vodka

[reeftank2008]

Just reading up on the vodka dosing system,now ive worked out my nvw and how much i should add for basically the first week then what i should add thereafter,now my quetion may seem stupid but best to ask but how can i see what proof the vodka i am using is?Now i currently have a opened bottle of smirnoff next to me and it says 37.5% on the front of it but is that the proof?.Now i know it makes a difference what proof it is to how much i should dose.But would i round the 37.5% up to the 40% mark or would i keep it at 37.5 and work out how much i should have for the proof i have?
Thanks

[luke1234]

37.5% is fine, just make sure you add the vodka as instructed and raise at the recomended dose, also make sure your skimmer is big enough, good circulation also, i do mine 3 times a day rather than one big hit, p.s i went from over 100 nitrate to zero, regards pete

[reeftank2008]

Hi pete so with proof of 37.5% am i to follow the 40% proof table?I have a v2 skimmer although not the best ive modded it to have a air pump as well.

[luke1234]

Originally Posted by reeftank2008

Hi pete so with proof of 37.5% am i to follow the 40% proof table?I have a v2 skimmer although not the best ive modded it to have a air pump as well.

sorry for the late reply, i ffollowed the 40% table,i really don,t know about the v2 skimmer, i run the turboflotor 1000 that has been modded,i stick to theory that without it i would of suffered a few losses, i can only suggest that you follow the vodka dosing guidelines ,look for signs of oxygen depletion and test water on a daily basis, once you have reached zero nitrate you can set your maintenace dose,vodka dosing provided a great carbon source for my bacteria but never aided my po4 removal, regards pete

[reeftank2008]

Hi pete thanks for the reply,when you say it never aided your po4 removal do you mean that it only reduced your nitrate?Im going to start dosing tomorrow after i have done my water change.My setup is as follows a 4x2x18" tank with 3x15x12 sump after displacement i make it around 300litres ive done this to a lower amount as im taking the dosing slow.If i understand correctly i will dose 0.3ml for 3 days then days 4-7 dose 6ml and add additional 0.5ml every week after until i see a reduction in my phosphate or nitrate level.Does this sound right?Also anythign major i should expect to happen?Thanks Craig

[reeftank2008]

Sorry forgot to add im using tesco's home brand of vodka should this be ok?Its 37.5% proof so i will follow the 40% table.

[HIGHLIGHTMAN2008]

UK vodka is measured by volume and not proof like the USA, so 37.5% by VOL = 80% proof in the USA
Vodka % by volume is always higher than proof thats why 37.5 = 80% so 18.8% By Vol = 40% proof

So you will overdosing at the very start.

Also Read my thread as i am day 8 now of my dosing.

Note vodka is basically ethanol and water, the filtering process takes the c*ap out of the water so triple filtered is much better and thus less foreign agents will be added to the system i.e. can cause the cynao blooms etc.

hope this helps

[luke1234]

Originally Posted by reeftank2008

Hi pete thanks for the reply,when you say it never aided your po4 removal do you mean that it only reduced your nitrate?Im going to start dosing tomorrow after i have done my water change.My setup is as follows a 4x2x18" tank with 3x15x12 sump after displacement i make it around 300litres ive done this to a lower amount as im taking the dosing slow.If i understand correctly i will dose 0.3ml for 3 days then days 4-7 dose 6ml and add additional 0.5ml every week after until i see a reduction in my phosphate or nitrate level.Does this sound right?Also anythign major i should expect to happen?Thanks Craig

hi craig,
i use asda brand, basically don,t use flavored brands, i am not to sure but i think i got to about 32ml a day when i reached zero ,this took months to reach,the skimmate was darker than any i have seen before, like i said i would spread my dose over the day,i still use ultiphos p for phosphate removal,since i reached zero i started to add biodigest and bioptim to give me a more diverse bacteria and bacteria food,as for po4 removal,it doesn,t work for me, but i have read many logs where po4 removal has been obtained with carbon dosing, regards pete

[reeftank2008]

Highlightman are you saying i should follow the 80% table not the 40% as im using 37.5% tescos home brand vodka?Thanks

[HIGHLIGHTMAN2008]

Yep :-) does it say "37.5% VOL"