My Bacteria Driven Journey

[Tswifty]

With my Ca Reactor, I just adjusted my CO2 bubble rate until my alkalinity dropped into the desired range.

Regarding going away, IMO it would be better to dose nothing than to risk having someone screw up the dosing.

I would look at it like this... bacteria is easier to dose, and there are less problems associated with an accidental overdose. When you're dosing Vodka, there are a lot of things you need to be watching for when doing so. So I would probably have someone dose bacteria, and hold off on the Vodka while I was away. Then you can just pick up where you left off when you return.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Yes, there are less problems associated with an accidental overdose of Bacs, but those probs can be just as detrimental to the tank. If you have to have someone else dose the Bacs, have them do it in a smaller amount than you are dosing now. I'd leave Vodka alone till you get back. But I guess your question is if you had no one to dose for you what to do & I don't know this.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Everything is looking good.....have you started to dose iodine, strontium and Aminoacids yet? I have started all the above and things are starting to come back for me. The only problem is now I have too many things to dose and it takes more time.
Michael Anthony

 

[Padrino]

but if no one is there to dose anything would it be ok to go away and not touch the tank for a week? Not add anything?

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15738556#post15738556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
Everything is looking good.....have you started to dose iodine, strontium and Aminoacids yet? I have started all the above and things are starting to come back for me. The only problem is now I have too many things to dose and it takes more time.
Michael Anthony

Thanks. I started dosing amino acids twice per week, and have been dosing Kent Lugol's solution (Potassium Iodide) once per week since I started the whole system up.

I really think I need to remove my refugium though, but am hesitant to do so. I think between the bacteria, vodka, skimmer, and refugium... the corals aren't getting the nutrients they need. I'll probably wait until I return from Arizona to pull it though.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Well let's talk about the refug for a second. It's supposed the compet for the food that feeds unwanted algea so it does not grow. But if your carbon dosing then what purpose dose it serve? I know other reefers with great looking tanks around here that have both. I guess if you want to remove it and things start looking bad then you can always put it back. Besides from the look of your pictures you have a good amount of Lps and they love direct feedings, as for your sps see if they become affected by stress when you remove it. I don't think anything is going to happen..... Unless you have a large amount of sand bed in it. If that's the case you will lose good bacteria that is support life in your tank and it will need to be removed a little at a time until good bacteria builds up somewhere else. I really like your slice of the sea and keep the updates rolling.
Michael Anthony

 

[plyle02]

Following same regiment here, I did the 3 days lights out and broke the dinos, but still have a small, very small bit of hair and alot of bubble algae coming on. I have decreased the dosing of vodka, last test revealed zero nitrates, but with bubble algae not breaking, leads me to believe I have phosphate... I am running 70 gallon tank, would you advise to ramp up the mb7? I really want to get this bubble algae out, any advice would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15739704#post15739704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Padrino
but if no one is there to dose anything would it be ok to go away and not touch the tank for a week? Not add anything?

Not adding anything wont hurt a thing.
BTW, congrats on getting hitched.


Sucka:rollface:

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15740930#post15740930 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
Well let's talk about the refug for a second. It's supposed the compet for the food that feeds unwanted algea so it does not grow. But if your carbon dosing then what purpose dose it serve? I know other reefers with great looking tanks around here that have both. I guess if you want to remove it and things start looking bad then you can always put it back. Besides from the look of your pictures you have a good amount of Lps and they love direct feedings, as for your sps see if they become affected by stress when you remove it. I don't think anything is going to happen..... Unless you have a large amount of sand bed in it. If that's the case you will lose good bacteria that is support life in your tank and it will need to be removed a little at a time until good bacteria builds up somewhere else. I really like your slice of the sea and keep the updates rolling.
Michael Anthony

Thanks Michael. That was pretty much my thought process. I'll probably wait until I return on the 4th to pull it though, so I can be around to observe how everything reacts.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15743107#post15743107 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plyle02
Following same regiment here, I did the 3 days lights out and broke the dinos, but still have a small, very small bit of hair and alot of bubble algae coming on. I have decreased the dosing of vodka, last test revealed zero nitrates, but with bubble algae not breaking, leads me to believe I have phosphate... I am running 70 gallon tank, would you advise to ramp up the mb7? I really want to get this bubble algae out, any advice would be greatly appreciated...

I would keep dosing the MB7 according to the instructions. I dose a bit more than recommended. The directions state to dose 5 ml per week on my size system. I dose 1 ml per day.

Bubble Algae is considered a "low nutrient" nuisance algae, so it sounds like you're on the right track. I added a few Emerald Crabs a little while ago, and actually saw one munching down some of the Bubble Algae. I also try to manually remove what I can around once a week or so.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15743868#post15743868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aqua Keepers
Not adding anything wont hurt a thing.
BTW, congrats on getting hitched.


Sucka:rollface:

+1 on not adding anything won't hurt.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[trueblackpercula]

Yhea bubble algea is something I have in my tank as well. But after adding emerald crabs,manual removal and vodka dosing it's almost gone. Just keep removing it and go slow with the MB7 remember this " Nothing good happens fast in this hobby" got that tip from another reefer.
Michael Anthony

 

[Tswifty]

I mentioned I got the peristaltic dosing pumps up and running the other day. I'm planning on testing alk again in the morning, but it seemed to be holding pretty steady at 8 dKH today.

Here's the temp setup. I have a 3rd pump as well, I just don't have room to hook it up yet.

A short video clip of one of the pumps in action:

 

[Ancelot]

Holy Mama! that's some chic peristaltic dosing pumps!

 

[aquariumclown]

Nice job setting that up. Are those BRS dosing pumps?

 

[Rpierce]

Where did you get those containers? I like the small footprint!

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15747455#post15747455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ancelot
Holy Mama! that's some chic peristaltic dosing pumps!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15747659#post15747659 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquariumclown
Nice job setting that up. Are those BRS dosing pumps?

Thanks guys. Yeah they are the Bulk Reef Supply Drew's Dosers.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15747693#post15747693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rpierce
Where did you get those containers? I like the small footprint!

Thanks. They fit perfectly in the space I have available. I purchased them from Bulk Reef Supply as well, they are the Space Saver Jugs.

 

[Padrino]

TJ,
just wondering why you had the output from the pumps where you main return pump is. Are you not worried of getting a large buildup of calcium or coraline algae inside your pump. I have always tried to have any type of dosing or ca reactor output in an area of high flow. Just my thoughts. looks like you have a great system there

 

[blk94rs]

Tswifty,
Great thread, I have been following it since the beginning! I am 2 weeks into MB7, and will be starting Vodka this weekend. I am looking forward to great results, as you have had (although, I dont have a algae problem of any kind to begin with...).

I like your dosing pump setup! Mine is very similar and ran by my AC3 as well. I almost went with the BRS pumps, but found out my GFs uncle works for a chemical company and was able to get me a set of adjustable peristaltic pumps. They are adjustable from 1.5ml-16ml per minute. They have been GREAT for fine tuning my cal/alk. Instead of ajusting my AC3 program, I can turn a small knob on them if I need to just slightly adjust cal or alk up or down. Right now, my tank is consuming slightly more Cal the Alk, so It has come in handy!

 

[trueblackpercula]

If you don't have an algea problem are you dosing vodka to keep your nitrates and phosphates in check?
Michael Anthony

 

[slow_leak]

I have same setup for last 2 years with BRS dosing pumps and AC jr. It works great and make much more sense than profilux. It is modular if something breaks and just as easy to control.

Trueblackpercula, -- Vodka dosing has been around for years. A viable bacterial counter part is fairly recently been popular. Most systems that run GFO striving for very low phosphate will have no problem getting <0.05 by HANNA.

VODKA/MB7 is a way to partially starve corals to turn brown to bright colors. Many zeovit systems add KNO3 back to system at 2 ppm anyway so ultralow is not necessary in my opinion, just parameter stability.

 

[Tswifty]

I received my acrylic base for my "Dosing Station" today, so I was able to get everything up and running tonight. Actually turned out pretty slick.

"Dosing station" set into place on top of sump.