My Vodka Dosing Experiences

[concept3]

I'm almost through an entire week of dosing at 3.5mL. I just got home from a long weekend and noticed all of my birdsnests are bleaching and dying at their tips. I did have someone dose each day the vodka, alk, & calc. Not sure what is going on. I know that vodka can cause burnt tips, but I don't think 3.5mL in 145 Net gallons would cause that...besides everything looks great with incredible polyp extension....its just the birdsnests.

Now I'm also wondering if it could be the lights....I upgraded from 150W to 250w at the same time I started vodka dosing. So I'm thinking I'm going to move the birdsnests to the bottom of the tank instread of the top and see if that helps at all.

I also tested all my other parameters and they are spot on!!

Any suggestions would be great!!

cut the lighting a little bit with a shorter photoperiod. Doing with sugars will reduce the DOC's in the tank including any yellowing compounds in the water thereby making it clearer. The burnt tips of your coral (s) can be reduced by placing a screen mesh or cutting the light. Plus upgrading from 150 to 250 will do that Moving the coral lower will also help




here's the regimen I did a year ago with similar results as yours:
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=12664.0

 

[9supratt4]

Today I am increasing my dose to 4mL. The algae on the glass is getting less and less. My skimmer is pulling out more garbage and is thicker, and my SPS have incredible polyp extension already. Some pieces that I have had for a year that never had PE now have more than ever. A red tabling acro I bought that was more white than red at the time, is coloring up nicely and is much nicer than when I originally bought it. The only thing I can't get is blue to come back into my superman monti. So far I am happy with dosing.

But with success comes other things. Last night the power supply on one of my Vortech MP40w's died. Now I have to replace that and I have less flow in my tank at the moment...Ugh

 

[9supratt4]

I've been looking at my corals very closely and it seems as if some of them, not all, have started to show burnt tips...this is something can can happen when Vodka Dosing. After research, I have found that this usually occurs when your alkalinity levels are higher than those of natural seawater. Natural seawater is between 7-8 dkh....My tank runs at 10. So my next course of action is to stop dosing alk until the level comes down to 7.5dkh...then maintain that level.

 

[mnat]

You can also look at doing a good water change to help bring it down.

 

[9supratt4]

You can also look at doing a good water change to help bring it down.

I just did one LOL. No worries though....my tank sucks up alk...I add 80mL a day to maintain it.

 

[mgonz]

I add about 90 ml in mine daily and it still wont keep it up. I just checked my alk today and it is sitting at 5.8. I have no idea how or why, but I gotta get it up. Then I have to figure out exactly why it did that. just when you think everything is going great something like this happens

 

[9supratt4]

Have you tested your Magnesium levels?? Magnesium is needed due to some crazy chemical reaction that allows the tank to hold on to your alk and allow it to rise and stabilize.

 

[9supratt4]

New update: I just cleaned my skimmer collection cup for the first time in about a week!! I don't skim wet. The gunk built up on the sides of the uptake tube into the cup was incredibly thick, to the point that I could have used it as paint. The more wet skimmate was darker than usual too. When I put the cup under running water, the gunk came off in thick sheets. Never seen anything like this before!!

I will be posting pictures soon of some corals and my collection cup from before I started dosing, then I will post some as everything looks currently. I just wish I had a macro lens!!

 

[Nickjr000]

I'm awaiting pictures.................

 

[mgonz]

Yes I did check my mag. It was at 1250 which is three times my cal. so it is ok. I still cant figure out why it is doing this. I added some super buffer dkh to see if I can get it to stabilize but we will see. How are your corals looking? do you have any pics?

 

[9supratt4]

The following picture were taking on 12/16/09:

In this picture you can see what is supposed to be a red tabling acro, a pink acro and a valida:

This picture is of my Orange Monti Cap:

Ora Green Birdsnest:

My skimmate as of that date:

German Blue Stag:

 

[concept3]

that last pic looks like a montipora digitata.

 

[9supratt4]

that last pic looks like a montipora digitata.

Which I found out it is last night LOL.

It is an Ora German Blue Polyp digi

 

[mgonz]

your skimmate is so dark. mine doesnt come out nothing like that at all. It is crazy.

 

[9supratt4]

That was before dosing. It's gotten even darker now. And the sludge that builds up in the neck....WOW is it thick and dark. It comes off in sheets and can be used as spackle!! Oh and it smells worse than it ever has before!! I'll pst some new pictures soon.

 

[Brando457]

FTS FTS FTS

 

[9supratt4]

Brandon...I'm trying to get a full tank shot but it's not working well. But here are some pics of the tank.

I just hit the 5mL mark today!! Such a slow process LOL.

 

[Brando457]

looking good pictures don't do this tank justice

I wonder if RE is open today lol, but I feel like a jerk for calling in this weather.

 

[9supratt4]

looking good pictures don't do this tank justice

I wonder if RE is open today lol, but I feel like a jerk for calling in this weather.

Thanks Brandon!!

You should call RE and give them HELL!!

 

[George]

Tank looks great! what are your nitrate levels at?