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11/22/2017, 09:47 AM | #1 |
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Does Evaporation Change Vodka Alcohol Percentage?
I am starting Vodka dosing in my 250 liter tank (about 65 gal). I am using an automatic doser by Grotech which has the smallest unit as 1 ml. So I diluted the Vodka with water to 10% of alcohol per volume and plan to dose it that way.
My question is: Will the evaporation in the dosing bottle (which is not airtight) change the percentage of the alcohol over time? The dilution is probably not making a difference, but it is going to evaporate one way or the other. |
11/22/2017, 10:03 AM | #2 |
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You could always dose with vinegar and save the vodka for yourself? I believe that you multiply the amount of vodka you dose by 8 and that is the amount of vinegar (5%) you would dose to get the same amount of carbon.
Cheers! Mark
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11/22/2017, 10:35 AM | #3 |
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Yeah the alcohol volume will change but it shouldn't change that much. My container would have pin hole so it's not air tight.
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11/22/2017, 10:43 AM | #4 |
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The percentage of alcohol will drop over time. How long do you think it'll take to use up the fluid? If you put a loose cover on it, I doubt that the evaporation rate will be significant.
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11/22/2017, 02:14 PM | #5 |
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I mixed up a solution of 800 ml at 10% alcohol. If I slowly increase it as planned, it will take about 15 weeks.
I don't care if alcohol and water evaporates at about the same rate, but if the alcohol gets less and less, I got a problem when I start with a new solution after the 15 weeks. It would be a bigger jump than recommended. |
11/22/2017, 02:37 PM | #6 |
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I don't think it was in reference to vodka dosing, but I read a recommendation to drill a hole in the lid and install a one-way check valve to allow fresh air in, but prevent moisture from evaporating out.
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11/22/2017, 02:44 PM | #7 |
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I like that. Now I need to figure out what such a valve looks like and where to get it in Europe.
I love this hobby ... it keeps me busy and thinking. |
11/29/2017, 01:50 AM | #8 |
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In terms of carbon dosing, vinegar is less potent than vodka. Mixing them together should get you to a volume that you can dose at full strength, which might be preferable to dilution. The problem with dilution can be bacteria forming in the dosing container before you dose, which is not what you want.
Take a look at this thread for more info |
11/30/2017, 02:35 AM | #9 |
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I sort of came to the same conclusion that dilution is probably not the best idea. I even went further than you suggested. I read both articles in the RC magazine - one on vodka and the other one on vinegar. The vinegar article also suggests that it has less chance of developing cyano problems. I have had cyano before and so I went with vinegar only. The European vinegar is 8%.
Any reason why people mix vodka and vinegar and even add sugar? |
11/30/2017, 03:44 PM | #10 |
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Some tanks might do better with a mix, but we don't have much data on what's happening i the tanks. Some people do report less cyanobacteria with vinegar. Others report more with vodka. Our tanks are fairly complex environments.
Sugar seems riskier than other choices, with more people reporting coral problems when dosing it.
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12/04/2017, 01:47 AM | #11 |
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Just a quick update for interested parties ...
After 10 days of vinegar (still ramping it up) I already see changes. 1. Places that I scrub do not have a new growth. 2. The red hair algae is starting to discolor - I am assuming that means its not doing week and will slowly die off. 3. The existing green algae is not growing. So far so good ... |
12/04/2017, 08:17 PM | #12 |
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Wow, that's fast progress! I'd keep an eye on coral coloration, since some people report problems with corals fading with vinegar dosing.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
12/05/2017, 02:23 AM | #13 |
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Great, thanks for the update.
Always good to hear nuisance algae being One day you realize its getting weaker. One day is surprisingly all gone. Do pull out what you can while its weak. -droog |
12/24/2017, 08:48 AM | #14 |
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another update for anybody interested (positive and negative)...
2 weeks ago I leveled off at 20 ml vinegar per day (65 gal tank). Positive results: ------------------ All the algae is receding nicely. The flat worms are also going away. Possible issue: ---------------- My Ph has gone down. It ranges from 7.5 at night to 8.0 during lights on. I think it would be nice to dose only during the light period, but I don't know how to do it with my GROTECH Tec 4 doser. Here are my remaining values: ---------------------------------- Salinity = 1.025 Alkalinity = 8.9 Calcium = 420 Magnesium = 1200 (little low - trying to raise it) Nitrate = 0.02 Phosphate = 0 |
12/25/2017, 11:41 AM | #15 |
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I don't know how to control that doser, either, but someone might add some comments there. I'm glad the pests are dropping down. I take it all the other animals are doing well? No color changes in the corals?
More aeration might help with the pH. Tuning the skimmer (as needed), checking for water surface films, and adding an airstone have helped in other cases.
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12/26/2017, 08:04 AM | #16 |
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All the old timer established animals and corals are doing fine. I am having trouble with new additions bleaching out - but that might not be related...
or could it be? |
12/26/2017, 12:36 PM | #17 |
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I'd be suspicious that it's the carbon dosing, but you could keep it up for a bit to see how the newer corals do.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
12/27/2017, 11:34 AM | #18 | |
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Quote:
1. Took the skimmer intake and moved it outside of the hood 2. Added an additional air stone 3. Opened the front of the hood And the results are ... drum roll .... I went from 7.55 - 7.78 24-hour Ph range to 7.67 - 7.95. Not perfect, but better. Now I will remove one at the time and see which if any is not needed. |
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12/27/2017, 12:21 PM | #19 |
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That's a reasonable improvement. I wouldn't worry too much about pH at this point.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
12/27/2017, 12:55 PM | #20 |
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Yes, I believe that is good enough to get it of my urgent list. I might play with it later some more.
Thank you all for leading me to the right answer ... |
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