MB7 + BioFuel (or Vodka) - Show Thread

[xsboost]

It could be an oxygen/pH issue then. Is your room well ventilated and do you have a decent skimmer and water flow? Is it getting a bit better each day as time goes on?

 

[urbaneks]

It could be an oxygen/pH issue then. Is your room well ventilated and do you have a decent skimmer and water flow? Is it getting a bit better each day as time goes on?

I have 100 total gallons on my system with a Reef Octopus NW150 which is rated at 150g. My return pump runs 700g an hour and I have two MP40s that I run on different modes up to 100%. The issue really has not gotten any better. Each day I'm hopeful as the tank looks wonderful most of the day but then starts clouding up in the evening.

The tank is rimless with an open top and I have a ceiling fan in the room so it seems like ventilation is not an issue.

I sure appreciate any advice on this one.

 

[xsboost]

I just saw your nitrates were zero before you started which means you would be overdosing vodka, hence the bloom. You might want to double check it with another kit though to be sure.

Since your nitrates were zero, you might want to go back to week 1 dosages and keep an eye on PO4 - presuming you want to lower that. If Nitrates creep up, then you can look to then increase vodka.

For bacteria to remove nitrate and phosphate you need carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus present together - so you may be nitrogen limited and not see much drop in your PO4. Unfortuantely, phosphate is the least required, so the slowest to drop.

Personally, I would cut the vodka dosages to week 1 doses again and run some phosphate remover like GFO or Phosguard to pull PO4 down a bit.

Do you have SPS or an algae problem you are trying to help?

 

[urbaneks]

I just saw your nitrates were zero before you started which means you would be overdosing vodka, hence the bloom. You might want to double check it with another kit though to be sure.

Since your nitrates were zero, you might want to go back to week 1 dosages and keep an eye on PO4 - presuming you want to lower that. If Nitrates creep up, then you can look to then increase vodka.

For bacteria to remove nitrate and phosphate you need carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus present together - so you may be nitrogen limited and not see much drop in your PO4. Unfortuantely, phosphate is the least required, so the slowest to drop.

Personally, I would cut the vodka dosages to week 1 doses again and run some phosphate remover like GFO or Phosguard to pull PO4 down a bit.

Do you have SPS or an algae problem you are trying to help?

XSBoost - Thanks for taking the time to help me out here. I've been wondering if lack of nitrates was part of the problem. The tank is just over a month old so there are no algae issues. I ran the tank for 2 weeks before starting MB7, then did MB7 for 2 weeks before starting vodka. The tank never did see a spike.

Prior to your post, I've was considering cutting the vodka all together until I get some measurable nitrates. I will cut it back to my starting point and go from there. I also turned my skimmer up which its now producing a thinner, wetter skimmate.

 

[Treed]

I just wanted to give an update on my usage of the brightwell products....I seeded the tank with MB7 and dosed half the dosage of biofuel with it. I seeded for 2 weeks and now ill cut back to once a week. I switched from biofuel to vinegar and know my phosphates read 0! I havent got a pinpoint for nitrate yet but everything seems to be doing okay. I still have algae but im hoping that with the phosphates 0 it will start to die off. I have cut back feed and only do amino once a week instead of everyday...(Ooops)

 

[xsboost]

XSBoost - Thanks for taking the time to help me out here. I've been wondering if lack of nitrates was part of the problem. The tank is just over a month old so there are no algae issues. I ran the tank for 2 weeks before starting MB7, then did MB7 for 2 weeks before starting vodka. The tank never did see a spike.

Prior to your post, I've was considering cutting the vodka all together until I get some measurable nitrates. I will cut it back to my starting point and go from there. I also turned my skimmer up which its now producing a thinner, wetter skimmate.

Mate, if your tank is fresh, I would cut the vodka completely then.

MB7 is the main component. You only need to add carbon when the MB7 stops pulling nitrates down (meaning your system is carbon limited, hence you need to supplement it). Not all systems need carbon based on the bioload, so I would see how it goes without it for time being.

If required later down the track, I am really liking Red Sea NO3O4-X. It smells like vinegar and nail polish remover and has worked much better than Biofuel for me

 

[pusanpa]

<a href="http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll190/pusanpa78/?action=view&current=IMG_9843c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll190/pusanpa78/IMG_9843c.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

Here is my tank. My corals are pale here but getting colored up after i shorten the photoperiod and feeded more.

 

[tbettis]

bump for updates

 

[dh350twin]

Is there any one dosing a hybrid recipe with any luck
Example would be np pellets, mb7, zeo vit additives, etc.
I personally am running np pellets along with mb7 and zeo coral snow and sponge power, also have refugium still on this system and about to add zeo vitalizer.
My system is only a few months old now but clean sand clean glass and good growth and colors.
I am battling low alk, right now trying to bump that up right now.

 

[vamaro]

I know this is an old thread, but is anyone still using the the MB7 with a carbon source? Wanted to see if anyone has had any good long term results.

 

[meisel1]

I just started with mb7 and vinegar and would love to hear about results both good and bad ...cheers

 

[gradth]

I had good results with MB7 and Biofuel, then I had other issues with lighting and lack of time and stopped using them. I have been battling hair algae again and just got done with a nasty batch of cyno.

So I just red slimed my tank, manually removed as much hair algae as I could, did a massive water change, cleaned all my equipment and started up the MB7 again.

So I will report back if I see marked improvement again. Just have to keep with it.

 

[insaneDynamix]

anyone using prodibio and vodka combos.

I started dosing this a month and a half ago. Im currently at one Prodi vial a week and 4ml of vodka.

When I started I had my nitrates up at 80 ... theyre now around 35.

Any suggestions .. I just got polyps right now ... some zoos, cloves, gsp and a branch hammer lps.

Trying to get to LNS before i can add sps.

Tank size 120 gal plus 40 gal sump ... skimmer - reef octo nwb 200. skimmer pulls out a lot of crap after vodka ... It didnt used to before

Cheers
ID

 

[ReefKeeper64]

I just started with mb7 and vinegar and would love to hear about results both good and bad ...cheers

I've been running bio pellets for a year and started dosing mb7 a month ago. It (mb7) seems to help increase skimate production significantly.