vanz Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Read this on another site "Did you know that adding 1ml/20g of vodka to your water can lower Nitrates? You can also use sugar! What it does is allows your bacteria to bloom and consume all of your Nitrates, without causing an actual bloom catastrophe in your tank (if you have a decent skimmer). You may notice the next morning that your skimmer cup is full, which is for the most part excess bacteria." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Yah i've read about it. Not sure i want to try it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Its part of a bacteria driven control system, honestly if you are considering it... Don't. It was used in Europe for a while and after experimenting they came up with the Zeovit and prodibio systems as an alternative that was much safer. If you want a bacteria driven system look to Joel at Waves regarding his Prodibio.. and all these systems are geared towards SPS systems other than Prodibio that is claim to be mixed reef safe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 No, I didn't plan on using it. Just found it interesting. Get yo fish drunk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 I think Brandon(reefgeek) did something with sugar didn't he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 I've tried it and was pretty happy with it, I wouldn't suggest it as I hear it can get kinda out of hand, but I only added about a teaspoon to a 60 gallon tank, and it cleared up my brown slime algae and oddly enough all the macro algaes on the rocks dissapeared within a week now just imagine Mary Poppins dancing around your MH pendants a teaspoon of sugar helps the brown algae dissapear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 Interesting, I have some brown from dosing some epsom.. how big was this tank you dropped a teaspoon of it in and did you have SPS. Edit: ok 60 gallon, did you see any adverse affects? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 I did have a few sps in the tank, they didn't seem bothered at all nothing really bad happened in the tank at all, just the macro algaes (chaeto and caulerpa) all just disolved and where gone in a week or two, growth on my zoas slowed for a week too, but the growth rate increased quickly after. So I assume it was just from the short term change in water chemistry. The sugar disolves quickly into the water, and is used very quickly by the bacteria, it kind of gives the bacteria a little kick start to get ahead of the algaes, but its important that its only a little kick start to get thing started in that direction, otherwise the sugar can cause all kinds of issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 with too much sugar added, issues could include cyano PH ALK Diseases on fish or it could throw your rock into another die off cycle by boosting the bacteria too much, then leaving them starving for food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mbeef61 Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 yeah i know a guy with a tank in cresent valley that actually uses everclear in his 50 foot deep sand bed to feed anerobic bacteria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly guy Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 ' date=' but the growth rate increased quickly after. So I assume it was just from the short term change in water chemistry. [/quote'] Growth rate of the corals or the growth rate of the macro-algaes???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 I think Brandon(reefgeek) did something with sugar didn't he? You are correct. I would not recommend this as something to always reduce nitrites...there was a huge discussion that was on RC about this, that I participated in (before I was banned)...It did reduce my nitrites and ammonia...but I simply did this to help cycle the tank further and get that process over with...Do i think this could work, yes, but I think it takes to much work to find the proper amount for you tank. Like someone else said, it can cause algae out breaks, ph issues, also it takes out the alot of the oxygen out of the water and that can kill alot of stuff in the tank. The way I look at it...if you have proper husbandry, you will not need this...a skimmer, LR, good water flow, and water volume compared to bio-load and you are set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Growth rate of the corals or the growth rate of the macro-algaes???? sorry, the coral growth rate went up after the sugar, the algaes where starved for food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 LOL did everyone get banned from RC? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blown65 Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Ya, I've read of that too, and its sugar though Ive read about. like oldbrownies said, you can cause more harm though than your helping if you overdose. Ill stick to better skimming and feeding a tad less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 its an AWESOME solution to alot of problems, but i have found, and i have tried alot of things with sugar, that you should not put more than a teaspoon of sugar in your tank in a year, the feedings will feed enough but a teaspoon in your initial start up/cycle is benificial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleFishBoy Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 LOL did everyone get banned from RC? LOL (whistle) I did about a 3 years ago. That site has some good info on it, but the site in general (management and members) sucks!! Thats why I like to stay here and on TRT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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