My Bacteria Driven Journey

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15749734#post15749734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

Thanks Rob.

The outputs were just there temporarily. I have a tube organizer I purchased a while back from US Plastics that I plan on mounting on the back wall of the sump where the manifold dumps flow into the refugium.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15751758#post15751758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

Thank you.

Nice score on the pumps. I have a friend in Cleveland who uses the same style peristaltic pump with a higher flow rate for his top off, and loves it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15757247#post15757247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

Yeah, I ended up saving around $250 I think versus the profilux standalone unit. After observing the pumps in action for the past few days, I'm planning on purchasing another Drew's Doser to administer the daily dose of Vodka for me. Thus far I'm very happy with their performance... and the acrylic stand Keith built for me keeps everything neat and organized under there.

 

[slow_leak]

I don't dose Magnesium with Tropic Marin Salt. It stays above 1350 with water changes so no problem with that. I do grow an annoying amount of feather dusters since I switched though. I am going to see if Vodka will control them to any extent. Tangs are very messy. Neighbor has anthellia as well that would be interesting to control. I don't have an issue with algaes with big skimmer.

Plus you get a great controller for everything else with the AC jr and dosers combo. Tube set can be replaced if necessary.

what brand of AA did you pick or are using currently??

 

[Tswifty]

I'm using Brightwell Aquatics CoralAmino.

 

[Lavish62]

Hey tswifty nice set up, good luck with the vodka dosing. I just started and it seems to be going good however I'm starting to get allot of fading.

I have been looking for a dosing pump system I like what you've done with yours. Where did you get your pumps and containers? Are they 1 gallon a piece? Also totally impressed with your pump rack, thats really cool.

 

[Tswifty]

Updated Pics:

Aug 9, 2009

Aug 30, 2009

Sept 15, 2009

Sept 20, 2009

October 4, 2009

 

[Tswifty]

FTS Progression

Aug 9, 2009

Aug 30, 2009

Sept 15, 2009

Sept 20, 2009

October 4, 2009

 

[Tswifty]

You can see the GHA die off from around some of my palys during the week I was away. I should have taken progression pictures of this area, because it was terribly overrun with GHA. The GHA was so thick and was growing in between most of my palys causing them to close for a long period of time. I actually thought all the Dragon Eye Zoanthise (Orange w/ Yellow/Green skirts) had completely died off at one point.

September 23, 2009

October 4, 2009

 

[Tswifty]

I'm still dosing 2.8 ml of Vodka and approx 1 ml of Microbacter 7 per day, and don't see any need to increase any further. I'm planning on removing the macro algae from my refugium tomorrow, and will monitor the tank closely once I do so. Then depending on how the corals/nutrient levels react, I may up my Amino Acid dosing as some of my coral's colors are still VERY light.

Now I just need to find a way to get this Maroon Turf Algae and Bubble Algae out of here. 2 of my Emerald Crabs and 2 Mexican Turbo snails died while I was away. So my poor luck with CUC members is still there. :rolleye1:

The dosing pumps are working great and I'm very happy I decided to add them, as I finally got everything dialed in so the Ca, Alk, and Mag levels no longer shift throughout the day.

 

[Tswifty]

Hey tswifty nice set up, good luck with the vodka dosing. I just started and it seems to be going good however I'm starting to get allot of fading.

I have been looking for a dosing pump system I like what you've done with yours. Where did you get your pumps and containers? Are they 1 gallon a piece? Also totally impressed with your pump rack, thats really cool.

Thanks for the kind words.

I ordered everything from Bulk Reef Supply. The peristaltic dosing pumps are the "Drew's Dosers" and the containers are the "4 liter space saving jugs." I'm using the BRS 2-part kit (Recipe 1), and ESV Magnesium as my additives.

A friend of mine, and fellow RC Member DEERE G built the rack for me. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but it turned out much nicer than I had imagined. He built the rack, then I drilled all the holes for attaching everything in place.

 

[Lavish62]

Thx Tswifty I'm going to pick up some tomorrow.

 

[elijaher]

Thanks for sharing this with us I so happy how things working for you.

 

[jennmac415]

Yes, I have enjoyed following your journey....glad to see things are working out for you. I don't have as much HA, but mostly contained to one rock surprisingly... your pics give me hope. I have only been dosing since 9/1, so hopefully soon I will begin to see some improvement...

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

i think u need a yellow or blue tang to eat some of that algae lol,and some emerald crabs for the bubble algae thats how i got rid of mine,i had about the same as you just make sure u get them out once they have eradicated it the bubbles since they grow kinda big and ugly btw tank is looking AMAZING. i was dosing vodka and MB7 on my RSM 250 but have stopped since i noticed A LOT of Red Slime growing. i will start again soon as soon as i control this thing.

 

[rsuplido]

Been using Microbacter7 for a few months now. I'm still not sure what it does nor what's in it. It's ingredients, as written on the bottle, are pretty vague. Anyone know what specific bacteria strain it contains?

Fauna Marin's Ultra Bio for example specifically mentions strains of Nitrosomas sp., Nitrobacter sp., Nitrospira sp., Paracoccus sp., and Pseudomonas sp. It's expensive though and almost no one carries it here in the US.

Someone mentioned Microbe-Lift in another thread. They have this product called Nite Out II which seems to contain the three Nitro bacterias found in Ultra Bio. I don't know how important Paracoccus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. are, but it looks like for those of us dosing Vodka, the nitro bacs are the ones we need. Can anyone confirm this? Also, anyone tried Nite Out II?

Thanks.

 

[SunnyX]

Looking good! :thumbsup: It looks like the method has been working out well for you.

How are liking the dosing pumps? I am looking to purchase a couple of them. The only thing thing that worries me is long term durability.

 

[Tswifty]

Here's a list of what I'm dosing/adding to the tank, along with my current feeding, carbon, and water change schedule. The Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium dosing is handled by my BRS Drew's Dosing pumps, which are controlled by my Neptune Systems Aquacontroller III.

Daily
- BRS Alkalinity: 102 ml (5 times per day in 20.4 ml increments)
- BRS Calcium: 88 ml (5 times per day in 17.6 ml increments)
- ESV Magnesium: 18 ml (once per day)

- 2.8 ml 40 proof Vodka
- 1 ml Microbacter 7

Feeding (twice per day)
- Mysis Shrimp & Spirulina Brine Shrimp
or
- Formula 1 Pellets & Formula 2 Flake Food

Twice per week
- 2 drops Brightwell Aquatics CoralAmino
- 1 cube Frozen Rotifers (after lights out)

Once per week
- 1 Drop Kent Marine Lugol's Solution
- Test Water Parameters

Every 2 weeks
- 5 gallon water change (Coralife Salt Mix)
- change carbon (TLF Hydrocarbon in TLF Reactor)

 

[Tswifty]

Also, I removed the macro algae from my refugium, cleaned up the sump, and managed to perform about an 8 gallon water change in the process this morning.

 

[Tswifty]

Thx Tswifty I'm going to pick up some tomorrow.

No problem.

Thanks for sharing this with us I so happy how things working for you.

Thank you, hopefully I can begin working on the coral's coloration now that the algae is subsiding. Everything is growing though, so that's a positive sign.

I also am probably going to be changing the lighting, and moving to a 20k spectrum once the Pheonix 14k bulbs need replaced. The bulb will depend on if I decide to purchase new reflectors or not though. I'm currently on the lookout for 2 SE Lumenarc Mini Pendants.

Yes, I have enjoyed following your journey....glad to see things are working out for you. I don't have as much HA, but mostly contained to one rock surprisingly... your pics give me hope. I have only been dosing since 9/1, so hopefully soon I will begin to see some improvement...

Thanks for the kind words. Just remember to proceed slowly.

i think u need a yellow or blue tang to eat some of that algae lol,and some emerald crabs for the bubble algae thats how i got rid of mine,i had about the same as you just make sure u get them out once they have eradicated it the bubbles since they grow kinda big and ugly btw tank is looking AMAZING. i was dosing vodka and MB7 on my RSM 250 but have stopped since i noticed A LOT of Red Slime growing. i will start again soon as soon as i control this thing.

I'm not sure what will eat the Maroon Turf algae. The Mexican Turbo Snails really haven't made a noticeable impact. I've added as many as 5 Emerald Crabs in the past, but always seem to end up with only 1 after a few weeks.

I didn't have an issue with Red Slime, however I know a number of people do when carbon dosing. Did you seed your tank with the Microbacter 7 for a few weeks prior to starting the Vodka dosing? Also, are you moving according to the appropriate strength Vodka dosing chart in the Reefkeeping Article?

I would agree it's wise to stop the Vodka if you notice a Red Slime breakout, but would continue with the appropriate Microbacter 7 dose until it subsides.

Looking good! :thumbsup: It looks like the method has been working out well for you.

How are liking the dosing pumps? I am looking to purchase a couple of them. The only thing thing that worries me is long term durability.

Thanks Sonny.

I really like the dosing pumps thus far. It's just nice not having to pull out the measuring cups and 2-part bottles each day. I can't really speak to the longevity of the pumps since I've only had them for a week or two now.

 

[Lavish62]

Tswifty, I have turf algae and I purchased 100 mexican hermits and they cleaned the rock right up, although you will need allot of them. Give them a week and the turf will probably be gone, however you will still need to get to the root of the problem to really get rid of it permanently.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Looking good! :thumbsup: It looks like the method has been working out well for you.

How are liking the dosing pumps? I am looking to purchase a couple of them. The only thing thing that worries me is long term durability.

I run an aquatronica controler and the dosing pump that goes with the unit. I have had them for a year now with no problems. Different pumps will give you different abilities. Like Tswifty noted above, my unit can spread the dosing out over a period of time. I have found this to be important as I dose the BRS alk supplement over the late night timeperiod to help keep the pH up in my tank. It has been working fantastically. I (and my corals) are soooo happy to have stable alk and ca.

Do your research before purchasing dosing pumps....you wont be sorry at all in the long run. Other than the motor itself, the only wearing part is the tube. I ordered extras (dosing tubes) with the pump unit when I purchased.

By the way, before it comes up. I haven't found any dosing pumps that are worth wile in dosing a carbon source or bacteria. Most pumps are accurate to the ml. Dilution of additives is or can be an option but from what I have learned, one needs to use pharmaceutical (sp) grade sterile water to dilute the solutinos we add (carbon dosing or Zeo) and has not been a priority or worth the effort (yet) for me.

My .02 cents FWIW !:wildone: