milsaltnewbie07
New member
no i dont use mixed water i buy natural ocean water from my local store, i have always used this water.
Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.
- Thread starter JohnL
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reefgeek31
New member
Sonny either some thing bad has happened to u or your just plain MEAN!! I hope its the second.
thejuggernaut
Member
Ouch! haha
SunnyX
New member
If the levels are where they are at I wouldn't even bother with the vodka. If the MB7 is doing a good job then stick with it. But, keep an eye out because the bacteria could eventually run out of a carbon source so a small amount of vodka may be needed in the future.
Sorry, I dont have a picture of it.
Added you.
+1 :thumbsup:
Well mhurley, since your asking..
The point is Sunnyx is a football fan like me.. "Soccer" or whatever its called in the states
A few days ago El Clasico was played in Barcelona between Barcelona and Real Madrid with all the superstars of football on display, the game was won by Barcelona 1 - 0. So i figured i'd post the goal for Sonny for fun since we've had football related posts in this thread before as you would have noticed if you had bothered to look back in the thread before using the moderator gun..
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
SunnyX
New member
While the maintenance dose is recommended, if 3 drops are working well for you then stick with it. Because systems do vary, the dosing should be adjusted based on your observations.
Hello,
I am unfamiliar with that skimmer, perhaps someone here can chime in. What size tank are you using?
Glad I could help.
Right here.
:lol: Juggernaut has thankfully been taken out of the new game.
Bzar
New member
Heya Sonny, and to anyone else reading this that doses MB7/Vodka.
I just added life to my new tank this week after picking up a tek 48" 8 bulb (my wife hates me now (more than usual), and always asks why I felt the need to the harness the power and brightness of the sun into our basement. I tell her it's for the corals, but she doesn't understand. Now she's always moaning about her rods and cones being stressed....LOL) T5's are fantastic....the corals from my old nano are a little shocked with the change from power compacts.
Anyway on to what I was wondering...I'm trying to put together a little cause and affect refference sheet to follow so I can tune in my dosing skills. I've been going through the thread picking up bits here and there but was hoping to get some straight up help on this.
you often say "The dosages change from week to week based on my observations"
So what are the observations that you make that cause a change in your dosages, and in which way are the changes made?
For example:
high nitrates = more vodka/mb7
low nitrates = maintain or reduce vodka/mb7
brown film = less vodka ?
Cyano = ?
Corals loosing color = more feeding, or possibly AA's
Burned tips = less vodka ?
Anything else that can be added would be awesom. Anything that anyone has observed and changed to help/correct would be great for this. Once it's all done I'll post it for sure.
So far my MB7 and Vodka dosing is going well....touch wood.
Lastly how does one join your "Probiotic/Carbon reefs" can't seem to find a "join" button.
I just added life to my new tank this week after picking up a tek 48" 8 bulb (my wife hates me now (more than usual), and always asks why I felt the need to the harness the power and brightness of the sun into our basement. I tell her it's for the corals, but she doesn't understand. Now she's always moaning about her rods and cones being stressed....LOL) T5's are fantastic....the corals from my old nano are a little shocked with the change from power compacts.
Anyway on to what I was wondering...I'm trying to put together a little cause and affect refference sheet to follow so I can tune in my dosing skills. I've been going through the thread picking up bits here and there but was hoping to get some straight up help on this.
you often say "The dosages change from week to week based on my observations"
So what are the observations that you make that cause a change in your dosages, and in which way are the changes made?
For example:
high nitrates = more vodka/mb7
low nitrates = maintain or reduce vodka/mb7
brown film = less vodka ?
Cyano = ?
Corals loosing color = more feeding, or possibly AA's
Burned tips = less vodka ?
Anything else that can be added would be awesom. Anything that anyone has observed and changed to help/correct would be great for this. Once it's all done I'll post it for sure.
So far my MB7 and Vodka dosing is going well....touch wood.
Lastly how does one join your "Probiotic/Carbon reefs" can't seem to find a "join" button.
Lyfey
Member
I have a DAS EX-1 and I cannot say it was the skimmers fault of why my vodka dosing did not work, but vodka dosing did not work on my system and I lost a few SPS and had a huge spike in nitrates over that month of vodka dosing. I would try out vodka dosing but keep a close eye on your nitrates and the health of your corals. At the first site of things going downhill, stop dosing all together and we shall be able to make a better conclusion on if the DAS EX-1 is a proper skimmer for carbon dosing. BTW I have a 75gal DT w/ 30gal sump. Lightly stocked mixed reef, lost 50% of my SPS in the last 2 months though.
Sorry to hear about the loss.
im on my fourth day of mb7 dosing and so far no thick sludge in the skimmer. probly not a good sign. my tanks only been up for a month and got no corals just hair algae right now that im tryin to get rid of. if ya want ill keep ya posted to see how it affects the algae. ill keep an eye on the nitrates and my two fish.
im on my fourth day of mb7 dosing and so far no thick sludge in the skimmer. probly not a good sign. my tanks only been up for a month and got no corals just hair algae right now that im tryin to get rid of. if ya want ill keep ya posted to see how it affects the algae. ill keep an eye on the nitrates and my two fish.
warlock_king
New member
holy mother of all that is good.. I love your tank! 
tamspsreef
New member
I've following this thread since day 1 Sunny, I've been doing MB7/vodka for 1 year now with great success. Just want to say thank you for everything man and tank look really good.
Dave's Reef
New member
Bzar
New member
Great pics Sonny, it'll be great to watch it all grow in through your images....nice camera work. Disregard the social group question...just noticed you need to be premium to join.
Also as mentioned I started the bacteria a la MB7 & Vodka system in my new build. I've been trying to prepare for possible challenges and learning dosing skills while I wait to stock the tank more. To do this I've been going through this thread and collecting all your good help/info. Here's the list I created..... I guess you could link or copy/paste if needed, or to use in a seperate thread if you like. Any incorrect interpretation that need correcting would be great.....thanks. Any important additions missed also greatly appreciated.
MB7 (Bottle Instructions.)
+
Vodka (or carbon) Dosing - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
=========================
Probiotic Reef Keeping.
Time to dose = during lights on seems best. MB7 into the display. Vodka into the sump.
Rules
1) Need a good skimmer
Noticed in Water testing
1) high nitrates = increase vodka as per instructions.
2) no Nitrate/Phos change in LONG time = try another carbon source like vinegar, sugar, biofule...
3) low nitrates = maintain till 0 then reduce to maintenence levels of vodka
4) Increase in Alk = stop dosing Cal / alk, test water change h20 for alk level. Decrease with large water changes and/or chemicals if it gets bad. Corals may stop taking Cal/ALK while getting used to Probiotic system & increased light.
4) new tank/build = follow instructions, stay close to the low side of dosing.
5) Phosphate being high = a round of GFO
Noticed in Algae/Bacteria Reaction
1) Bacterial Blooms (slimy white strings) = too much bacteria, decrease vodka dosing.
2) algae on glass after increase of MB7 = reduce MB7
3) brown dusting or brown hair like stuff = decrease MB7 (also check http://www.rimlessreef.com/1/post/2009/04/dinoflagellates-and-the-treament-of.html )
4) cyano = increase MB7 and/or lower/stop vodka dose. After the cyano has gone away restart the vodka from the initial or maintenence dose. If it's really bad consider a "lights out" period. If really really bad consider "Red Slime Remover."
5) peach fuzz = stop or decrease (especially vodka) dosing for a while (about a week or till the fuzz dies off) then start back up with the maintenance dose. OR This may also just go away in time.
6) glass and sand getting dirtier = dose more/feed less
Noticed in Live Stock Reaction
1) Corals losing color = more feeding, possibly Amino Acids, lower photo period an hour for a while.
2) Corals Burnt Tips = check alkalinity..get it to 7-8 dKH by stop dosing alk...maybe stop dosing EVERYTHING if it gets bad.
3) Monti caps bleaching = Cut the vodka dosage in half and stay there until the cap starts to color up and/or lower the lighting photoperiod for a bit or have a light "day off."
4) Everything dies = Blame the wife, kids, or something other than your own possible mistakes
Other
1) substrate hardening = keep it broken up and syphoned with water changes. Maintain a good high PH of 8.1 - 8.3
Also as mentioned I started the bacteria a la MB7 & Vodka system in my new build. I've been trying to prepare for possible challenges and learning dosing skills while I wait to stock the tank more. To do this I've been going through this thread and collecting all your good help/info. Here's the list I created..... I guess you could link or copy/paste if needed, or to use in a seperate thread if you like. Any incorrect interpretation that need correcting would be great.....thanks. Any important additions missed also greatly appreciated.
MB7 (Bottle Instructions.)
+
Vodka (or carbon) Dosing - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
=========================
Probiotic Reef Keeping.
Time to dose = during lights on seems best. MB7 into the display. Vodka into the sump.
Rules
1) Need a good skimmer
Noticed in Water testing
1) high nitrates = increase vodka as per instructions.
2) no Nitrate/Phos change in LONG time = try another carbon source like vinegar, sugar, biofule...
3) low nitrates = maintain till 0 then reduce to maintenence levels of vodka
4) Increase in Alk = stop dosing Cal / alk, test water change h20 for alk level. Decrease with large water changes and/or chemicals if it gets bad. Corals may stop taking Cal/ALK while getting used to Probiotic system & increased light.
4) new tank/build = follow instructions, stay close to the low side of dosing.
5) Phosphate being high = a round of GFO
Noticed in Algae/Bacteria Reaction
1) Bacterial Blooms (slimy white strings) = too much bacteria, decrease vodka dosing.
2) algae on glass after increase of MB7 = reduce MB7
3) brown dusting or brown hair like stuff = decrease MB7 (also check http://www.rimlessreef.com/1/post/2009/04/dinoflagellates-and-the-treament-of.html )
4) cyano = increase MB7 and/or lower/stop vodka dose. After the cyano has gone away restart the vodka from the initial or maintenence dose. If it's really bad consider a "lights out" period. If really really bad consider "Red Slime Remover."
5) peach fuzz = stop or decrease (especially vodka) dosing for a while (about a week or till the fuzz dies off) then start back up with the maintenance dose. OR This may also just go away in time.
6) glass and sand getting dirtier = dose more/feed less
Noticed in Live Stock Reaction
1) Corals losing color = more feeding, possibly Amino Acids, lower photo period an hour for a while.
2) Corals Burnt Tips = check alkalinity..get it to 7-8 dKH by stop dosing alk...maybe stop dosing EVERYTHING if it gets bad.
3) Monti caps bleaching = Cut the vodka dosage in half and stay there until the cap starts to color up and/or lower the lighting photoperiod for a bit or have a light "day off."
4) Everything dies = Blame the wife, kids, or something other than your own possible mistakes
Other
1) substrate hardening = keep it broken up and syphoned with water changes. Maintain a good high PH of 8.1 - 8.3
SunnyX
New member
I have a big empty space in front of the fixture. The fixture is hung towards the back of the tank leaving a good 8" in the front uncovered by the fixture. I have acans, chalices, and zoa's in the spot not directly under the fixture. The Powerbrite positioned as it is lights up the front section of the tank, giving it a cool effect.
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