Carbone's 2000 liters reef

[Carbone]

Could you tell us more about the Zeoliths?

1. How much are you using?
2. Do you change it often?
3. Is it run in a reactor?
4. Are you dosing any carbon source?

Apologies for the extra questions, but I have about 10kgs of zeolites with me, and was hoping I could use them

Thanks!

Since last summer I used a DIY zeo filter (6-7 litters), but my father was not shaking the stones very well, so I disabled the reactor. Now I'm using two plastic containers full with zeo stones (about 1 bucket of salt - 50lb or 23kg full with zeolites) and I shake them monthly before a water change.
Those plastic containers looks like this http://static2.indio.ro/img_art/mare/1288128692.jpg

I change some stones very 3-4 months (about 20-30%).

I tried carbon dosing in the past with different methods:
- biopellets in a reef octopus reactor (the big size), but the biopellets stick to each other in a power outage and also some biopellets escape on the reactor input and clog the pump impeller. To start the reactor again, you need to get the impeller out, put the escaped biopellets back, start the pump and shake realy well the reactor to liquidize again the pellets.
- vinegar and vokda: for this you need to monitor the tank daily. Since I only visit the tank in weekends, the risk was too high and I dropped the idea

Anyway, since my NO3 is still zero, why should I bother with carbon source ?

 

[Bello]

Thank you very much for your reply :thumbsup:

I used zeo/carbon dosing over the last 4 years. I stopped Zeo last year (cost issues), and only dosed carbon source (zeostart3). Later, I completely stopped carbon dosing (was trying to see if I can manage without), and my NO3 has now reached 5ppm....

To reduce, I have started the new All In One biopellets for the last month. Thankfully, we rarely have power outages, so it should be ok for now. No changes in NO3 levels noticed so far. Since I already have the zeoliths, I could start with a smallish amount, just as additional filtration, as you have described .

If I cannot reduce NO3 with the above, I have considered removing shallow sandbed and replace with white acrylic sheet (I dislike bare bottom as well, but no choice).

It's an achievement that you can maintain such an amazing reef, with only weekend visits :thumbsup:. My goal is to try and maintain a similar system with minimal maintenance.

Thanks!!!

 

[Carbone]

Thank you very much for your reply :thumbsup:

I used zeo/carbon dosing over the last 4 years. I stopped Zeo last year (cost issues), and only dosed carbon source (zeostart3). Later, I completely stopped carbon dosing (was trying to see if I can manage without), and my NO3 has now reached 5ppm....

To reduce, I have started the new All In One biopellets for the last month. Thankfully, we rarely have power outages, so it should be ok for now. No changes in NO3 levels noticed so far. Since I already have the zeoliths, I could start with a smallish amount, just as additional filtration, as you have described .

If I cannot reduce NO3 with the above, I have considered removing shallow sandbed and replace with white acrylic sheet (I dislike bare bottom as well, but no choice).

It's an achievement that you can maintain such an amazing reef, with only weekend visits :thumbsup:. My goal is to try and maintain a similar system with minimal maintenance.

Thanks!!!

I also have shallow sand bed. Maybe you can try to syphon the sand each time you do water changes. Just go slowly when vacuuming so you syphon as much as possible.

Hope it works for you.

 

[Bello]

Thanks for the tips, I'll give it a try for the next month :thumbsup:

Will be following your thread :thumbsup:

 

[Carbone]

here are some pictures from today. not very much grow since august.
just a little bit of color change in some corals.

 

[Carbone]

This one is the same size as 2-3 years ago. Not even 0.5mm grow :angryfire:

Can anyone ID this ? (Acropora Abrotanoides?) - started to have some nice red tips

 

[Carbone]

A short video uploaded today
(1080 HD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbDCdHYT-Gw

 

[sandyland]

Amazing growth on your corals!! The video is awesome. Love your tank. Subscribed

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

You have a very beautiful tank. Love the video.

 

[paul.asty]

Congratulations Cristi
your aquarium is impressive
and corals have wonderful colors

 

[wowkingjames]

Love you tank, corals are awesome!

 

[saf1]

Hello and greetings from Romania!

The tank cover

What breed of dog if you don't mind me asking?

Also, nice tank!

 

[Carbone]

What breed of dog if you don't mind me asking?

Also, nice tank!

it's a german shepherd, but not sure how pure it is :hmm5:

 

[Carbone]

some pictures from last week (phone camera)

 

[dave.m]

Beautiful!

Dave.M

 

[Carbone]

Beautiful!

Dave.M

Thank you, Dave.

Unfortunately not everybody loves the summer heat ...


Dinner time

 

[Michael B]

What a fantastic tank & great colours in the corals

 

[Carbone]

What a fantastic tank & great colours in the corals

Thank you.

Unfortunately in the last months I lost some acroporas because of the heat combined with alkalinity swings.
Here is an update after removing all the SPS frags from the bottom:

 

[Haab]

Love it

 

[Carbone]

@Haab: Thank you !

Next week I will "restart" the red montipora and the gren one by cutting the entire colony and cementing just 4-5 small frags in the place. Also I need to cut the purple acropora (in front of the green/yellow mille), the acrpora yongey (top left) and one red mille (in front of the yongei) that are 60%-70% dead after the heat event in the summer.






The frag tank