Volka for SPS systems

[Joe_P]

Hi guys,

Anyone here into Volka dosing for their sps systems?

I'm currently running GFO for my system and am keen to move into volka to attain a ULNS for my SPS setup.

So feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

[serravorte]

Im currently 1st week into vodka usage...

Have taken some photos during the weeks...

hopefully can post some successful results in 2 mths time..

cheers... will keep this thread updated..

[Joe_P]

Im currently 1st week into vodka usage...

Have taken some photos during the weeks...

hopefully can post some successful results in 2 mths time..

cheers... will keep this thread updated..

Hey bro,

Many thanks. awaiting your updates.

BTW, anyone here also tryin out Brightswell MB7 with volka?

Heard pretty good reviews from RC regardin the MB7.

[norman19]

Hey bro,

Many thanks. awaiting your updates.

BTW, anyone here also tryin out Brightswell MB7 with volka?

Heard pretty good reviews from RC regardin the MB7.

I'll also be trying MB7 and vodka on my new 2ft setup. But can't get hold of MB7, seems that most LFS do not keep stock.

Do PM me where you got your MB7.

[Joe_P]

I'll also be trying MB7 and vodka on my new 2ft setup. But can't get hold of MB7, seems that most LFS do not keep stock.

Do PM me where you got your MB7.

Hi Bro norman19,

I am not into volka and MB7 as of yet. Am planning to. Anyway, any idea which LFS carries brightwell products?

[qwertman321]

Hi Bro norman19,

I am not into volka and MB7 as of yet. Am planning to. Anyway, any idea which LFS carries brightwell products?

Polyart have alot

[Jameshong]

Hi Bro norman19,

I am not into volka and MB7 as of yet. Am planning to. Anyway, any idea which LFS carries brightwell products?

Look for ML, Henry. He carry Brightwell products.

[Joe_P]

Polyart have alot

Look for ML, Henry. He carry Brightwell products.

Thanks for the infor.

anyone else into volka/MB7 dosing to achieve ULNS ?

[HellBliss]

Thanks for the infor.

anyone else into volka/MB7 dosing to achieve ULNS ?

im using vsv/mb7. currently into second month of dosing, able to attain low nutrients state with daily feeding of 3 mysis cubes.

[Gouldian]

I'm into ULNS - Microbe-Lift Special Blend and Vodka.

I have used Rowa and Prodibio with good results too but opt for Microbe-Lift as I find it more economical.

With the above bacteria culture and vodka, I am able to attain unmeasurable Nitrate using Elos test kit. I've since de-comm my denitrator.

Only thing about Microbe-Lift is the rotten eggs smell from the bottle whenever you open.

[Joe_P]

im using vsv/mb7. currently into second month of dosing, able to attain low nutrients state with daily feeding of 3 mysis cubes.

Hi HellBliss,

What's the proportion of each item utilised in regards to vsv that you are using?

VSV = Volka / Sugar / Vinegar

I'm into ULNS - Microbe-Lift Special Blend and Vodka.

I have used Rowa and Prodibio with good results too but opt for Microbe-Lift as I find it more economical.

With the above bacteria culture and vodka, I am able to attain unmeasurable Nitrate using Elos test kit. I've since de-comm my denitrator.

Only thing about Microbe-Lift is the rotten eggs smell from the bottle whenever you open.

Hi Gouldian,

Any Infor on Microbe-Lift Special Blend? I would assume it to be a combo of different strains of bacteria?

Thanks

[norman19]

I'm into ULNS - Microbe-Lift Special Blend and Vodka.

I have used Rowa and Prodibio with good results too but opt for Microbe-Lift as I find it more economical.

With the above bacteria culture and vodka, I am able to attain unmeasurable Nitrate using Elos test kit. I've since de-comm my denitrator.

Only thing about Microbe-Lift is the rotten eggs smell from the bottle whenever you open.

haha I've just got myself a bottle of Microbe-Lift Special Blend from Petsmart yesterday. Can i use it for my cycling ?

[gerald31]

I was into vodka dosing periodic PROFIBIO dosing before. My tank was then heavy stocked SPS sys, with 10+ fishes and mostly angels in my 100 gallon tank. The dosing works as it brought down my NO3 to <0.5. The best part , I do not have to bother abt PO4 even with heavy feeding. And, able to colour up my SPS - some were totally brown-out colonies. However, after dosing for a couple of months, I feel that the tank became very sterile and coraline started to recede, followed by patches of slime green algae. It seems that the tank have reached its peak with the dosing. That's where I torn down the sys and start from ground zero again.

That was my experience but all sys are different, hence some may have better experience.

[Gouldian]

Hi HellBliss,

What's the proportion of each item utilised in regards to vsv that you are using?

VSV = Volka / Sugar / Vinegar

Hi Gouldian,

Any Infor on Microbe-Lift Special Blend? I would assume it to be a combo of different strains of bacteria?

Thanks

Hi Joe, they only state Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter in the packaging but what impressed me is the video on the amount of highly active bacteria in their culture (Video) * Note - very slow streaming .

[Gouldian]

haha I've just got myself a bottle of Microbe-Lift Special Blend from Petsmart yesterday. Can i use it for my cycling ?

Yes, as stated in the instruction, the dosage for new tank is higher.

[yooyoo99]

Have been dosing volka for a few months liao, initial NO3 and PO4 close to zero, but still hit by dino problem.

There is a well documented procedure on the dosing of volka on the reefcentral. I followed its dosing regime till about 8ml of volka for my 6 footer. Dosed the volka 1 shoot in the evening.

Result

- skimmer turns black and smelly

- did not dose till i see reduction of NO3, as it was close to zero initially. max amt dosed was 10ml, but dropped to 8ml due to high cost of volka.

- sps colored up after a few weeks, growth has been good compared to b4 dosing

- lps not much difference, except that my hammer has been growing well (a bit of surprise as i did not monitor them for sometime)

- did not managed to resolve the dino problem

Went on to the scrubber method on volka dosing. Scrubber is on for close to 1 mth liao, no heavy growth of green algae though.

Result

- skimate continue to be black and smelly

- dino recently starts to slow down its growth, seems to be dying out

I suspect my dino problem is due to low ph (high dosing from Ca reactor), not so much on the nutrients level. The scrubber seems to be able to help maintain ph over the night (guessing).

But still continue to dose volka, as it gives skimmer extra boast in removing nutrients.

[curahee]

For my nano reef, been dosing for more den half a yr with near zero phosphate and nitrate, 4 mths ago i try something radical, i only dose vodka and nv change a single drop of tank water for the past 4 mths, what i notice is all my livestock and fishes r as healthy as before. But some of ric and all xenia die and melt away. Other den that, the rest of the remaining coral like ric, hammer, zoas, candy cane, blastos, GSP r doing well and GSP, zoas r growing along the liverock and substrate. Fishes and shrimp r healthy and eating. The only maintenance i do is dosing of trace element and daily coral food. Algae problem is minima. I wonder how long can this continue.

[thairun]

Hi Joe, this is good thread.

Have dosing vodka since June with the regimes protocol required for Vodka. No others but plainly vodka, cos I believed tt my 2 years 5 footers produced alot of bacterias. Initially PO4 at 0.1 and NO3 at 10 -15ppm. Concurrently am running 2 feet double screen algae scrubber.

Till then in Nov my PO4 down near 0 and NO3 1-2ppm. Been all the while running 2.5' cube refuge of DSB and mangroves. Like the result as experience by yooyoo99 especially skimate dark black never have before. Luckily my cyno growth restricted in the refugium and having problem to scrab it mnthly, never affect much in my main tank.

My dosing from start reached to max 7.5ml and now to daily maintainance dose of 3ml. After I introducing a big lump of chaeto my P & N out of sudden go to undetectable. FYI still running 10 spoon FR of Rowa change every 3 mnth, just for safe side.

Results are good with new growth of original color, pic attached for sharing but my experience in photography are suck.

Sorry for bad pics

Desalwi tri color

Green orange tip milli

Blue tip tenius

Overgrown orange monti

[Joe_P]

Hi Joe, they only state Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter in the packaging but what impressed me is the video on the amount of highly active bacteria in their culture (Video) * Note - very slow streaming .

Thanks Gouldian,

This product sure looks impressive.

Many Thanks to bro gerald31, yooyoo99 and curahee for sharing your experiences and observations in regards to volka dosing.

Seems like results are pretty positive.

BTW, heard those into ULNS experience the so called syndrome known as "alk burns" on their SPS when their system alkalinity level is high. what do you guys suggest as a appropriate level for kH?

[Joe_P]

WOW !!! thanks thairun,

Pictures definitely speaks a thousand words!

Good growth and colours you have there!

One question though, ain't the low nutrient levels gonna cause issues for the algae scrubber to function effectively?

Hi Joe, this is good thread.

Have dosing vodka since June with the regimes protocol required for Vodka. No others but plainly vodka, cos I believed tt my 2 years 5 footers produced alot of bacterias. Initially PO4 at 0.1 and NO3 at 10 -15ppm. Concurrently am running 2 feet double screen algae scrubber.

Till then in Nov my PO4 down near 0 and NO3 1-2ppm. Been all the while running 2.5' cube refuge of DSB and mangroves. Like the result as experience by yooyoo99 especially skimate dark black never have before. Luckily my cyno growth restricted in the refugium and having problem to scrab it mnthly, never affect much in my main tank.

My dosing from start reached to max 7.5ml and now to daily maintainance dose of 3ml. After I introducing a big lump of chaeto my P & N out of sudden go to undetectable. FYI still running 10 spoon FR of Rowa change every 3 mnth, just for safe side.

Results are good with new growth of original color, pic attached for sharing but my experience in photography are suck.

Sorry for bad pics

Desalwi tri color

Green orange tip milli

Blue tip tenius

Overgrown orange monti

[Morpheous]

I read Vodka increases both the good and bad bacteria.

I do notice some caluliflower growth on my regal angel.

Not sure if that is due to the effect of the carbon dosing, but I turn on my UV just in case.

Anyone has such encounters or any downside of this dosing regime?

[thairun]

WOW !!! thanks thairun,

Pictures definitely speaks a thousand words!

Good growth and colours you have there!

One question though, ain't the low nutrient levels gonna cause issues for the algae scrubber to function effectively?

Dont mention and am still twicking here and there to retain the color of the SPS. Such a daunting task to lower nuetrient level sometime feel like giving up keeping them. Anyway now is the task to put back all color of the SPS and stll having problem to burn the browned up pink birdnest even with new growth it still browning Any idea anyone?

Today just decomming my denitrator, one of the factors tt doing the denitrating job. Hope this will boost up my Ph and definitely lessen up my maintenance.

Yap lately the algae scrubber produce more red algae than green. But still producing algae at same rate with no problem. Hope beside dosing vodka these all natural denitrating factors process I have will balance up my system.

Infact dosing vodka I have difficulty maintaning my KH high always at 5-7dkh even with the compliment of running kalk reactor and drip kh buffer.

[MarcoVan]

Dont mention and am still twicking here and there to retain the color of the SPS. Such a daunting task to lower nuetrient level sometime feel like giving up keeping them. Anyway now is the task to put back all color of the SPS and stll having problem to burn the browned up pink birdnest even with new growth it still browning Any idea anyone?

Today just decomming my denitrator, one of the factors tt doing the denitrating job. Hope this will boost up my Ph and definitely lessen up my maintenance.

Yap lately the algae scrubber produce more red algae than green. But still producing algae at same rate with no problem. Hope beside dosing vodka these all natural denitrating factors process I have will balance up my system.

Infact dosing vodka I have difficulty maintaning my KH high always at 5-7dkh even with the compliment of running kalk reactor and drip kh buffer.

are you running a DSB?

I know there are issues vodka has with DSB. Kinda like DSB contains both good and bad bacteria. Feeding vodka to the system only produces more good and bad bacteria. The scale will not be tipped as a result, you wont be able to achieve ULNS.

I believe this issue has been addressed in RC before. And to remove DSB to fully push the effect of vodka dosing is easier said than done. So perhaps bro, you will need to look into this issue which could be the reason behind your spses not coloring up.

Happy Reefing,

Marc J.

[MarcoVan]

Thanks for the infor.

anyone else into volka/MB7 dosing to achieve ULNS ?

+1 here.

I was into Vodka/Sugar & Mb7. I do see positive results but, a black sandbed :S

Happy Reefing,

Marc J.

[thairun]

are you running a DSB?

I know there are issues vodka has with DSB. Kinda like DSB contains both good and bad bacteria. Feeding vodka to the system only produces more good and bad bacteria. The scale will not be tipped as a result, you wont be able to achieve ULNS.

I believe this issue has been addressed in RC before. And to remove DSB to fully push the effect of vodka dosing is easier said than done. So perhaps bro, you will need to look into this issue which could be the reason behind your spses not coloring up.

Happy Reefing,

Marc J.

Thanks Marc to highliten the DSB issue. Obviously, I noticed the bad bac ie cyno, but restricted to the refugium itself thanks god. Lot of it. I read there are 12 bac in the sea good and bad. I just dont know which bac tt contributing directly to the zoosenthalae (dont know spell correctly or not) tt living in the SPS cell tissue. Do I have to back off the dosing? and slowly reduced my bioload and go back to the basic? Or I introduce the good bac like Mb7/probidio etc? Anyone care to share where to get those? Cld not find at RD even Polyart.