Alcohol Dosing in a Reef Tanks

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by fencer

After talking to several people with "super" SPS tanks most have amino acids as a supplement. No pictures, Just those brown acros started getting colour

I'm hoping for this very thing I have to say that some SPS I have been attempting to rescue have showed improvement (first, the polyps turned from brown to bright green, and one one, the tips are a bright blue as opposed to brown). But my problem was always with the nuisance algae.

Originally Posted by christyf5

I have used the seachem one but not with enough regularity to notice any differences in my tank. Currently I'm using the FM UltraAmin product. Haven't noticed any differences with that one either. Kinda feeling a bit let down with the FM system, although it has killed off a goodly portion of the rampant brown wafer algae I was dealing with earlier in the year but that S on my forehead is like a beacon these days so I'll continue with it for awhile longer I guess

Maybe it's the FM system killing off your wafer algae, or maybe it's your increased diligence due to the strict adherence to a system? I don't know. Anyway, I'm interested to see what happens here.

[hillbillyreefer]

I'm a closet vodka doser too. Been doing it since mid-May. I'm upto 3ml in my 24 and 3ml in my 45. Haven't seen much of a difference in GHA growth. I have noticed that the skimmate is thicker and nastier. Far better polyp extension on all my SPS. I haven't seen anything bad happen either.

It sure is funny when company sees you pull out a bottle of vodka at 9 am. Then walk over and put a shot in the fish tank for your alcoholic fish.

[michika]

Can I ask specifically which product you used? After having read the RC thread on carbon dosing, I started noticing through people's result photos and posts, that the vodka brand/proof/etc. had something of an impact on the results, and the speedyness of the results.

Also do you just dump into a high flow area, or how are you dosing it? That dosing pump?

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by michika

Can I ask specifically which product you used? After having read the RC thread on carbon dosing, I started noticing through people's result photos and posts, that the vodka brand/proof/etc. had something of an impact on the results, and the speedyness of the results.

Also do you just dump into a high flow area, or how are you dosing it? That dosing pump?

Really the only vodka you CAN'T use is denatured vodka. But who would buy that anyway? I use a high quality vodka, because that's what was in my freezer already :-)

Some people use Everclear, as it's apparently twice as potent, so you use half as much. Potato, potawto....

[michika]

I know if I did Vodka dosing I would definitely not be only dosing the tank

I think its a great idea, but I'm just too lazy to dose it manually. Do you think that something like a dosing pump hooked up to a bottle would work?

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by michika

I know if I did Vodka dosing I would definitely not be only dosing the tank

I think its a great idea, but I'm just too lazy to dose it manually. Do you think that something like a dosing pump hooked up to a bottle would work?

LOL...if you do this, I want a picture.

I don't see why not. With the Vodka-Sugar-Vinegar mixture, they suggest refrigeration. I'm not sure why. Maybe you wouldn't have to.....

[fencer]

I had a bottle of Red Tassle...so my corals drank it all. Really any type of quicky mart booze will do. Just as long as the % alcohol is the same. As for dosing just poke a hole in the bottom of a cup and just let it drip out....that works very well. I just don't like to shoot in one shot

[hillbillyreefer]

I give 1/2 the dose in the morning before lights on and the other 1/2 around supper time. I don't think brand matters but it may. I'm feeding mine Bacardi, finally found a use for the stuff.