per week. After 3 months my nitrates just started coming down from 70-60.
I read a bunch of people saying they eventually changed to NoPoX so I bought some. Started dosing at the amount on the directions, and in a week my nitrates went to under 25. Now they are at 3-5 and I just maintenance every few days with a quarter dose. For the time, money and peace of mind, I recommend NoPoX. Like others have said, run GFO as well since the NoPoX won't take care of high phosphates and once you get the nutrients in check, carbon if you'd like to.

 

[blacktippr]

Nice, but how much vodka? 20, 40 or 80%?

And that mixture would be to start, how long do I have to use it? and how much would I have to correct adit?

This is based on 80 grade proof.

 

[Bubblebass]

I meant 80 proof where I said 40. The 40 was %.

 

[Yuen]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this, if not I will repost in the correct. Over the past few months I have adding quite a few sps to my tank, I would say it is pretty close to being sps dominant. Recently I have noticed that my nitrates are getting dangerously high and even after water changes it doesn't drop all that much, my phosphates stay right around .25 or lower. So I am looking into dosing with one of the above mentioned in the title. I have done some research and gotten mixed reviews on all 3. Any advice or personal experiences with which is the best route would really help. Thanks.

I have different problem, my nitrate is too low.. very cost effective and low maintenance - appy seachem matrix for one of the sump partition (but don't put too much, it might end up the problem like me)

 

[Roberto CRC]

In my case, as I mentioned use today NOPOX, but the idea is to move to vinegar or Vodka, the idea is because I live in Costa Rica and probeedores Red Sea are not constant bringing products. And I can not import directly by the permissions being requested by the type of liquid that is.

Instead vinegar and vodka if I can find in the supermarket without any problems. But reading the comments from some of you, I'm afraid to make a change imbalance by Nopox by Vodka / vinegar.

How would you change, the ideal for me would be to use only one vodka or vinegar?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In my case, as I mentioned use today NOPOX, but the idea is to move to vinegar or Vodka, the idea is because I live in Costa Rica and probeedores Red Sea are not constant bringing products. And I can not import directly by the permissions being requested by the type of liquid that is.

Instead vinegar and vodka if I can find in the supermarket without any problems. But reading the comments from some of you, I'm afraid to make a change imbalance by Nopox by Vodka / vinegar.

How would you change, the ideal for me would be to use only one vodka or vinegar?

I'm not sure why there would be any imbalance switching from NOPOX to vinegar, vodka, or a mix of them.

 

[Roberto CRC]

In other words, there should be no imbalance, or if possible?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In other words, there should be no imbalance, or if possible?

Imbalance of what?

I've not seen convincing evidence that NOPOX and other forms of organic carbon dosing (such as DIY sources) are different in any important way.

 

[CaptPatrick]

I chose to go with vinegar for my source of carbon, how do I know what dose is the proper dose for my tank? I started at 3ml for an 80 gallon with a 30 sump, when I get to higher doses will I need to use a doser or could I split the dose and do half in the morning and half in the evening?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I chose to go with vinegar for my source of carbon, how do I know what dose is the proper dose for my tank?

Trial and error is the best way with any organic source.

When doses get higher (if they do), you can split doses or use a doser or mix calcium hydroxide into it to prevent any pH drop. I've done all of those.

 

[CaptPatrick]

Is calcium hydroxide kalk? And when I get to zero on my nitrates is that when I would stop and continue dosing that amount?