another vodka question

jstrong63 · 01/02/2009, 10:49 PM

I was searching in the archives and couldn't find an answer to the following...

I know there is an on going debate about the use of vodka to begin with, but...

can this be done to a fish only system with live rock? Does it effect coraline growth? How about a fresh water system?

only reason I am curious because I dont have the money or room for an RO/DI system (rent a small house) and my tap water isnt helping. Im pretty sure the foods I feed also introduce these unwanted nutrients.

So far all I have been doing is the regular maintenance, water changes, and activated media to help keep water at better levels. My tanks have no sump so I am even more limited, which makes keeping the proper levels even harder to maintain.

Very curious if dosing vodka could help me maintain better water parameters. My algae/diatom/cyano blooms are destroying the beauty and function of all my tanks. Otherwise I will be busy cleaning my tanks and changing water...

Thanks.

Phillybean · 01/03/2009, 01:07 AM

Vodka won't solve the problems if your using tap water.

Try to save up for an RODI unit. If you have a dish washer or a washing machine they are easy to hook up and take up very little space.

In the mean time buy bottled RO water. It's cheaper than an RO unit and much easier to spend 10 bucks every couple weeks as opposed to $200 or so up front.

sassafrass · 01/03/2009, 01:09 AM

You have so many strikes against you with no sump and tap water , vodka dosing isn't a cure-all however my experience is it keeps my nitrate levels at zero and makes my skimmer produce much more skimate . Make sure you understand how exactly to go about it or you can kill all your fish by the bacterial population growing to quickly and using up all available oxygen.

ginger7286 · 01/03/2009, 12:17 PM

You'll need a little help to use vodka. You need a protein skimmer. The vodka (some how) ties up certain ions or bonds with certain molecules to remove impurities from the water. I agree with Phillybean, try to save for an RO system. Try this link for more info. Good Luck. Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com or http:http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...nftt/index.php

jstrong63 · 01/04/2009, 01:21 AM

Thanks for all your help guys. Thanks for the link ginger. After reading a lil more into it, I definitely need a better skimmer before even thinking about dosing vodka. Im planning to get more premium LR soon. I'll also look into getting an RO/DI, might find something used on Craigslist or somewhere.

Another thing though... what's a good HOB skimmer? I have a CPR BAK PAK II, but it doesn't really produce much skimmate at all... barely any bubbles at all in the chamber.

Thanks again!

sassafrass · 01/04/2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ginger7286
You'll need a little help to use vodka. You need a protein skimmer. The vodka (some how) ties up certain ions or bonds with certain molecules to remove impurities from the water. I agree with Phillybean, try to save for an RO system. Try this link for more info. Good Luck. Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com or http:http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...nftt/index.php

Ginger if you don't know what you are talking about please don't give advice.

01/02/2009, 10:49 PM	#1
jstrong63 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stockton, Ca. Posts: 18	another vodka question I was searching in the archives and couldn't find an answer to the following... I know there is an on going debate about the use of vodka to begin with, but... can this be done to a fish only system with live rock? Does it effect coraline growth? How about a fresh water system? only reason I am curious because I dont have the money or room for an RO/DI system (rent a small house) and my tap water isnt helping. Im pretty sure the foods I feed also introduce these unwanted nutrients. So far all I have been doing is the regular maintenance, water changes, and activated media to help keep water at better levels. My tanks have no sump so I am even more limited, which makes keeping the proper levels even harder to maintain. Very curious if dosing vodka could help me maintain better water parameters. My algae/diatom/cyano blooms are destroying the beauty and function of all my tanks. Otherwise I will be busy cleaning my tanks and changing water... Thanks. __________________ It's only after you've lost everything, that you're free to do anything. Current Tank Info: 55 FOWLR, 47 bowfront koi, 30 baby turtle tank, 25 tall vivarium, koi pond

01/03/2009, 01:07 AM	#2
Phillybean Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kelowna B.C. Posts: 610	Vodka won't solve the problems if your using tap water. Try to save up for an RODI unit. If you have a dish washer or a washing machine they are easy to hook up and take up very little space. In the mean time buy bottled RO water. It's cheaper than an RO unit and much easier to spend 10 bucks every couple weeks as opposed to $200 or so up front. __________________ It's not how much is costs that matters, it's how much you told your wife it costs!

01/03/2009, 12:17 PM	#4
ginger7286 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Florida Posts: 728	You'll need a little help to use vodka. You need a protein skimmer. The vodka (some how) ties up certain ions or bonds with certain molecules to remove impurities from the water. I agree with Phillybean, try to save for an RO system. Try this link for more info. Good Luck. Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com or http:http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...nftt/index.php __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Holy crap...what a ride!" Current Tank Info: 125 Reef Tank, Precision Marine equipment with a live rock/sand filtration. 30G. Nano with 2 percs and a beautiful little Flaming Prawn Goby.

01/04/2009, 01:21 AM	#5
jstrong63 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stockton, Ca. Posts: 18	Thanks for all your help guys. Thanks for the link ginger. After reading a lil more into it, I definitely need a better skimmer before even thinking about dosing vodka. Im planning to get more premium LR soon. I'll also look into getting an RO/DI, might find something used on Craigslist or somewhere. Another thing though... what's a good HOB skimmer? I have a CPR BAK PAK II, but it doesn't really produce much skimmate at all... barely any bubbles at all in the chamber. Thanks again! __________________ It's only after you've lost everything, that you're free to do anything. Current Tank Info: 55 FOWLR, 47 bowfront koi, 30 baby turtle tank, 25 tall vivarium, koi pond

01/03/2009, 01:09 AM	#3
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	You have so many strikes against you with no sump and tap water , vodka dosing isn't a cure-all however my experience is it keeps my nitrate levels at zero and makes my skimmer produce much more skimate . Make sure you understand how exactly to go about it or you can kill all your fish by the bacterial population growing to quickly and using up all available oxygen.