Taking action thanks to my previous thread "Vodka Dosing"

[kay-bee]

I'm under the impression that with vodka dosing and other types of carbon dosing the nitrate and phosphate is processed by different types of bacteria not associated with the typical denitrification process.

Supposedly this/these bacteria do not require oxygen-free environments to process nitrate (which is the case with the denitrification via deep sand beds, live rock etc which can provide anaerobic zones).

 

[Amphiprion]

Possibly. There are some anaerobic bacteria that do something similar when given extra organic carbon. I don't think anyone has looked into it enough to be able to tell much else, but it is reasonable to think that there are aerobic species involved, as well. Otherwise, I don't think you'd see quite the rapid decrease in inorganic nutrients.

 

[davocean]

It was touted as a magic bullet a while back.
Many reefers, sps guys mainly, had issues w/ sps browning out due to high nitrates, as they are sensitive to trates.
Many joined on the bandwagon.
I don't even pretend to know the chem process, but I know it has to do w/ the way sugars in vodka react, and blah blah...
The thing is that peeps need to stay on top of params, and quit or lower dosage when trates have dropped significantly, or you could crash.
In HS my class did exp on alcohol effects in fish tanks.
FISH GET DRUNK!!!
And too much and they will die, and it's very easy to dose too much, or have it build up.
This is why I say it is not needed in most cases, especially a Fowlr.
Too many seek the easy way, when really good husbandry will take care of it, that and patience are key.

 

[z28sseater]

So i ended the vodka dosing about 1 week ago. Ive had a busy work schedule so i havent been able to keep you guys updated. I realized that vodka dosing as it may help control nitrate and phosphate, theirs got to be a reason for the nitrate and phosphate. Thanks to a couple of members ive pretty sure if figured out what it is. I have a lot of unnessacary media in my sump including some big sponge filters and ehfisubstrat pro. Ive taken the two sponge filters out and a little bit of media. I did a water change about a day after removing some. My phosphate dropped from 5.0PPM to 2-3.0 PPM. My nitrate dropped to 40PPM and raised to about 80PPM. I still have quite a bit more media that i will be removing slowly. Ive also added a little more live rock to ensure no ammonia spikes or nitrite spikes and have been monitoring it closely.

When i put the ehfisubstrat in my sump, i put a bunch inside a nylon pouch and zip tied the bag so nothing could fall out. I have not cleaned the nylon pouches since i have started the sump. So as ive been removing the pouches ive been cutting them open. The amounts of waste inside the bags is rediculous. So thanks ac members for the help!!! Ill keep you guys updated on my P04 levels and NO3 levels as time goes on.