My 40 Breeder with Vodka

T

tdapple

For some time now, i have been interested in trying Zeovit, but the task seemed to costly and tedious to me. Then I heard of the Vodka system and did a little research. It is similiar to the Zeovit system in the way it acts by using bacteria. So i figured lets give it a shot. Yesterday my tank had it's first shot of Sky(it was on hand). I am going to chronicle all this at http://applesreef.blogspot.com/ if you want to follow. I will use this thread to post when I update the blog.
 
Could you explain the vodka method to those of us who dont know what it is? I guess your fish are probably swimming in circles and slurring!
 
I'd read about it before, but kinda blew it off... It'll be interesting to see how it works!

If possible, could you log your progress here too? I know I won't remember to keep checking your blog, although I am interested to see if this helps...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the main goal of the Vodka Method is to keep nitrates down, correct?

If so, a running tally of your nitrate readings would be very interesting...

Thanks!
 
If the main reason for dosing CH5OH is to keep nitrates down, for an SPS system that should be low nutrients in the first place, adding ETOH doesn't make since to me.

What benefit does this offer, and why would you do it in the first place?

I'll stop here before hopping up on the water quality soap box.
 
Well i'm not the most scientific fellow, but the gist is. We struggle daily to keep low nutrient systems for sps...and it's hard work for most, except those with large extravagent systems. Using the Vodka method is a way to drop nitrates and phosphate down to darn near 0...just barely a tad above. In theory, I got this all from word of mouth on RC and felt like experimenting. Basically it crates a super low nutrient system with not allot of effort(in my eyes at least.) You just need to skim heavy and wet, add vodka dosage, keep up with calcium and traces....do water changes. I will get links to more detailed information posted soon.
 
Thanks for the link. I still think it is conjectural BS! :roll:

Heavy skimming, water changes, appropriate Ca and Alk [ ]

VS

Heavy skimming, water changes, Ca and Alk [ ] with Vodka

both systems using the same SPS specimens without livestock and equal photo periods/water changes etc

That would be the best way to compare growth rates and document respective water parameters. :idea: This would give us objective info. Show me the science :!:
 
I have used AZNO3 (sugar water IMO) to reduce NO3 and it does a great job. It causes a bloom of bacteria, the skimmer goes ape $hit, and withing a few days you cannot get any reading of N03.

I would hedge my $$ on vodka working, just because it feeds the bacteria, and the bacteria is easly skimmed out. IMO a nutrient export on the microscopic level.
 
Maybe I need to dump some vodka into my tank. Maybe then I could get my pair of clowns that have been together for 4 years to finally mate. Anyone whom has ever seen my female clown, :shock: will understand this logic.
 
Rick! That is too funny man. I have the same problem with mine that are 6-7 yrs old now.

I can't wait to see how this goes.
 
Great the jokes will start to flow when my girlfriend see's this post.

I will hear this when I leave for the swap:
"You guys are going to have a 40g tank of Vodka at the Frag Swap? You guys really are fish nerds and you better not drive home! Call me if you need a DD...." :roll:

Good luck with the clowns guys... Mine won't stop and I wish they would! They act crazy, throw sand all over the place, and take bites out of their colt they host. It's starting to look like a rough porno on the right side of my tank! :shock:
 
I have no doubts it will work to lower your nitrates. Problem is finding a good balance 1 and 2 now you have additional bacteria in your tank. Bacterial populations in our tank are already much higher then on a reef.

I talked quite a bit to Eric at Macna and to Tyree at Next wave and both have done several bacterial denisity tests and saw that lower levels in our tanks generally corresponded to better looking corals. These were in the same tanks over time and of course was not scientific.

I guess my point is the side affects are so unknown that I wouldn't do it. Theoretically you could overstock big time and add sugar water or vodka to keep your bacterial levels high enough to deal with your overstocking. I can't believe that this is a good thing long term!

Here is a 33 page thread on RC about it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288714&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

I'll keep drinking my ethenol thank you very much!
 
the blog has some updates and I posted some pics of an acro I had change color, from green to white but it's polyps are still fully extended.
 
I can't tell how the coral looks in the 'after' picture. It looks RTN'd to me, but you say you see polyps so that's good.
 
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