Time to get crunked: Vodka Dosing

[fernandokng]

Great article on RK:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

 

[Alex]

read the article and I must say that it is interesting to read. at the moment I have been trying the blue coral method (pappone) and I've had some good results, more colorful corals, more polyp extension.

 

[Josh]

The real question is what type of vodka do your corals prefer?

 

[Deanos]

The cheapest.

 

[Alex]

it depends, sometimes corals like there vodka on the "rocks".

 

[fernandokng]

Alex - what is the blue coral method?

 

[Alex]

take a look at this article, http://www.reefchat.org/tabid/95/ctl/ArticleView/mid/479/articleId/27/The-Pappone-Method.aspx

basically it is another form of adding a carbon source, like vodka.

 

[fernandokng]

Thanks for the link. Seems as your adding carbon, and food source for the corals at the same time.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

Great article on RK:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

I have vodka dosed, sugar dosed. Sugar is cheaper and just as effective ime. It does work but there are dangers.

Some considerations while carbon dosing are

1. oxygen depletion (you need a strong skimmer if you want to carbon dose, and run it strong),

2. a type of bacteria becoming the dominant in tank and becoming the only bacteria (dose prodibio or the like to negate).

3. actual zero nitrates and/or phosphates which are bad for your corals and you WILL see it (feed more, dose amino acids).

 

[DrCooper]

Just an interesting FYI to fit this thread

We (veterinarians) use vodka to treat dogs that ingest Antifreeze which can kill them via renal failure.
VODKA = THE BEST hahahah
I prefer Kettle one but not sure my patients appreciate the more expensive stuff

Cooper
Please check out my page and tell me what you guys all think of my rock and parameters
Thanks

 

[NYreefNoob]

i did the prodibio until it ran out, going to start using it agin, skimmer was pulling out alot more, didnt have to clean glass but twice in 6 weeks either, can say noticed a huge difference in colors though, but worth it for the rest it did

 

[fernandokng]

Regarding #2 - I don't think that's been proven... Been trying to find some reading on this, but haven't found it yet.

#3 - I don't think corals like nitrates/phosphates. They like the feeding, and the byproduct of this feeding (if the export mechanism if not in place) is what contributes to the higher level of nitrates/phosphates.

I have vodka dosed, sugar dosed. Sugar is cheaper and just as effective ime. It does work but there are dangers.

Some considerations while carbon dosing are

1. oxygen depletion (you need a strong skimmer if you want to carbon dose, and run it strong),

2. a type of bacteria becoming the dominant in tank and becoming the only bacteria (dose prodibio or the like to negate).

3. actual zero nitrates and/or phosphates which are bad for your corals and you WILL see it (feed more, dose amino acids).

 

[e.muehlbauer]

Interesting...I add vodka/gin to my fertilizer (fish emulsion) that I use on my tomatoes and peppers. It definitely increases sugar production...there was a study many years ago that showed great results for methanol...apparently ethanol is almost as, or equally, as effective. I think it accelerates sugar production, using the alcohol as a kind of shortcut. It makes sense that it could benefit the zoozanthellae....Interestingly enough, it was found that alcohol is only effective for plants grown in strong light.

 

[Bob 1000]

My denitrifier uses methanol..

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

alex what AA do you dose? I heard reef star. What do you recomend since you dose this already.

 

[wespastor]

Add sonething to the tank .... hmmmmmm.... can one measure it or trst for it?

Then One probably should not add it to one's tank.

I have read about many people being successful using this method. Just pointing out my opinion.

 

[Alex]

Camanuch, I've been using reef plus. I've always used it at least once a week with a max of twice a week.
after reading the article on vodka I decided that i would give it a try along with the pappone. I went out and pickup a bottle of smirnoff vodka and started the dose, however instead of the recommended dose for my tank size ,i started with half the dose. at present I'm on a daily dose of .9ml of vodka daily with the addition of pappone every wednesday evening as recommended. with this I've found that the water is much clearer. my corals seem to be looking better as well. I have a tabling acro which I got from Sanjay at the swap in spring that has started to change colors, it went from a blue to a lavender color and growth in the past week has been amazing ( tips have started getting bigger). all my parameters seem on par, I usually test weekly and every other day for phosphate. I will keep everyone posted.

 

[Alex]

A few shots of coral growth

colors are a bit off

 

[DrCooper]

So can we all agree VODKA IS GREAT!

 

[wespastor]

So can we all agree VODKA IS GREAT!

I decline to vote at all. And that may be taken as an absolute no. One cannot measure it or test for it after it is dosed.