Vodka Treatment For Freshwater

[jbradt]

Here's a short synopsis. Bacteria need carbon and nitrogen to produce complex molecules to grow. In a fully mature cell the C:N ratio is generally 10-12:1. This means that for every nitrogen atom sequestered from the environment the bacteria need 10-12 carbon atoms. Vodka is mostly just ethanol with a little bit of water. Each ethanol molecule contains 2 carbon atoms and can be used by bacteria. In the marine environment from a quick search I found that the average C:N ratio availability is 6-8:1. Since bacteria have a ratio of 10-12:1, this leaves a lot of N free to the environment. By adding in more C in the form of ethanol more bacteria can grow, as carbon is not limited.

In the freshwater aquariums they sell flourish excel for plants. According to the website this is a mixture of 5 chain organic molecules. (Strangely enough fructose is a 5 chain organic molecule...hmmm....). Dosing Carbon theoretically should allow for longer periods between water changes in an unplanted tank.

I do not know what the reasoning behind using Vodka is. I would think any simple easily digested carbon chain could achieve the same result. Sucrose (baking sugar) possibly could be used.

The more you know...

Seriously though, that's good stuff... dang, I wish I was smart. :read::wall:

 

[trigiver01]

I thought fructose was a 6-carbon ketose. It forms the hemiketal in a 5-membered heterocycle though. Glucose is also 6-carbon, but it's an aldose. So it's hemiacetal forms a 6-membered heterocycle.

I wouldn't mind knowing what goes into flourish though...they say not to get it on your eyes or skin or ingest it...

 

[jones57742]

Fish running into the glass... little fish picking fights with fish way bigger than themselves... snails falling off the decor and rolling around on the ground losing their lunch...

:dance2: :laugh::rofl::nilly:

TR

 

[jpappy789]

I thought fructose was a 6-carbon ketose. It forms the hemiketal in a 5-membered heterocycle though. Glucose is also 6-carbon, but it's an aldose. So it's hemiacetal forms a 6-membered heterocycle.

I wouldn't mind knowing what goes into flourish though...they say not to get it on your eyes or skin or ingest it...

Excel is supposedly an isomer of glutaraldehyde or something to that effect. The exact ingredients are not entirely known by those outside of Seachem.

 

[THE V]

I thought fructose was a 6-carbon ketose. It forms the hemiketal in a 5-membered heterocycle though. Glucose is also 6-carbon, but it's an aldose. So it's hemiacetal forms a 6-membered heterocycle.

Your right. I haven't been getting much sleep lately with this new baby. He kept me up until 6am last night. I was thinking of the shape as the only sugar that forms a pentagon shape (5 -membered heterocycle).

 

[danimal_dan]

well, i have to say i got a lot of great input ( even the funny ones )
the reason i asked this question was when i had a saltwater tank i did the Vodka dosing and WOW it worked great. now i went back to FW and i have have a problem with brown algae mostly on the bottom of the tank, i do weekly WC, i use active carbon in both filters ( Fluval FX5 and AC 110 ) in a 110gal with only 3 oscars no plants and a good light left over from the SW tank
this maybe signs of the end of a cycle as the tank is going on 2 months old
i recently added PhosGuard by Seachem to the FX5 and it seems to help keep the alage off the glass somewhat but the gravel is still a problem

again thanks for all the great input

dan

 

[Amphiprion]

Your right. I haven't been getting much sleep lately with this new baby. He kept me up until 6am last night. I was thinking of the shape as the only sugar that forms a pentagon shape (5 -membered heterocycle).

Haven't heard those terms used in a while, myself. I'm more used to hearing them classified as pentoses and hexoses (either cyclical or not), but that's just another way of skinning a proverbial cat.

Sucrose can be used the same, as well as acetic acid, though it will likely be more selective for different bacterial strains. At one point, I believe methanol was also used by some.

So, does nobody remember the product I'm talking about? It was algae-gone, or something to that effect. It was (and may still be) marketed for both fresh and marine...

 

[platytudes]

Do you mean Algone?

 

[Amphiprion]

Do you mean Algone?

Yes, thank you ! That's the one. It utilizes an organic carbon source to induce bacterial growth.

Edit: Hmm, after reading the manual, I may be thinking about something else, but thinking Algone was the product. It still seems plausible by adding a source for bacterial decomposition and providing an immediate, albeit more complex, carbon source.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Brightwell Aquatics 'FlorinAxis' is such a product.