- Location
- Cape Coral, Florida
Would someone give me the links to the discussion of adding vodka to the tank to reduce nitrates. I read of it in Julian Sprung's vol. 3- but I know I saw it here somewhere. Thanks, Dawn
V O D K A
- Thread starter Rlumenator
- Start date
You an select a particular forum when you do search. Basically, ethanol is a reducing agent that suppose to "help" bacteria (as an energy source or something, maybe similar to using cane sugar) reduce nitrate.
IMHO, if you need to go this route to help the nitrate problem, you probably need to look at how you feed and do water change and see if there is something wrong.
IMHO, if you need to go this route to help the nitrate problem, you probably need to look at how you feed and do water change and see if there is something wrong.
I haven't tried it, but other forums are discussing it and raving about it.
Apparently the carbon in the vodka stimulates the bacteria that consumes nitrate and phosphate and causes a bacteria bloom. The skimmer apparently goes crazy removing the bacteria. People are reporting large drops in phosphate and nitrate. Some people are adding suger instead with same success.
If you use this approach it was recommended you start very slow. the bacteria bloom consumes O2. Lack of O2 could kill tank inhabitants.
Now come all of the jokes about taking aspirin the next day and adding orange juice and such.
Apparently the carbon in the vodka stimulates the bacteria that consumes nitrate and phosphate and causes a bacteria bloom. The skimmer apparently goes crazy removing the bacteria. People are reporting large drops in phosphate and nitrate. Some people are adding suger instead with same success.
If you use this approach it was recommended you start very slow. the bacteria bloom consumes O2. Lack of O2 could kill tank inhabitants.
Now come all of the jokes about taking aspirin the next day and adding orange juice and such.
If you decide to use Vodka or another source of Ethanol make sure you have an excellent skimmer. The skimmer is required to remove the end result. Otherwise you could end with a bacteria or algae bloom.
It also reduces Phosphate as a side benefit but I agree with seven, try to pinpoint the source before adopting a solution.
Personally, I have found that Vinegar works slightly better than Ethanol. I don't know why.
It also reduces Phosphate as a side benefit but I agree with seven, try to pinpoint the source before adopting a solution.
Personally, I have found that Vinegar works slightly better than Ethanol. I don't know why.
- Location
- Cape Coral, Florida
Guy- the source is probably feeding, and I don't intend to cut back. Having said that, I started to use vinegar to boost the Kalk that I add once or twice a week. Can I not use these two in conjunction with each other? The amts. of each are- 3ml vodka to the tank once a day, and 3 ml vinegar to the Kalk- 160 gal, prob. 120 after rock displacement. I hadn't read that vinegar reduced nitrates. it takes a long time to get back to the posts- as this site doesn't notify me when someone posts!
Thanks, Dawn
Thanks, Dawn
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