Nitrate, and Ways to Control It in Saltwater Aquariums

The "Vodka Method for Nitrate Reduction" uses the same principle as the "Long Term Nitrate Reduction". However, instead of using activated carbon for the carbon source, it utilizes the organic carbon found in alcohol. As Charles Delbeek explained it: "the "vodka method" is a means to add inorganic carbon in the form alcohol to cause bacteria to grow. In boosting bacterial growth, nitrate and phosphate are incorporated by the bacteria, lowering these values in the water. The excess bacteria are then either removed through skimming or are consumed by other organisms, such as sponges."