Why Vodka dosing, but not tequila or whiskey dosing?

[Dancingmad]

Not planning on any dosing regimen of the sort, but I'm curious: Why do people dose vodka and not some other alcohol source? What makes Potatoes better than Agave? What if my fish want to lose a flip flop + salt shaker and head off to margaritaville?

To be honest I'm only like 70% serious (at all times), there is at least 30% silliness built into this question, but I'm curious nonetheless.

 

[TheWalkman99]

I was listening to a reef news network podcast about dosing and they talked about it.
It has something to do with the additives. Because vodka is so clean compared to other alcohols such as the residue that comes from aging tequila.

 

[Larry L]

Vodka (if it's done right) is basically just ethanol and water, where (at least according to Wikipedia) tequila has 300+ other compounds in it that contribute to its flavor, and who knows what they would do in your tank.

 

[Zotch]

Because I would drink the Tequila before it went in the tank ;Blackeye

 

[Iona Skye]

Huh? Vodka dosing? What is this for?

 

[Dancingmad]

Huh? Vodka dosing? What is this for?

Tank party time buddy!

Actually, and I know I'm over simplifying (or wrong), but believe it adds carbon to your water, and thus helps increase bacteria population and thus nutrient uptake. Something along those lines, and hopefully someone corrects me if I'm wrong.

It has something to do with the additives. Because vodka is so clean compared to other alcohols such as the residue that comes from aging tequila.

odka (if it's done right) is basically just ethanol and water, where (at least according to Wikipedia) tequila has 300+ other compounds in it that contribute to its flavor, and who knows what they would do in your tank.

That's Kinda what I figured! I suppose a lot of that fancy, premium vodka is distilled 3x-5x times too.

I wonder about something like Korn Alcohol (aka everclear) would be acceptable too - very potent, but I imagine it would be pretty clean. I wonder if it was dosed the fish would lose sensation in their face like after I take a few shots.

 

[kkegley21]

Tank party time buddy!

Actually, and I know I'm over simplifying (or wrong), but believe it adds carbon to your water, and thus helps increase bacteria population and thus nutrient uptake. Something along those lines, and hopefully someone corrects me if I'm wrong.





That's Kinda what I figured! I suppose a lot of that fancy, premium vodka is distilled 3x-5x times too.

I wonder about something like Korn Alcohol (aka everclear) would be acceptable too - very potent, but I imagine it would be pretty clean. I wonder if it was dosed the fish would lose sensation in their face like after I take a few shots.

Everclear is just a more potent form of vodka. But yes it would work. But the amount is drops.

 

[Iona Skye]

Tank party time buddy!

Actually, and I know I'm over simplifying (or wrong), but believe it adds carbon to your water, and thus helps increase bacteria population and thus nutrient uptake. Something along those lines, and hopefully someone corrects me if I'm wrong.





That's Kinda what I figured! I suppose a lot of that fancy, premium vodka is distilled 3x-5x times too.

I wonder about something like Korn Alcohol (aka everclear) would be acceptable too - very potent, but I imagine it would be pretty clean. I wonder if it was dosed the fish would lose sensation in their face like after I take a few shots.

Haha, that's great! I didn't know they liked to party too!

 

[Iona Skye]

Tank party time buddy!

Actually, and I know I'm over simplifying (or wrong), but believe it adds carbon to your water, and thus helps increase bacteria population and thus nutrient uptake. Something along those lines, and hopefully someone corrects me if I'm wrong.





That's Kinda what I figured! I suppose a lot of that fancy, premium vodka is distilled 3x-5x times too.

I wonder about something like Korn Alcohol (aka everclear) would be acceptable too - very potent, but I imagine it would be pretty clean. I wonder if it was dosed the fish would lose sensation in their face like after I take a few shots.

Hey, so why use vodka not activated carbon? Is it because filtering with carbon takes out too much good stuff and can cause HLLE or something?

 

[Dancingmad]

Hey, so why use vodka not activated carbon? Is it because filtering with carbon takes out too much good stuff and can cause HLLE or something?

Carbon dosing is different than using activated carbon. I've never done any form of carbon dosing, but I was just trying to get a curiosity answered . There are so many ways to manage your nutrients and elements in this hobby. Sometimes you've got to venture out there and see what other people are up to and their successes.

 

[Iona Skye]

Carbon dosing is different than using activated carbon. I've never done any form of carbon dosing, but I was just trying to get a curiosity answered . There are so many ways to manage your nutrients and elements in this hobby. Sometimes you've got to venture out there and see what other people are up to and their successes.

Gotcha. [emoji39] I'll Google it. And if I ever get my reef tank, I'll be sure to ask the fishes if they like vodka or tequila better [emoji1]

 

[Larry L]

so why use vodka not activated carbon?

Activated carbon and organic carbon work differently, and are used for two different things:

Activated carbon helps keep your water cleaner because it has micropores that adsorb contaminants from water, like small organic molecules and especially things that discolor the water. A lot of people use it to get rid of the yellowish cast you can get in your water over time as that kind of contaminant builds up.

Dosing organic carbon in some form (whether it's from vodka, vinegar, biopellets, or something else) is used to boost bacteria growth to help consume nitrates and phosphates. Bacteria need all three (carbon, nitrates, phosphates) to grow, so often when you have high nitrates and phosphates the growth of the bacteria is limited by how much organic carbon is available. So you give the bacteria more carbon so they can reproduce more, and eat up more nitrates and phosphates while they are at it. (And then usually you rely on your protein skimmer to pull that bacteria out of the water to get those nutrients out of your system, although it's not clear if that part is 100% necessary.)