Vodka dosing

[polecat]

i just started a vodka dosing system my nitrates are 40 ppm and my phosphate is 1.0 any suggestions would help thanks

 

[DCG1286]

what size tank?
How much did you dose?
Did you read about vodka dosing before doing it (i mean thoroughly reading about it)?
Have you tried to lower your nitrates in other ways before resorting to vodka?

Further information would help

 

[polecat]

90 gallon tank,0.2 vodka yes i read about it and tried water changes and less food i just ordered an rodi anything else i should try

 

[sjsoto]

you have skimmer? before dosing i would recommend adding a refugium with chaeto or caulerpa,

 

[ZANYMASTER]

The vodka process is a slow one so don't expect fast results.Try adding 1ml a day.

 

[polecat]

Yes i have a skimmer and the article say to take it slow can i put the chaeto in the sump what do i need to do that

 

[DCG1286]

90 gallon tank,0.2 vodka yes i read about it and tried water changes and less food i just ordered an rodi anything else i should try

Are you using tap water?

 

[polecat]

i am using tap water but i just got my ro/di today the next water change will be ro/di water

 

[DCG1286]

How many fish you have in that 90G? What type of fish?

 

[NYreefNoob]

why i dont suggest vodka, how about figuring out why you have such high nitrates first, makes the cure easier

 

[polecat]

i have 1 clown tang,1 kole tang,1 hippo tang all about 3'' 1 six line,2 clowns, 3 chromis,1 sand sifterand i just added a copper band butterfly for aiptasia removal

 

[nanoreefer22]

I would lay off the vodka, since you were using tap water you know where the problem is stemming from.

Do some large water changes every week with Ro/Di and things should start looking better in no time at all.

 

[polecat]

thanks alot i am making water right now i hope that works

 

[nanoreefer22]

It will Patience and water changes can fix anything in the hobby

 

[gatojebv]

There are 4 different things I tried to lower my nitrates besides the RO/DI. Removing the bio-balls and a better skimmer for sure made a big difference for me.

1.-My tap water has arounbd 20ppm of nitrates so I had to go with a RO/DI system.
2.-My skimmer was not performing as expected. It was a cheap good for nothing Current USA. I got an Octopus 200 and WOW what a difference.
3.-I removed the bio-balls. They short-circuit the nitrogen cycle.
4.-I added a refugium with Cheato and Mangroves. I do not think this is doing much honestly. My cheato is not growing much in 4 months although the mangroves are thriving; however they will not take much nutrients. slow growers and only 10 of them.

My nitrates are 0 or not detectable now. Do not overfeed!

 

[nycoralguy]

If you don't have enough money for a refugium, r.o. unit, just buy nitrate absorber(Kent nitrogen sponge) that you can put in the filter, or float a basket of some sort and put some caulerpa in it. If you're using tap, don't recommend too much w/c. A bottle of vodka is not cheap either.

 

[polecat]

I have an oct 200 skimmer and it pulls alot of grap out and i just purchased a ro/di unit i will do a water change i made 30 gallons of water i tried the kent sponge put it in a canister filter for 48 hrs and did not change anything if i remove the bio balls what do i put in its place? I have a wet dry filter