Deklin's 80G SPS Reef

[MMOORE0324]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14805244#post14805244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deklin
Thanks! I used to dose vodka and run GFO and had similar thoughts to you. I stopped both of them when I added the zeostones and zeobac to my system. I do feel like the stones and zeobac combo are more efficient at removing PO4 from the system. I believe you could still dose vodka or run GFO but I haven't had a need since my PO4 is held in check now and I've never had a problem with nitrates due to severly overskimming my system.

I run activated carbon in a filter bag in my frag tank overflow area that I change out every few weeks.

I didn't really notice any negative affects after starting although I had read several cases were people had. I was very cautious and used well below the recommended amounts. I slowly upped the amounts I used over maybe a 6 month time period but I still use less stones than are recommended for my water volume.

Thanks for your response! Well it looks like I may give it a try. I got onto Zeos site and did a little looking around. One thing that I'm kinda worried about is everyone makes it seem like that once you start and can't stop without adverse effects.

Do you "clean the stones" daily like it says in the Zeo guide? How do you do that if you do.

Do you order your Zeo products offline or do you have a dealer by you?

What size ZeoBak bottle do you get? If you run out and can't dose it for a few days will there be any issues?

How much flow do you have through your phosban reactor? I use the Marineland Mini-jet pump with my GFO... +/- 100gph

Thanks again!

 

[runningnreefing]

Great T5 tank. The aquascaping and photography are superb. How do you like the RKE. Is it a V1 or V2, and have you had any issues with the controller.

 

[plyle02]

glad to hear the BM is working for you, I currently run a BM160 on my 40 gallon tank, and it seems to collect very similair skimmate. Your tank is beautiful, it gives me much hope since alot of the husbandry skills you employ are sort of the same I run, I guess time will tell im my case... Great job, very impressive!

 

[moonlightxpress]

excellent tank ..do you run filter socks and do you turn anything off when you dose coral frenzy?? thanks

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14805503#post14805503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MMOORE0324
One thing that I'm kinda worried about is everyone makes it seem like that once you start and can't stop without adverse effects.

Do you "clean the stones" daily like it says in the Zeo guide? How do you do that if you do.

Do you order your Zeo products offline or do you have a dealer by you?

What size ZeoBak bottle do you get? If you run out and can't dose it for a few days will there be any issues?

How much flow do you have through your phosban reactor? I use the Marineland Mini-jet pump with my GFO... +/- 100gph

I've read similar opinons but I don't agree with them. About a year ago I went 5-6 months without replacing stones and the only thing I noticed was an increase in macro algae which is to be expected since I wasn't mantaining my PO4 export system. Just like GFO, prodibio or vodka dosing if you depend on the method for PO4 removal and you suddenly remove it then its likely that PO4 levels will increase, you'll will see more algae growth and coral colors / growth will dull but there is not going to be some catastrophic tank crash overnight. If you remove it and replace with a similarly effective method to keep you PO4 at the same level then I wouldn't expect any changes. Ofcourse I just use it to supplement PO4 export and don't use all of the other aspects of Zeo dosing so I can't speak to everything zeo-related.

I do clean the stones but obviously not the traditional way since I don't have a zeo reactor. I just turn the phosban reactor upside down a few times to agitate the stones inside. I try to do this every night but I don't worry about it if I miss a night or while I'm on vacation. Even the zeo documentation says not to worry if you were unable to stir the stones over an extended period of time, jsut to pick up with a normal routine when you are able to again.

I've used aquariumspecialty to get stuff, I get the smallest bottle of bac, it's only supposed to last 6 months or so I would be wasting money on a larger bottle. I probably have about 100gph through the phosban reactor, maybe a little less. My pump is dialed back with a restrictor valve on the phosban output.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14805516#post14805516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by runningnreefing
Great T5 tank. The aquascaping and photography are superb. How do you like the RKE. Is it a V1 or V2, and have you had any issues with the controller.

It's the RKE v2 and I love it. I just got it a couple months ago and have been using it only for managing my peristaltic dosing pumps for balling method supplementation. I only got the head unit and a 4x power module so far but plan to add other modules and use more funcationality soon. It's a great design and very powerful controller that allows you to do all kinds of things.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14805922#post14805922 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plyle02
glad to hear the BM is working for you, I currently run a BM160 on my 40 gallon tank, and it seems to collect very similair skimmate. Your tank is beautiful, it gives me much hope since alot of the husbandry skills you employ are sort of the same I run, I guess time will tell im my case... Great job, very impressive!

Thanks! Bubblemasters are great skimmers IMO, sounds like your on the right track :thumbsup:

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14807216#post14807216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonlightxpress
excellent tank ..do you run filter socks and do you turn anything off when you dose coral frenzy?? thanks

I used to run filter socks but my corals were experiencing pale coloration and I came to the conclusion that filter socks were one of several factors that were contributing to a nutrient starved tank and stopped using them. I use one in my frag tank just to control the amount of salt creep I get from splashing water but the bottom is cut out of it.

I don't turn my skimmer off when I dose coral frenzy.

 

[MMOORE0324]

Ok just one more Zeo question (maybe, lol) do you use the ZeoStart2? I thought that it was just for new tanks, but in reading the guide they also say can be used to achieve great color. Just wondering if you use it or did use it when you first started Zeo.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14807381#post14807381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MMOORE0324
Ok just one more Zeo question (maybe, lol) do you use the ZeoStart2? I thought that it was just for new tanks, but in reading the guide they also say can be used to achieve great color. Just wondering if you use it or did use it when you first started Zeo.

I used it when I first started but I don't now.

 

[MMOORE0324]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14807556#post14807556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deklin
I used it when I first started but I don't now.

Do you think that I could get away with not using it at all? Just trying to keep it as simple and cost effective as possible, thanks for all your help btw!

 

[deklin]

It's time for more pictures!


Sunset Monti

Rommel's Rainbow Acro

Pink Sandollar

Setosa (first pic was in January, 2nd 2 months later in March)

OG Mummy Eye

 

[macreefster]

i am so starting to hate you t-5 guys.... why didnt i go t-5 when i set up my system????LOL

love the colors of your corals, great choice in corals and great pics.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14807573#post14807573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MMOORE0324
Do you think that I could get away with not using it at all? Just trying to keep it as simple and cost effective as possible, thanks for all your help btw!

I think you can still get a benefit without it. In an established reef, the start is one of the less important additives IMO.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14807667#post14807667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macreefster
i am so starting to hate you t-5 guys.... why didnt i go t-5 when i set up my system????LOL

love the colors of your corals, great choice in corals and great pics.

LOL, thanks! T5s seem like they are becoming more popular with SPS tanks lately but there are still plenty of extremely nice reefs with MH out there. I think both are capable of getting great SPS colors and growth.

 

[ziyaadb]

wow man fantastic well done

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Finally! Sweet tank!

 

[MMOORE0324]

Any updates? How is everything doing?

 

[Walter Costa]

amazing tank.

 

[deklin]

Thank you everyone for the nice comments!

Not too much to update although I am coming to the realization that a tank upgrade is in my future. My SPS is getting to the point where growth is taking off and space is running out. I could just let corals grow together and I'm sure they would work it out amongst themselves but the problem is I keep finding new frags that I just have to add

So I've been doing a lot of cutting back and moving around of corals lately to free up a bit of space to put new frags. I even added a small new piece of rock in an open spot center of the tank.

I'm thinking of upgrading to a 120 gallon display, I really like the look of those oceanic tech 120s. Although still a lot of stuff to thing about like would I keep the basement sump or consolidate everything to a more traditional setup contained in the tank stand. I like having all the equipment downstairs and out of the way but we live in a townhouse and will almost certainly be moving within the next 5 years and a system that's not plumbed through the walls might be a bit easier to deal with come moving time...

I took a couple new FTS although I'm not satisfied with them. I've got the white balance down for in-tank shots but I'm having trouble with it in a FTS as the camera likes to adjust relative to the room and the bright spots in the tank end up getting washed out. I think I need to spend some quality time with my camera and figure out how to compensate for this.

I'm still getting settled in with the balling method after I changed out my calcium reactor and started balling a couple months ago. I've had a few ALK fluctuations during the process of outgrowing what my calcium reactor could keep up with and trying to make the switch to the balling method and I think it set me back a bit in coral coloration but everything has recovered and is doing a nice job coloring up again.

I have three 2.5 gallon jugs for supplementation and I was hoping I would only have to mix new batches every 1-2 months but so far it's looking like I will have to mix new batches every 2-3 weeks. My reef is really sucking up a lot of CA, ALK and Mg.