Vinegar Dosage ?

[Eric The Red]

Greetings,

I would like to dose vinegar and although I've read several threads about it, I can't seem to find out the recommended dosage.

How many ml/gallon should I be dosing per day? Also, is there a recommended starting dose with incremental increases until desired results are achieved?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There is a recommended dosage. It needs to be determined specifically for each tank.

One approach (the vodka article approach) is to start very slow and very slowly raise the dose based on nitrate levels.

A second approach, (what I used) was to pick a reasonable starting dose, ramp up a bit over a week or so and stick with it for a while, then adjust up or down based on the appearance of the tank creatures.

Can you describe your tank and what other nutrient export methods you use?

[Eric The Red]

The tank is 75G and the nitrates are stuck at 20ppm. I run GFO and biopellets and have a SWC skimmer rated for 160G. I do wc's every 2 weeks. The tank is essentially a fowlr but I've introduced serveral types of mushrooms that the fish leave alone. I would like to add a rbta but first want to get the nitrates lower.

Thanks for your guidance.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, so I'd start at 5 ml per day and ramp to 20 or 25 ml per day after a week or two, and see what happens. :)

[Eric The Red]

Excellent, thank you :)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Let us know how it goes. :)

[doonan75]

I dose 50 ml a day. On a 40 breeder. Nitrates at 0 but. Still have GHA I dosed on the higher side initially but it was a new tank. I started at 50 raised it to100 then lowered it.

[[17]shawn[17]]

very interesting, i may have to try this

[Eric The Red]

Update....I ramped up to 50ml per day and I'm still stuck at 20ppm NO3. I'm kicking it up to 60ml this week to see where I go from there. Good thing vinegar is cheap ;)

[bertoni]

Okay, but I'd keep an eye out for bacterial growth, like slimy buildups.

[Eric The Red]

Are you referring to the bacterial coating that can show up on the glass or somethng else? When I see some slime that's when I know its working, right? (or wrong?)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I never see any bacteria in my system when dosing vinegar, so I wouldn't judge doses by its visible presence, except perhaps to say when you need to dose less or dose something else. :)

[Johnic]

Would you rec using vinegar for a 25 gal lps tank? Is so what's the starting dose?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What other husbandry techniques are you now using?

[Johnic]

Im pretty religoius with it every night I dose my usual stuff and clean.

[Eric The Red]

Update....I ramped up to 50ml per day and I'm still stuck at 20ppm NO3. I'm kicking it up to 60ml this week to see where I go from there. Good thing vinegar is cheap ;)

Update...60ml did not reduce them. I will be dosing 80ml/day this week. Is there a maximum recommended dose I should stop at if I have not seen results yet?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Im pretty religoius with it every night I dose my usual stuff and clean.

I meant what other nutrient export methods do you currently use. Macroalgae? GFO? skimming? etc.

[fonzer]

Okay, but I'd keep an eye out for bacterial growth, like slimy buildups.

I see the slime all over my rocks, on my loc-lines, is there a point when there's too much?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If I saw any substantial amounts in the main tank, I'd conclude it is too much. :D

That same amount in a sump wouldn't concern me at all.

[bongarone]

Has your skimmate gotten thicker and/or darker?

I'm about to start dosing vinegar, and it is my understanding that aside from your test kits reading lowered nitrate and phosphate, your skimmer working harder is the next best indication that your dosing is working.

[SPotter]

The tank is 75G and the nitrates are stuck at 20ppm. I run GFO and biopellets and have a SWC skimmer rated for 160G. I do wc's every 2 weeks. The tank is essentially a fowlr but I've introduced serveral types of mushrooms that the fish leave alone. I would like to add a rbta but first want to get the nitrates lower.

Thanks for your guidance.

what size water changes are you doing? you might need to do more frequent or large water changes to knock the number down and then the vinegar will help keep the levels in check.