Chiselin time!

[Tang Salad]

Yep, the $120 I mentioned above is just for the PL Carbon (RF-Fuel) and the Bacteria (RF-Genesis). The whole kit comes with two other additives (IMO unnecessary) and costs more.

Good advice from Just Dave "If you go with Vodka method read up and be very sure you know what to do. " That's why I personally leaned towards the commercial products.

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13434613#post13434613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Most people continue to dose carbon even after all the algae is dead, to prevent any from returning. After all the algaes die, your corals will begin to lighten. At this point you can increase your feeding to help the corals get richer colors.

I don't think my corals can get much lighter. :hmm3:

 

[Tang Salad]

Your corals would probably rather get a little lighter than get nailed by a chisel.

 

[CeeGee]

Let me get this straight. The prodibio seems to be the most readily available of these systems so lets go with that in this hypothetical situation.

I would need some Biodigest and Bioptim and those are the only two additives I would need right?

How do these systems work and do I keep everything else normal during the use of these products? (water changes, lighting etc.)

TS,
If I buy this stuff and it doesn't work you have to change your sig to say.

Chris' algae was special. I had to buy him a chisel.

Deal?

 

[Tang Salad]

:lol:

Deal, and if it does die off, you need to have the same signature as me, m'kay? :lol:

I think you're right about which Prodibios you need, but maybe wait for JD to confirm. (But fwiw, Marinedepot has the PL stuff...)

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13435842#post13435842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee

How do these systems work and do I keep everything else normal during the use of these products? (water changes, lighting etc.)

Yep. You'll only need to adjust your skimmer to skim wetter, and as mentioned above, turkey bast/blast your LR more often.

 

[CeeGee]

I am sitting here thinking about this and if it works this is probably the way to go. Yes it is expensive but so is all the salt I am going through changing out 30 gallons of water twice a week in this cooking vat.

I will take a few pics of my skimmer because as far as I can tell I skim wet to start with.

You have a deal! I would absolutely love to be able to put a signature in that states "your algae is not special and neither was mine".

If I order from premium aquatics I can get the stuff faster as they are closer than MD. I can also get into the system a little cheaper on the front end with the prodibio.

Choices. Choices.

Can you give me a good rundown of the polyplab stuff and how to use it?

The RF-Fuel I found on Marine Depot is 500ml and the RF-Genesis is a 50Ml bottle. Is this what I would need?

 

[Tang Salad]

One of the disadvantages (IMO) of the Prodibio is that the additives come in single-unit glass vials, made for individual doses. Depending on your tank volume, one vial may be too much or too little for each dose, leaving you with many half-opened vials. IIRC these can be reused, though. I like the PL system because you get large bottles and the dosing is measured in drops per 25 gallons.

 

[Tang Salad]

And yes, although the cost up front hurts, it is definitely cheaper than cooking the rock. It is definitely money well spent.

 

[CeeGee]

If I could get these rocks cleared up by mid November I could take the cooking rock out move everything over to the new tank and that would be so sweet!

Once again please give me a rundown on how this stuff works and what I would need to do on a daily basis to make this work for me.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13435756#post13435756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Your corals would probably rather get a little lighter than get nailed by a chisel.

I was stating that my corals are already so light that I don't think they could get any lighter. I have only the slightest hint of color on them currently.

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13435969#post13435969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee

Can you give me a good rundown of the polyplab stuff and how to use it?

Sure. You'll need these two:

The Fuel is dosed every day when lights come on at: .3mL for weeks 1+2. .4mL weeks 3+4. .5mL from week 5 onward. These are the daily doses per 25 gallons system volume (It comes with a mL-measuring syringe.) You just squirt it into the aquarium, in an area of high flow and not directly on any corals.

The Genesis is dosed at one drop per 25 gallons, every day, when lights come on. That's it. It will help speed the process along if you can tweezer out as much algae as you can when you begin. But this isn't totally necessary.After a couple-few weeks, the algae will turn white. Then it will turn clear. Then it will DISINTEGRATE and DIE.

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13436030#post13436030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
After a couple-few weeks, the algae will turn white. Then it will turn clear. Then it will DISINTEGRATE and DIE.

That's what I am talking about!

The only problem I can see is that I am not home when the lights come on. Does it have to be when the lights come on? I guess I could change my schedule but I doubt my two fish would be happy about that. I should probably reduce my lighting period a little anyway until I reach a point where the algae is gone. That would help put the nail in the coffin for the algae.

any hit to alk and calcium using this stuff? Any other traps that could be potentially deadly for the inhabitants?

I have it in a cart on marine depot. Ready to hit the order button.

 

[Tang Salad]

Also, you should remove all chemical filtration media (GFO/Phosban), except for GAC. Continue to use/replace the GAC as usual.

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13436069#post13436069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
That's what I am talking about!

The only problem I can see is that I am not home when the lights come on. Does it have to be when the lights come on? I guess I could change my schedule but I doubt my two fish would be happy about that. I should probably reduce my lighting period a little anyway until I reach a point where the algae is gone. That would help put the nail in the coffin for the algae.

any hit to alk and calcium using this stuff? Any other traps that could be potentially deadly for the inhabitants?

I have it in a cart on marine depot. Ready to hit the order button.

I'm also not at home when the lights come on, so I dose about 1/2way through the daily photoperiod. As long as you're not dosing at the very end of the day, you should be fine.

Now hit the button!

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13436071#post13436071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Also, you should remove all chemical filtration media (GFO/Phosban), except for GAC. Continue to use/replace the GAC as usual.

Dang! I just put new GFO in the reactor!

At what point does one start using GFO again? Or does this system eradicate the need for it?

I would eventually like to get back to good husbandry and no additives. There are plenty of people around here who do that.

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13436083#post13436083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
Dang! I just put new GFO in the reactor!

At what point does one start using GFO again? Or does this system eradicate the need for it?

I would eventually like to get back to good husbandry and no additives. There are plenty of people around here who do that.

Most who go this route never look back to the days of GFO. If you think about it, this carb/bac is no more artificial than using heavy quantities of GFO. It's also cheaper.

Alk and Cal should be maintained as usual. This system has no effect on these.

 

[Tang Salad]

All in all, carb/bac greatly simplifies reefkeeping. You don't need (and shouldn't use) Ozone or UV, and you'll get that crystal clear water. You don't need (and shouldn't use) GFO or a refugium, and you'll get super-low nutrients.

As per WCs, the PL company suggests "10% bi-weekly or 25% monthly water changes. These water changes are required. Larger or more frequent water changes are unnecessary."

 

[CeeGee]

One more question and I guess it time to place an order.

If I am adding bacteria on a constant basis everyday won't there be a point where this bacteria starts to reproduce on it's own and I can stop adding it? I understand that I have to add the carbon source but adding bacteria everyday seems odd.

Thanks for all your help TS.

Just ordered it. Hopefully I will be adding a signature in a few weeks.

 

[Tang Salad]

Woohoo! I'm looking forward to your new signature as well.

As for the daily additions of bacteria, yeah, it does seem strange. Some have suggested it's necessary to avoid a monoculture. That is, by adding a variety of strains every day, you ensure that the bacterial population remains diverse and effective. Since I never tried PL without the bac. I can't comment on its necessity. It's somewhat of a leap of faith. Some reading of the vodka/sugar/vinegar methods suggest that it may be a necessary component overloooked in these DIY forms of carb/bac. Zeovit, the grand-daddy of carb/bac, also uses a bac. additive...

 

[CeeGee]

One more thing. What alk levels do you run this stuff at. I was under the impression with the zeo you had to run a lower alk.