yes, but isn't being a mad scientist, and experimenting, and learning new things that brought us all over to the SW side?
Vodka dosing to reduce nitrates/phosphates?
- Thread starter Cheech
- Start date
Here's a product I've been using for a couple months that provides about the same results as when I was doing vodka dosing:
product
The nice part about it is there's no chore of daily dosing. Instead, it's a pouch that I toss into my filter sock and replace every 1-2 weeks. Sort of like a tea bag with what looks like chopped straw fibers inside.
I get the white bactaria film, only thinner. Seems to keep nuisance algae and cyano at bay, pulling darker skimmate, slightly better water clarity, socks go biological after 5 days. However, a new pouch will slightly cloud up water for the first several hours. Pouch gets pretty stinky after a week. It actually fed the cyano in my tank on the first try. Discontinued use. Got cyano in check. Restarted pouches and have been good ever since.
Not pricey. Sells for about $13 for 6 pouches at my LFS. Comes to about $6 a month.
product
The nice part about it is there's no chore of daily dosing. Instead, it's a pouch that I toss into my filter sock and replace every 1-2 weeks. Sort of like a tea bag with what looks like chopped straw fibers inside.
I get the white bactaria film, only thinner. Seems to keep nuisance algae and cyano at bay, pulling darker skimmate, slightly better water clarity, socks go biological after 5 days. However, a new pouch will slightly cloud up water for the first several hours. Pouch gets pretty stinky after a week. It actually fed the cyano in my tank on the first try. Discontinued use. Got cyano in check. Restarted pouches and have been good ever since.
Not pricey. Sells for about $13 for 6 pouches at my LFS. Comes to about $6 a month.
last question, everywhere reads I "NEED" a protein skimmer, is that true if you are doing a very small dose?
I don't intend on buying one, so if it's a deal breaker, then I will skip this little experiment.
I don't intend on buying one, so if it's a deal breaker, then I will skip this little experiment.
Yes, since that is the primary means of export in the system. The reason all these various metabolites get reduced is because of bacterial assimilation. If these bacteria remain in the system, die, and decay, those nutrients within them will be re-released. An efficient skimmer is necessary to physically remove the bacteria and truly export nitrate and phosphate. Beyond that, it is a slight safeguard to ward off hypoxic conditions that can result from increased bacterial growth.
Unfortunately I think a protein skimmer is a requirement for dosing Vodka unless your going to do daily water changes along with dosing. The difference in skimmate in the skimmer is night and day when dosing vodka. The skimmer pulls out what seems like 2x as much stuff, much darker in color, and REALLY smelly stuff compared to when not dosing. You need something that is going to get all that nasty stuff out of the water and a skimmer is the easiest way to do it.
Edit: Amph beat me by 1 minute.
Edit: Amph beat me by 1 minute.
You say an efficient skimmer, what would be a good option for a 20 gallon tank, with a 5 gallon sump?
I'd recommend the largest rated skimmer you can afford for most of these systems. I'd look into one of the hang-on types (you can hang it on the sump), since most in-sump models will be too small for that tank (or at least too small for your application). This is one of the downsides, IMHO, when it comes to vodka and other organic carbon dosing. The cost associated with a good skimmer is a turn-off for some, as well. For a reasonable price, look at Reef Octopus. Other pricier, but somewhat better options include Tunze (sit-in and hang on) and Deltec. There may be other reasonable options available today, since I haven't been in the skimmer market for many years, myself.
Warner Marine now makes a HOB skimmer, although you pay for the name. CPR also came out with a new skimmer to replace the Bak-Pak called Aero Force. For the price I am betting the CPR outperforms an AquaC Remora which is what I am running now and I admit is waaaaay under rated for what I use it on. I need a new skimmer badly myself but am really limited on space. The 2 I just mentioned are the 2 I am looking into myself.
I just saw this, can anyone comment on something like this... $50 sounds a lot better than anything else I have seen...
One thing most of us that have been in the hobby for some time have learned is you never go cheap with critical pieces of equipment. This includes skimmers, return pumps, and heaters to name a few. In my early days I spent $100 on a SeaClone skimmer, complete waste of $100, then I went and spent $130 on the RedSea Prizm Deluxe.. another waste of $130. Literally.. the cardboard box those skimmers come in will do 10x more skimming than the skimmer in the box if you just use the cardboard to "wick" up the surface.
Just my experience with skimmers over the years.. the cheapest "reliable" skimmer starts out at $150 and goes up from there. Don't spend a penny less than $150 on a skimmer unless it is used from a fellow reefer and is a good brand. JMO.
Just my experience with skimmers over the years.. the cheapest "reliable" skimmer starts out at $150 and goes up from there. Don't spend a penny less than $150 on a skimmer unless it is used from a fellow reefer and is a good brand. JMO.
