In retrospect, all I can say is wow!! For those of you with fabulous tanks, congrats...for those of us you have never really been quite satisfied with the "quality" of our tanks, with the colors, with the growth, with poor doers or unexpected deaths...I urge you to take a look at bacteria dosing as a way up!!
I had fought nitrates and phosphates for years...one step forward, one step back, one step sideways...you know the tune! I added Miracle Mud...I added a denitrator...I've done a million gallons of water changes with zero TDS RO-DI water...I've spent THOUSANDS of $...nothing great to write home about...
Then I started dosing vodka...yes, improvement...added sugar and vinegar...OK, I like it...then I added bacteria!! GHA dying off, SPS LIVING well, no more red slime...colors, growth...WOW!
I realize that it is the combo of things getting the job done, but I strongly urge reefers who feel frustrated and who struggle getting their tanks to the next level to look at bacteria/vodka dosing as a possible way up...(don't forget, get the best skimmer you can afford!) IMHO!!!
DrMerle