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#1 |
returns
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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Ok so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and try this method. I have a fairly new system but can't get my nitrates and phospates down. I thought about buying the reacters, but ran across this method and decided to try it before forking out alot of money. I will document the entire process here.
I use DI water and Instant Ocean salt. parameters before vodka: Ca-450 Alk-2.7 milli-equivelents Salinity-1.025 pH-8.3 Phosphate-0.5 Ammonia-0 Nitrite-0 Nitrate-50 With my 55g tank I am starting with an initial dose of 0.2 mL(according to RK mag recomendation of 0.1ML/25g) because of all the rock displacing the water ![]() Here is the pic for the Nitrate test ![]() And the test for phosphate ![]() I am using 80 proof vodka and I am not going to do any water changes throughout this experiment.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#2 |
Team RC Member
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Location: Highland, Maryland Entomologist
Posts: 14,592
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IME, dosing carbon sources will work to reduce your nitrates and phosphates. One thing to keep in mind is that this reduction will take a fairly extended period of time. Many of the hobbyists who are using vodka will see less than 1.0 ppm (0.3 ppm) drop in nitrate per day. If you are starting at 50 ppm this could mean 150 days to reduce your nitrates at a controlled level. In the first month, you may only see a drop of 10 ppm, which will not show up very well with your test kit. Plus the low end range of your test kit only goes up to 50 ppm, which means you do not know if your level could be 100 ppm. You should make sure that you use the high end range of your nitrate kit to make sure your value is approx. 50 ppm. Personally, I have a very hard time distinguishing the colors at the range you are at and would not have much confidence in your exact level of nitrates. There is quite a span (50 - 100 ppm) in your high range color chart and very little color change.
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Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system Last edited by HighlandReefer; 03/21/2009 at 07:03 AM. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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thanks for your input, i know it will take time, but I want to add another trial to the tally of other experiments and maybe get some benefits out of it as well.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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I dosed 0.2mL of vodka last night around 9:30pm. I will do an identical dose tonight around the same time.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#5 |
Registered Member
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Location: Ontario, Ohio
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reefloverd1, are you suspending water changes or do you not do water changes often?
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Nate Current Tank Info: Planning phase. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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yes i am suspending them, normally i do a weekly change of 6 gallons
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#7 |
Registered Member
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Location: Ontario, Ohio
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You should think about continuation upfront. It will take you around 6 weeks to notice a difference in nitrates.
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Nate Current Tank Info: Planning phase. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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I am fine with the continuation.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 675
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So you shouldnt do water changes while dosing vodka?
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#10 |
Team RC Member
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Location: Highland, Maryland Entomologist
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I would continue water changes myself. It will help to reduce your nitrate levels in your water column to some extent as well as remove possible build-up of contaminates. Water changes will also help by removing bacteria which have absorbed nitrates into their system. Good skimming practices will help to export these bacteria as well. Every little bit counts in my book.
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Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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You have a good point, I wanted to see how long it would take to get them to zero without a water change, but now considering the inhabitants,(some tube worms and several unidentified hitchhikers) it would probably be better to continue the water changes as well. Thanks highlandreefer for making me rethink my strategy.
I will be dosing another 0.2mL of vodka at 9:30pm But before that I am going to do my routine water change of 6 gallons. so im going to get to it......
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#12 |
Team RC Member
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Your welcome.
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Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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so i did the water change and dosed 0.2 ml of vodka last night at 9:30.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#14 |
Team RC Member
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reefloverd1,
I would be interested to hear what the average daily reduction of nitrate is for your tank after you reach your target level. Phosphate daily average would be interesting to know also, but might be harder to determine using the test kits available. ![]() Good luck. ![]()
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Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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ok, HighlandReefer i will keep more detailed data as to result in more accurate results(hopefully...lol)
So I will be doing another dose of 0.2 ml of vodka tonight at...you guessed it....9:30 pm. This being the third day my dosing will go up through days 4-7(per RK mag). that will bring the new dose to 0.4mL. I thought I would also post the link to the RK mag article since I am using that as my refrence. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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no visible change of course
here is the nitrate test after only two days of dosing. I know it probably didn't change much , but I was curious to see what it wa after my water change the other day.[IMG]
![]() And the phosphate still the same. ![]() I know I should save my tests but I want to use them up so I can buy a different brand.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#17 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Italy
Posts: 141
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Do you use bacteria?
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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gaetanocallista, I have not used those bacteria that you can buy i.e. one and only, cycle.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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3-24-09
0.4 mL vodka 9:30pm
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#20 |
Moved On
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cape Coral, F.L.
Posts: 2,123
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I don't like the red sea for nitrates.
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#21 |
Moved On
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cape Coral, F.L.
Posts: 2,123
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Also, what are you running for filtration? An undersized skimmer will definitely seize this project from having any good results.
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#22 |
returns
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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scaryperson27,
¿Qué tipo de prueba le gusta usar?
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#23 |
returns
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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Yo uso el skimmer Prizm para 100 galones.
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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#24 |
Moved On
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cape Coral, F.L.
Posts: 2,123
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The Prizm skimmers are not all they are cracked up to be on the box.
You need something that actually made to handle 100 gallons. I would suggest maybe Octopus NW-150, or Octopus DNW-150 Can you please not talk to me in spanish? |
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#25 |
returns
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 216
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I need the practice sorry, have an exam coming up and noone to speak spanish to.
So what tests do you like? And Ill be sure to check out those skimmers!
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reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube |
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