New 100gal Reef setup
- Thread starter Jerm77
- Start date
buccard
Premium Member
The sock seems like a good way to export nutrients...are you worried about removing it?
I was thinking of converting my wet dry to a berlin style or making a sump with a refugium-utilizing a filter sock.
Following your thread is making me want to try vodka myself-I want to give my current techniques a chance-that way I know what worked and what didnt-doing to much too fast could be problematic IMO.
Great detail on your thread-thanks.
I was thinking of converting my wet dry to a berlin style or making a sump with a refugium-utilizing a filter sock.
Following your thread is making me want to try vodka myself-I want to give my current techniques a chance-that way I know what worked and what didnt-doing to much too fast could be problematic IMO.
Great detail on your thread-thanks.
Jerm77
New member
filtersock...? well... all the filtersock seems to do is strain the water. I really don't like the idea of cleaning a filter every week. it mostly gets clogged up with detritus, algae, and sand. and if I keep killing bacteria living in my filtersock - I hypothesize that my system is going to shock itself IMO - everytime I clean it. I don't really have a way of measuring this without some real bioload - but I guess I'll see soon enough.
I'm pretty much sold on the vodka dosing though. when I get my nitrate monitor replaced - I can give some real results rather than just visuals.
I'm pretty much sold on the vodka dosing though. when I get my nitrate monitor replaced - I can give some real results rather than just visuals.
Jerm77
New member
Day 33
Day 33
Still dosing at the recommended rate per the article. today I dosed at 1.8ml of Vodka
Amonia test: 0 or near 0
Phosphate test: .25-.5mg/L (very hard to tell, light shades of blue are hard to determine)
Nitrate test: .5mg/L !!! (vodka seems to be working)
PH: my meters read variably at 7.8-8.1
Salinity: 51.7 mS or 1.0252 True Specific Gravity
Magnesium, Calcium, Alkalinity : unknown ( need to obtain proper tests )
Note: I have not done a single water change. so far I have only lost a single Astrea snail ( I noticed he was stuck between a rock for a couple of days, I took him out and the next day my Nassarius' were picking at him.) But, I do plan a 20gallon water change this week.
I have added more cleaners to the tank.
about 130 cerith snails
22 blue leg hermits(small) total is 35
27? (didn't count them, but is what i ordered) Nassarius Vibex
added some chaeto and ulva macros
5 red mangroves (soon to be planted in the DSB box)
I also added a pipe organ because of the purple coralline algae on the live rock it was growing on. (pictures with lights off w/ flash *sorry* better pic later)
Have a small diatom bloom on the sand, hopefully my new sand sifters will slow it down
I found out today that my MRC CR2 reactor wasn't properly put together. It was missing a hole on the lid to connect to the second chamber. I bought it 1 1/2 years ago, I notified MRC, and they are on top of things. they are sending me a new lid ASAP.
Day 33
Still dosing at the recommended rate per the article. today I dosed at 1.8ml of Vodka
Amonia test: 0 or near 0
Phosphate test: .25-.5mg/L (very hard to tell, light shades of blue are hard to determine)
Nitrate test: .5mg/L !!! (vodka seems to be working)
PH: my meters read variably at 7.8-8.1
Salinity: 51.7 mS or 1.0252 True Specific Gravity
Magnesium, Calcium, Alkalinity : unknown ( need to obtain proper tests )
Note: I have not done a single water change. so far I have only lost a single Astrea snail ( I noticed he was stuck between a rock for a couple of days, I took him out and the next day my Nassarius' were picking at him.) But, I do plan a 20gallon water change this week.
I have added more cleaners to the tank.
about 130 cerith snails
22 blue leg hermits(small) total is 35
27? (didn't count them, but is what i ordered) Nassarius Vibex
added some chaeto and ulva macros
5 red mangroves (soon to be planted in the DSB box)
I also added a pipe organ because of the purple coralline algae on the live rock it was growing on. (pictures with lights off w/ flash *sorry* better pic later)
Have a small diatom bloom on the sand, hopefully my new sand sifters will slow it down
I found out today that my MRC CR2 reactor wasn't properly put together. It was missing a hole on the lid to connect to the second chamber. I bought it 1 1/2 years ago, I notified MRC, and they are on top of things. they are sending me a new lid ASAP.
spleify
Premium Member
Wow, lots of updates.
First I have to ask why are you vodka dosing? Your tank is so new and you have no corals in there, I am very confused as to why you elected to start vodka dosing.
You really need to test Nitrite and ammonia, then nitrates to see where you are in your cycle. The algae blooms are a good indicator that you are cycling.
Good luck with everything and keep up the good work and updates.
Spleify
I would also suggest you calibrate and confirm that ONE of your PH monitors is working and stick to that ONE. You don't need multiple, especially if you don't know which one is working properly.
The new rock you added will likely cause another small cycle also.
Your filter socks need to be cleaned out every few days, as they will hold food and detritus and nitrates. You will have no ill effect by cleaning them frequently, it will most certainly be beneficial cleaning it more frequently.
First I have to ask why are you vodka dosing? Your tank is so new and you have no corals in there, I am very confused as to why you elected to start vodka dosing.
You really need to test Nitrite and ammonia, then nitrates to see where you are in your cycle. The algae blooms are a good indicator that you are cycling.
Good luck with everything and keep up the good work and updates.
Spleify
I would also suggest you calibrate and confirm that ONE of your PH monitors is working and stick to that ONE. You don't need multiple, especially if you don't know which one is working properly.
The new rock you added will likely cause another small cycle also.
Your filter socks need to be cleaned out every few days, as they will hold food and detritus and nitrates. You will have no ill effect by cleaning them frequently, it will most certainly be beneficial cleaning it more frequently.
Jerm77
New member
after reading this article, http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/ ]Vodka Dosing[/URL], my understanding was that adding a carbon source is a good way to facilitate a "decrease in nitrate and phosphate molecules" and "is thought to increase bacterial biomass. For this, vodka addition would result in bacterial growth and reproduction." "Additionally, lower NO3 and PO4 have the added benefit of reduced nuisance algae, both bubble and hair."
I have have yet to read that vodka dosing shouldn't preformed during a "cycle", but my amonia levels are 0 or close to zero. I am experimenting a bit - and I am a firm believer in beneficial bacteria.
Thanks!
I really don't subscribe to what you believe. I buy and sell about 5000 ph meters a year. I don't find them "very" accurate - but, close enough. and I do like to have back-ups. so I like to have a couple around. I was also just testing the many probes I need for my controllers.
I have eliminated the filtersock. will I regret it? I guess I'll find out.
I do plan to test all the parameters before I add any fish or any more corals. this will happen in a couple of days.
and thanks for the heads up and replys!!
the gurgle buster idea really made a huge difference
spleify
Premium Member
I m very aware of what vodka dosing is. I just don't really see the point of using it during a cycle on such a new tank, with virtually 0 bioload. Good for you for trying it, but I don't think you will really see any benefits of it.
Why did you pull the filter sock? I don't think you will see any ill effects from pulling it off besides more micro bubbles and build up of detritus in the sump.
Absolutely no offence by this, but just because you sell a lot of PH monitors does not mean you have to use a lot of PH monitors. But what ever floats your boat.
Keep up the great work.
Spleify
Why did you pull the filter sock? I don't think you will see any ill effects from pulling it off besides more micro bubbles and build up of detritus in the sump.
Absolutely no offence by this, but just because you sell a lot of PH monitors does not mean you have to use a lot of PH monitors. But what ever floats your boat.
Keep up the great work.
Spleify
PaulieWalnuts
New member
i like how you keep a log day by day i am doing the same for my tank and i see it becomes very helpful
Jerm77
New member
Day 35
Day 35
A bunch of new life added today. I'll try to list everything.
6 bristle worms
6 sand bed clams
6 mama mia worms
12 ministars
20(?) amphipods
Anthelia Polyps
lives culture
pink coralline culture
and some large hermits and snails from Ipsf.com
also added 2 tiny ocellaris clowns
2 cleaner (skunk) shrimp
I also did a a few water quality tests:
temp: 77d F (digital)
ph: 8.0 (digital)
Nitrite: 0 (regent)
Nitrate: .5mg/L (regent)
Ammonia: 0 (strip regent)
phosphate: .25mg/L - .5mg/L (regent)
Salinity: 51.3 mS or 1.025 specific gravity (digital)
Alkalinity: 10.4 dKH (-/+ .3) (regent)
Magnesium: 1200 ppm (regent)
Calcium: 140 mg/L (regent) (questionable) maybe bad test or low salinity. will test a fresh batch of new seawater to see if there is a variance.
clowns and the pipe organ
pipe organ
cleaner shrimp
mamamia worm - you can also see some of the small pods on the acrylic
bristle worm
Note: I also uped the flow on the tunzes today. I suspect the algae growth on the sand was due to the mini cycle(from the new rock added a week ago) and low flow in those areas.
I've continued with the 1.8ml of Vodka dosing.
my current light schedule is:
Sump
24hrs
DT
actinic 2:30pm to 11:00pm
Halides 3:30pm to 10:30pm
I may consider cutting back the light on the DT
Day 35
A bunch of new life added today. I'll try to list everything.
6 bristle worms
6 sand bed clams
6 mama mia worms
12 ministars
20(?) amphipods
Anthelia Polyps
lives culture
pink coralline culture
and some large hermits and snails from Ipsf.com
also added 2 tiny ocellaris clowns
2 cleaner (skunk) shrimp
I also did a a few water quality tests:
temp: 77d F (digital)
ph: 8.0 (digital)
Nitrite: 0 (regent)
Nitrate: .5mg/L (regent)
Ammonia: 0 (strip regent)
phosphate: .25mg/L - .5mg/L (regent)
Salinity: 51.3 mS or 1.025 specific gravity (digital)
Alkalinity: 10.4 dKH (-/+ .3) (regent)
Magnesium: 1200 ppm (regent)
Calcium: 140 mg/L (regent) (questionable) maybe bad test or low salinity. will test a fresh batch of new seawater to see if there is a variance.
clowns and the pipe organ
pipe organ
cleaner shrimp
mamamia worm - you can also see some of the small pods on the acrylic
bristle worm
Note: I also uped the flow on the tunzes today. I suspect the algae growth on the sand was due to the mini cycle(from the new rock added a week ago) and low flow in those areas.
I've continued with the 1.8ml of Vodka dosing.
my current light schedule is:
Sump
24hrs
DT
actinic 2:30pm to 11:00pm
Halides 3:30pm to 10:30pm
I may consider cutting back the light on the DT
Last edited:
BuddhaKiss
Active member
did u buy that aiptasia as well? LOL. Might wanna remove that before it spreads...
cham
New member
Great looking tank.
I didn't read it all but I'll assume you are not a reefing newb. Your equipment and set up is far beyond what 99% of all newbies would know to do.
To answer your question reguarding the light fixture level. I have three HQI's over my rimless 120 and I have my lights 4" from the waters surface (not the top of the tank, the acutal waters surface) and I do so without a chiller, just fans.
Tank stays at 79* all day and my SPS love the light.
I didn't read it all but I'll assume you are not a reefing newb. Your equipment and set up is far beyond what 99% of all newbies would know to do.
To answer your question reguarding the light fixture level. I have three HQI's over my rimless 120 and I have my lights 4" from the waters surface (not the top of the tank, the acutal waters surface) and I do so without a chiller, just fans.
Tank stays at 79* all day and my SPS love the light.
