Adding Vodka to your tank!??!?

goldenmacman · 01-14-2009, 05:35 PM

Well today I was talking to a fellow reefer who was saying that he adds Vodka to his 125 reef tank to kepp his nitrates and ammonia down. He says that the downside to this is that it completely kills all the bacteria in the water so he only does it once a month and changes the water once every 3 months.. Any one ever heard of this? What are your thoughts? Does anyone do this? If so, ever seen your fish talk????

DaveK · 01-14-2009, 05:48 PM

Quite a few people do this, and it does seem to work, at least in some cases. It's a carbon source for anaerobic bacteria.

Even though you be doing this to keeping nitrated down, I'd still maintain regular water changes to replenish any trace elements removed.

Is it worth it? IMHO, it's only worth a try if you already have a refugium and that plus water changes is not enough to keep nitrates down. We will assume you are doing all the other right stuff for nitrate control.

goldenmacman · 01-14-2009, 05:56 PM

yeah.. will it get rid of bacteria in the water like ich and such?

Varga · 01-14-2009, 05:57 PM

There's a lot of negative feedback surrounding Vodka, I'd look into it further before dosing it.

goldenmacman · 01-14-2009, 06:02 PM

oh im not planning on it.. just curious about it.

Varga · 01-14-2009, 06:05 PM

I dosed it once and I went to dose again but the bottle was empty? dunno what happened

Frankie · 01-14-2009, 06:06 PM

Hmm, yes. Carbon source dosing. I am all for it but vodka is to impure and has caused many woes. There really is no set amount to dose and it is hit and miss with every aquarium. Your friend is not even understanding what he is doing from your post. It does not kill bacteria it creates it. If anyone is interested in dosing a carbon source your better off trying a product designed for the purpose like Prodibio, Zeovit, Fauna Marin. Be prepared to do a lot of reading and testing. As for new to the hobby people I highly recommend going the conventional way with sumps and refugiums.

goldenmacman · 01-14-2009, 06:06 PM

AHHAHAHAH
good one!

Frankie · 01-14-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varga

I dosed it once and I went to dose again but the bottle was empty? dunno what happened

LOL! Another reason why I never tried it

plecosword · 01-14-2009, 06:27 PM

Haha that's insane, and I think its ridiculous. I'm sure fish love it though, takes away their pain lol. I'd rather settup a tank with vegetation.

Tonz of fun · 01-14-2009, 06:34 PM

I hate adding anything to my tank that i can not test for, so until they make a vodka test kit and i know what levels are safe i wont be doing it lol...

Varga · 01-14-2009, 06:35 PM

they do have Vodka test kits. called breathalyzer

cheeks69 · 01-14-2009, 07:10 PM

I don't dose Vodka but do mix vinegar with kalkwasser which does the same thing. Also it increases all bacteria aerobic/anaerobic and if overdosed could wipe out your inhabitants so make sure you study the subject carefully before attempting. If you do a search here at RS on Vodka you'll find plenty of info and if that's not enough then here's some more...

Vodka Dosing...Distilled

miaskies · 01-30-2009, 01:20 AM

I don't think there is any vodka in the natural reefs- so I would say no

Jeremy0322 · 01-30-2009, 02:02 AM

I wonder if I could go shot for shot with my aquarium!

01-14-2009, 05:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
DaveK Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 999 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? Quite a few people do this, and it does seem to work, at least in some cases. It's a carbon source for anaerobic bacteria. Even though you be doing this to keeping nitrated down, I'd still maintain regular water changes to replenish any trace elements removed. Is it worth it? IMHO, it's only worth a try if you already have a refugium and that plus water changes is not enough to keep nitrates down. We will assume you are doing all the other right stuff for nitrate control.

01-14-2009, 05:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,134 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? There's a lot of negative feedback surrounding Vodka, I'd look into it further before dosing it. __________________ Visit my 300g Build http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...all-build.html

01-14-2009, 06:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,134 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? I dosed it once and I went to dose again but the bottle was empty? dunno what happened __________________ Visit my 300g Build http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...all-build.html

01-14-2009, 06:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Frankie zeohead Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: AStrangerInAStrangeLand Posts: 10,620 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? Hmm, yes. Carbon source dosing. I am all for it but vodka is to impure and has caused many woes. There really is no set amount to dose and it is hit and miss with every aquarium. Your friend is not even understanding what he is doing from your post. It does not kill bacteria it creates it. If anyone is interested in dosing a carbon source your better off trying a product designed for the purpose like Prodibio, Zeovit, Fauna Marin. Be prepared to do a lot of reading and testing. As for new to the hobby people I highly recommend going the conventional way with sumps and refugiums. __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away.... My aquarium threads: New Horizons Frankie's 120gal. glass experiment DIY Beckett Skimmer My Corals

01-14-2009, 06:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
plecosword Acropora Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: So CA Posts: 1,826 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? Haha that's insane, and I think its ridiculous. I'm sure fish love it though, takes away their pain lol. I'd rather settup a tank with vegetation. Last edited by plecosword : 01-14-2009 at 09:01 PM.

01-14-2009, 06:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tonz of fun Serpent Star Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 205 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? I hate adding anything to my tank that i can not test for, so until they make a vodka test kit and i know what levels are safe i wont be doing it lol... __________________ PM me about the second Fantasy Football league here at RS. We are still looking for 2 more teams.

01-14-2009, 06:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,134 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? they do have Vodka test kits. called breathalyzer __________________ Visit my 300g Build http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...all-build.html

01-14-2009, 07:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? I don't dose Vodka but do mix vinegar with kalkwasser which does the same thing. Also it increases all bacteria aerobic/anaerobic and if overdosed could wipe out your inhabitants so make sure you study the subject carefully before attempting. If you do a search here at RS on Vodka you'll find plenty of info and if that's not enough then here's some more... Vodka Dosing...Distilled __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

01-30-2009, 01:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
miaskies Limpet Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 133 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? I don't think there is any vodka in the natural reefs- so I would say no

01-30-2009, 02:02 AM	#15 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Tridacna maxima Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 4,436 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Adding Vodka to your tank!??!? I wonder if I could go shot for shot with my aquarium! __________________ New 90 Gallon Build! - Join in the madness! 48"s of Madness!!!-Join the club Looking for Cheap Corals? How about a Clean Up Crew? Custom Built Lexan Here!!

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