NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

[Dan_P]

No slime growth or any visible bacteria.
My nitrates are at 70 atm, it's a 50gal tank.

I am studying carbon dosing right now and observed that a sample of my aquarium water when dosed with vinegar shows a reduction in nitrate within 24 hours. I was wondering if you are interested in testing a sample of yours the same way? The procedure is simple. I removed 1 liter of aquarium water and added a scaled down dose of vinegar. I tested the water immediately after dosing and twenty four hours later. I can help you scaling down your current aquarium dose for the sample.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The carbon dosing study is still in progress but thought I would report that a sample of water from my system will consistently reduce NO3 by 3-4 ppm within 24 hours (no further reduction at 48 hours) under aerobic conditions with vinegar dosed at a rate of 1 mL per gallon. These results seem to point to a conclusion that anoxic denitrification is not required to consume nitrate, at least in my aquarium. Thoughts?

I agree with the conclusion, but it doesn't address what happens when other organisms and environments are present.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

You can use the higher dose that I posted above and change some water. That will help immensely.

Just make sure your nitrate test is accurate. 70ppm is pretty high. Do you have a lot of fish or feed a lot?

Only 8 small fish in a 50gal tank, i think i feed a little too much. i'm gonna try to slow it down.

 

[Dan_P]

I agree with the conclusion, but it doesn't address what happens when other organisms and environments are present.

Oh I know, I know.

I am working on a two compartment model to see how much we can explain from a simple model of the aquarium.

What do think about inverting a container over a section of the aquarium sand and performing measurements on the trapped microcosm?

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Sure.

If using vinegar: 50mL a day.
If using vodka: 6.3mL a day.

You might get some extra slime growth with this dosage. If it becomes too excessive, you’ll need to reduce the amount.

Are you currently having slime growth in the tank/sump area?

How high is the nitrate?

Using higher dose of 6ml a day now and still don’t see my nitrates dropping, starting to question if absolut vodka is actually decent vodka lol. Could i change to vinegar without any problems or should i start anew then?

Ps, i did a larger water change and saw it dropping about 13ppm but as i said it is slowly creeping up again
I’m feeding less and i’m keeping my phosphates higher. Also added more rock & some seachem matrix

 

[Miami Reef]

Using higher dose of 6ml a day now and still don’t see my nitrates dropping, starting to question if absolut vodka is actually decent vodka lol. Could i change to vinegar without any problems or should i start anew then?

Ps, i did a larger water change and saw it dropping about 13ppm but as i said it is slowly creeping up again
I’m feeding less and i’m keeping my phosphates higher. Also added more rock & some seachem matrix

Probably start at week 1 for a few days then stay at week 2. Perhaps the vinegar will work better.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Probably start at week 1 for a few days then stay at week 2. Perhaps the vinegar will work better.

Ok, thanks.
Yeah i'm gonna give vinegar a try.

 

[Subarcticreef]

I’m curious about what experiences other people have combining vinegar dosing with roller mat filters? My experience after having dosing vinegar for a couple of months is that nitrate has dropped from 60s to 20 and phosphate hovering around 0.1. Also, it seems like the water is more crystal clear than before.
The filter is using up the fleece att a higher rate than before and it the used fleece is darker than before vinegar. I guess this is due to the vinegar enhance bacterial growth on the fleece?

 

[Brett]

This may have been asked/addressed in the thread (if so I missed it), but Home Depot now has 30% Vinegar. That makes it 6x stronger than 5%. So to calculate dosage in table outlined, just divide the dosage by 6, correct?

 

[Miami Reef]

This may have been asked/addressed in the thread (if so I missed it), but Home Depot now has 30% Vinegar. That makes it 6x stronger than 5%. So to calculate dosage in table outlined, just divide the dosage by 6, correct?

30% is 30/5 more potent = 6 so 30% is 500% more potent.

Multiply the doses in the chart by 5/30 or .17

 

[Miami Reef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Does Home Depot vinegar need to be food grade to use?

 

[Brett]

30% is 30/5 more potent = 6 so 30% is 500% more potent.

Multiply the doses in the chart by 5/30 or .17

Okay, you’re saying the same thing as I am. You can also divide the dosage by 6. Same math. Thanks.

 

[Brett]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Does Home Depot vinegar need to be food grade to use?

I was wondering the same thing. Here is the ingredient list. But I can’t find anywhere on label that indicates food grade. But the fact that it’s 30% is probably why it would never be consider food grade. Let’s see what RHF has to say.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would use food grade vinegar, unless you get high quality acetic acid, such as ACS reagent grade (expensive).

The Home Depot stuff may be fine, but food grade is cheap and I see no reason to risk it.

 

[Brett]

I would use food grade vinegar, unless you get high quality acetic acid, such as ACS reagent grade (expensive).

The Home Depot stuff may be fine, but food grade is cheap and I see no reason to risk it.

Agreed. And I already made the trip to the store to pick up a couple gallons of food grade.

I use the HD stuff to clean equipment so had some sitting on a shelf and was feeling a little lazy...

Thanks for the input.

 

[JonoH]

Considering dosing Vodka or Vinegar at the moment, Nitrates are sitting around 30-35.
Any suggestions - this is in a mixed tank (see my tank thread).

I was leaning towards Vodka just for the convenience of less per day...but not sure if this is wise.
Currently have no Cyano or pest algea, but not getting great polyp extension on my corals.

 

[Miami Reef]

I was leaning towards Vodka just for the convenience of less per day...but not sure if this is wise.

You are allowed to use Vodka; it is a fine choice.

Currently have no Cyano or pest algea, but not getting great polyp extension on my corals.

There’s a myriad of reasons why this might be happening, but higher nitrate isn’t likely the culprit. You can still lower it, but I think I’d look elsewhere for the low PE cause.

 

[JonoH]

You are allowed to use Vodka; it is a fine choice.


There’s a myriad of reasons why this might be happening, but higher nitrate isn’t likely the culprit. You can still lower it, but I think I’d look elsewhere for the low PE cause.

Hmmm, i just did an ICP and it all came back fairly clear.
My only elevated nutrients at the moment are Nitrate at 34, and Phosphate sitting around .1 (albiet i think thats mostly because i use reef roids).

 

[Miami Reef]

Hmmm, i just did an ICP and it all came back fairly clear.
My only elevated nutrients at the moment are Nitrate at 34, and Phosphate sitting around .1 (albiet i think thats mostly because i use reef roids).

What types of corals are lacking polyp extension?

 

[JonoH]

What types of corals are lacking polyp extension?

Only some of the Acro's - tabling type.

Probably need to do another ICP just to be sure.

I've always tried to avoid chasing numbers, but thought i would try reducing the nitrates to see if it made a difference.