Wolfmann81
09/23/2012, 12:20 PM
Okay guys - trying to prevent a catastrophe here and need some feedback.
I have a 180G DT, and used to vodka dose on a daily basis for about 2 years (I definitely believe in it). I stopped doing it approximately 4 months ago, no good reason why (laziness probably).
I did it 'right' the first time - started very slow with small doses daily - building up to 14mL/day of Vodka.
Two days ago, I was impatient and jumped straight to 14mL, and did this 2 days in a row. Yesterday, I noticed that my protein skimmer was going crazy (duh), and had to empty it 2x. There was also a massive amount of 'foam' everywhere in the sump (very odd - never seen that before in 8+ years). I even tried to lower my riser-tube all the way DOWN to limit the internal/skimmer foam production - but still to no avail (still producing like crazy).
This morning I woke up.... All of my fish are extraordinarily stressed (lying on the bottom or on a rock, breathing very hard). OH NO. I looked all over for any dead animals, but can't see any (about 90% sure that there is no dead animals). I did a 45G (22%) water change this morning, trying to prevent disaster. My ammonia is 0 (thank goodness), nitrates 10ppm (not good, not terrible), normal pH.
Did my vodka dosing do this?? Seems odd that a total of 28mL of vodka in 2 days could do this to a 200G TWV system. Do I do another big (20%) water change in the same day? I think that might be excessive - but I feel compelled to do SOMETHING. I have several show-size tangs that I have had for years - and I am going to go crazy if I can't do my best to save them.
Please help!
I have a 180G DT, and used to vodka dose on a daily basis for about 2 years (I definitely believe in it). I stopped doing it approximately 4 months ago, no good reason why (laziness probably).
I did it 'right' the first time - started very slow with small doses daily - building up to 14mL/day of Vodka.
Two days ago, I was impatient and jumped straight to 14mL, and did this 2 days in a row. Yesterday, I noticed that my protein skimmer was going crazy (duh), and had to empty it 2x. There was also a massive amount of 'foam' everywhere in the sump (very odd - never seen that before in 8+ years). I even tried to lower my riser-tube all the way DOWN to limit the internal/skimmer foam production - but still to no avail (still producing like crazy).
This morning I woke up.... All of my fish are extraordinarily stressed (lying on the bottom or on a rock, breathing very hard). OH NO. I looked all over for any dead animals, but can't see any (about 90% sure that there is no dead animals). I did a 45G (22%) water change this morning, trying to prevent disaster. My ammonia is 0 (thank goodness), nitrates 10ppm (not good, not terrible), normal pH.
Did my vodka dosing do this?? Seems odd that a total of 28mL of vodka in 2 days could do this to a 200G TWV system. Do I do another big (20%) water change in the same day? I think that might be excessive - but I feel compelled to do SOMETHING. I have several show-size tangs that I have had for years - and I am going to go crazy if I can't do my best to save them.
Please help!