My Bacteria Driven Journey

very nice. algae is almost gone and colors look amazing. I just started mb7 two days ago. Im pretty excited about it! Its really cool to have another thread to follow on the vodka journey. Poor sunny is getting bombarded with questions everyday. So far your threads have so much info and questions answered I already feel like a pro. Im sure I will need help along the way though. Thanks for sharing all your experiences and good luck!!!
 
aquaph8 said:
very nice. algae is almost gone and colors look amazing. I just started mb7 two days ago. Im pretty excited about it! Its really cool to have another thread to follow on the vodka journey. Poor sunny is getting bombarded with questions everyday. So far your threads have so much info and questions answered I already feel like a pro. Im sure I will need help along the way though. Thanks for sharing all your experiences and good luck!!!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the kind words. Probably the best advice I can offer is to do as much reading and research prior to starting as you can, and progress slowly. That's what helped me out the most... I read everything I could find, then sought out and asked questions to fellow members who were currently running this type of system or who had run it in the past. Then once I felt like I had a good understanding on the system, I started it up.

Good luck on your journey. :)
saltygeek said:
Looks Great! Colors look great too...Which are too light?
Click to expand...
Thank you... none of the ones I took pictures of. :p
 
I have a question for Tswifty or anyone.

I am starting into a system like this and was curious about the relationship between Alk levels and "burnt tips". What are burnt tips (does anyone have any pictures?) and does anyone know the reason having higher levels of Alk causes this in a low nutrient system? I'm running somewhere between 8.5 and 9 dKH with an API test kit and was wondering if I should try and drop it any lower or not.

Tswifty- I am curious as to your thoughts on this matter because you always used to run your Alk a little on the high side ( >12 dKH) because of some research that cited higher coral calcification rates with higher levels of alk. I think it was because Alk is the limiting reagent in calcification or something. Since lowereing your alk have you noticed any side effects at all?
 
Here is a picture of burnt tips on an ORA Birdsnest that I had in my old 90g tank. Basically the tips of the coral die then algae begins to cover them.

Before:

Bird1-1.jpg


Burnt Tips:

badbird2.jpg


badbird1.jpg


I'm not sure what the relationship, or why it happens in an ULNS. However, 9 dKH is considered the upper threshold. I run my alk around 8.6 dKH. I can't really comment on any differences, because there were so many other things limiting my growth before I switched to this system and finally was able to get everything (lights, water, etc...) stable and functioning properly.

The method I was looking at (and hoping to run) originally, which requires the high alkalinity and magnesium levels, was the "Pappone" or Blue Coral Method.
 
I'm getting ready to head back to Ohio today for another 10 days or so, and figured I would post the checklist which my little sister uses for maintaining the tank. Since I don't expect her to perform water changes, test water parameters, or change the carbon in the TLF reactor, those items have been removed from the list.

OctNovCalendar.jpg
 
Tswifty said:
I'm not sure what the relationship, or why it happens in an ULNS. However, 9 dKH is considered the upper threshold. I run my alk around 8.6 dKH. I can't really comment on any differences, because there were so many other things limiting my growth before I switched to this system and finally was able to get everything (lights, water, etc...) stable and functioning properly.

The method I was looking at (and hoping to run) originally, which requires the high alkalinity and magnesium levels, was the "Pappone" or Blue Coral Method.
Click to expand...

Do burnt tips always happen with higher dKH in an ULNS? Is there any warning before it happens?

I've heard of the "Pappone" method, but what does it actually entail? Now that you've started running an ULNS do you still want to try the Pappone?
 
The burnt tips in my picture were from something else. The coral was in my 90g tank, and was the only one effected. In that particular instance I never was able to figure out what caused it though.

There are a bunch of threads and articles on the Blue Coral or Pappone method. The Pappone Mix is a DIY food mix which is blended into mush, and also has sugar mixed into it. It's super concentrated, so only small amounts are offered at a time... and running a big skimmer is a must. Also, as was sort of mentioned earlier... the water parameters are a little different... Ca - 500, Alk - 12 dKH, Mag - 1500 ppm. I haven't refreshed myself on the method in a while, but that's briefly what I recall.

So far I'm very pleased with the results from the current system I'm running, and don't plan on changing.
 
Taqpol said:
Do burnt tips always happen with higher dKH in an ULNS? Is there any warning before it happens?

I've heard of the "Pappone" method, but what does it actually entail? Now that you've started running an ULNS do you still want to try the Pappone?
Click to expand...

No, not always. There are several theories, but little true understanding of what is actually occuring.
 
TJ,
i was vacuuming a piece of my sand bed and found that the top layer has become gooy kinda like the slime that snails leave behind when they travel. I wonder is this from my rising population of nausaurus snails or the MB7?
 
Hey Rob, I'm not sure what could be causing that??? I have around 20 or 30 Super Tongan Nassarius Snails (basically way too many) in my tank currently, and have not experienced anything like that. Are you stirring your sandbed at all? Mine is probably 3/4" deep, and I stir it with a Turkey Baster once a week... or perhaps it could be a rising bacteria population on the surface... although other more experienced reefers may be able to comment further.

How much MB7 are you currently dosing? I noticed a similar effect when I battled cyanobacteria long ago. The top layer was slimey, but it was obviously red in coloration.

btw... glad to see you made it back from your honeymoon safe and sound. :p :lol: :)
 
Hey TJ, we all hope you continue your reefing soon. We all learn alot from your threads.

You mention you stir your sand bed once a week. What does that do? I haven't stirred my sandbed for about a year now....is that bad?
 
Tswifty said:
Hey Rob, I'm not sure what could be causing that??? I have around 20 or 30 Super Tongan Nassarius Snails (basically way too many) in my tank currently, and have not experienced anything like that. Are you stirring your sandbed at all? Mine is probably 3/4" deep, and I stir it with a Turkey Baster once a week... or perhaps it could be a rising bacteria population on the surface... although other more experienced reefers may be able to comment further.

How much MB7 are you currently dosing? I noticed a similar effect when I battled cyanobacteria long ago. The top layer was slimey, but it was obviously red in coloration.

btw... glad to see you made it back from your honeymoon safe and sound. :p :lol: :)
Click to expand...

i have tried to vacuum the sand bed rather than use a turkey baster that way you minimize the nitrate released from the sand bed. I guess in your case its not deep enough to do that.
 
Dejavu said:
This thread has been nominated for Thread of the Month
Click to expand...

Congrats,

I have been running a Zeo system for almost a year now. It seems that carbon and bacteria dosing are becoming mainstream. It is quite refreshing to see the popularity of carbon / bacteria processes is increasing.

This thread is a specific example of how the hobby is truly evolutionary. I remember when my protien skimmer had a wooden airstone and I was running my tank at 12 dKH ! :wildone:
 
I've been using MB7 for several weeks. I strated with the high nutrient doses and now I'm using 4 drops/day. I also add 1 drop/day of Kents Lugols. I am not dosing Vodka at all. Should I start with vodka at this point?
 
I voted for this thread, the other two are very cool, but I like how much information and details this one gives, plus the before and after pictures.
 
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