Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

[rs1831]

Hi Sunny,

Are you adding anything to the vinegar to prevent you ph from lowering? I have a deep red algae that is kind of hard to get off my live rock. It doesn't grow on the sand or anything but its kind of ugly. Do you think vinegar would help with that?

Thanks,
Roland

 

[jbanks]

Hi Sunny,

Are you adding anything to the vinegar to prevent you ph from lowering? I have a deep red algae that is kind of hard to get off my live rock. It doesn't grow on the sand or anything but its kind of ugly. Do you think vinegar would help with that?

Thanks,
Roland

If added at the right amount, it shouldn't negatively impact the PH level, but I'm curious as well. Sonny, I know you were at 2ml of vodka. How much vinegar are you dosing daily? Is the Cyano issue resolved?

 

[boodlefish]

Its been about 5 pages of talk without pictures! Yes Sonny is a wealth of knowledge especially concerning bacteria, carbon dosing and t5 bulb combos but he is also a damn good photographer too.

I'm a visual learner so how about some updated pics Sonny? Please?

 

[SunnyX]

That's definitely a good idea. I have both set aside for water changes. I think I'll set that up so it'll be ready by the time I get back home next week. I'll definitely be sure to post pics after the sand. I just hope I can control it with all of the flow.

I'm curious, do you have pictures that kind of showcase your acans? I love acan lords! Thanks again!

Ill get some pictures of the Acan's when I get a chance to snap some shots of the reef.

Sonny, what are you dosing right now? I tore down my tank a few months ago for financial reasons and now I have a job so I've got the money to start it up again and was wondering if you're still dosing vodka and MB7?

After water displacement I figure the entire system volume is 140-150gl total.

Daily
CA: 110ML
ALK: 110ML
Strontium: 1 Teaspoon
Lugols: 1 drop
MB7: 8 drops
Vodka(80 proof): 2ml

Weekly
MG: 110ML

Monthly
30gl Water change Reef Crystals
Carbon replaced (3-4 cups in a mesh bag)
AA's: dosage depends on the appearance of corals.

Hi Sunny,

Are you adding anything to the vinegar to prevent you ph from lowering? I have a deep red algae that is kind of hard to get off my live rock. It doesn't grow on the sand or anything but its kind of ugly. Do you think vinegar would help with that?

Thanks,
Roland

I am not sure if the vinegar will aid with your issue. Is is velvet looking? Could be a form of coralline algae. To offset any ph issues I dose the vinegar during the day, followed by a dosage of ALK.

If added at the right amount, it shouldn't negatively impact the PH level, but I'm curious as well. Sonny, I know you were at 2ml of vodka. How much vinegar are you dosing daily? Is the Cyano issue resolved?

Right now I am dosing 24ml of vinegar a day. I still have a small patch of red slime but it is shrinking day by day. I started incorporating the vodka once more this week, at 2ml per day.

 

[SunnyX]

Its been about 5 pages of talk without pictures! Yes Sonny is a wealth of knowledge especially concerning bacteria, carbon dosing and t5 bulb combos but he is also a damn good photographer too.

I'm a visual learner so how about some updated pics Sonny? Please?

I need to get some free time and shoot some shots. I had the day off today but ended up going with the wife to the mall. 8 hours later I am finally home. :hmm4:

I will try this weekend of perhaps towards the end of the work week.

 

[boodlefish]

I had the day off today but ended up going with the wife to the mall. 8 hours later I am finally home. :hmm4:

i think we have all been there

 

[maroun.c]

I siphon out my sand once a month or so to clean up any detritus. Im sure I could let it sit longer but the siphoning has been great for the overall health of my system.

Sonny can you please remind me how thick is your sand bed?
Is there any risk of having anoxic areas form if you leave a 2-3 inch sand bed without syphoning for 1-2 months? If these form and you vacuum do you think it'll be bad for the tank? I'm considering the sand bed options for my next tank (well in advance) and I'm leaning towards having a RDSB if any and then a 2-3 inch sand bed in the tank ( I do like the look of a deeper sand bed as well as not seing the bottom glass each fish stir it a bit, also good for wrasses... ). was wondering if it would be ok to vaccum it once every 1-2 months as due to my travel schedule I can't commit to vacuming every 2-3 weeks... is it necessary then to go with a very shallow sand bed (1-2) inch or would it be fine to have a 3-4 inch sand bed and vacuum it. last option would be great if in the end I realize that my tank was more stable with a DSB then i would just stop vacuming and let it become a DSB... I know you don't really like DSBs however those made my tank very stable for the last 10 years so going out of it is kind of difficult...
Thanks for your help.

 

[kaserpick]

ll get some pictures of the Acan's when I get a chance to snap some shots of the reef.

Thanks so much!

 

[The_Uga]

Right now I am dosing 24ml of vinegar a day. I still have a small patch of red slime but it is shrinking day by day. I started incorporating the vodka once more this week, at 2ml per day.

Heya SunnyX, your tank is amazing! I've been using vodka + AA's for about 4 months now. Following your tank i will be buying MB7. I was looking into adding vinegar too but 24ml seems pretty steep. Was there an initial guide you followed? Ill just look like a crazy person at the shop buying bulk loads of vinegar if i use 24ml a day :hmm5:

 

[cobra2326]

Heya SunnyX, your tank is amazing! I've been using vodka + AA's for about 4 months now. Following your tank i will be buying MB7. I was looking into adding vinegar too but 24ml seems pretty steep. Was there an initial guide you followed? Ill just look like a crazy person at the shop buying bulk loads of vinegar if i use 24ml a day :hmm5:

I've been phasing vinegar into my dosing regime also, along with Vitamin C. Since most people dose 40% ethanol (80 proof vodka) and Vinegar is only 5% (usually), you need quite a bit more of it. Also, by molecular weight, there is somewhat less Carbon in vinegar than in ethanol. At one point, I calculated that 5% vinegar is about 10% as potent as 80 proof vodka.

 

[Tommy Tang]

Sunny where do you get your frag from?
thank you

 

[gary faulkner]

The_Uga


[welcome]

 

[Argentiner]

Hey Sunny, great thread. Getting a little long though. lol. Love your tank. I've been dosing vodka for over a year now, and just got a calcium reactor about 2 months ago and since then have brown wafer algae all over. After reading through some of this thread, was wanting to start MB7 to reduce nutrients. I have a 205gal system and have been adding 3mL vodka. Nitrates and phosphates are always zero. Also have a refuge with a deep sand bed, as well as a deep sand bed in my main display. I run a BRS dual chamber carbon and GFO system as well. I also dose zeo amino acid, potassium, sponge power and coral vitalizer every second day. Would it be a good idea to start with the MB7, or try bumping up the vodka? Do I need to still keep up with the zeo additives if I get my nutrients low with the MB7? I have a heavy bioload and feed pellets and frozen food daily. Any input would be great. Thanks.

Scott

I should add that I have an ETSS 800 skimmer.

 

[StrategicReef]

I was wondering if the powerbrite LED provide better irredescent effect any any T-5 tube you have seen? I am thinking to add one also but my ceiling is much further than yours.

 

[Kamisxy]

Hope all is well with you sonny..Iam new to this site..just went got finished with this whole thread and wow..i think you've got one of the most beautiful tanks I have ever seen.And the beauty of your system is that its simple..not so much fancy equipment and stuff and thats what i love about it.Proves you can still have a magnificent tank without goin broke. I have a 75 bowfront that i just started and ive never done corals before but after reading your thread i was inspired to start.What i need to get now is better lighting and I believe T5's is the way to go...seeing that i really cant afford the constellation Ive narrowed it down to 2 fixtures i really like...

This aquaticlife 6 bulb with led
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01191-FILTFIT56U-vi.html
OR
This 8 bulb tech light
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...U&child=SL2121&tab=0&size=48 Inch (8x54 Watt)

Which one of these would u recommend?Or if u had something else in mind please share...my budgets around $500...thanks

 

[SunnyX]

Hope all is well with you sonny..Iam new to this site..just went got finished with this whole thread and wow..i think you've got one of the most beautiful tanks I have ever seen.And the beauty of your system is that its simple..not so much fancy equipment and stuff and thats what i love about it.Proves you can still have a magnificent tank without goin broke. I have a 75 bowfront that i just started and ive never done corals before but after reading your thread i was inspired to start.What i need to get now is better lighting and I believe T5's is the way to go...seeing that i really cant afford the constellation Ive narrowed it down to 2 fixtures i really like...

This aquaticlife 6 bulb with led
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01191-FILTFIT56U-vi.html
OR
This 8 bulb tech light
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...U&child=SL2121&tab=0&size=48 Inch (8x54 Watt)

Which one of these would u recommend?Or if u had something else in mind please share...my budgets around $500...thanks

Hello and thank you.

I would go with this fixture here, $519: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5..._6x54W_SunPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI

This is the same fixture but with bulbs for $619: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...nPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

 

[Kamisxy]

Hello and thank you.

I would go with this fixture here, $519: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5..._6x54W_SunPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI

This is the same fixture but with bulbs for $619: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...nPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

Thanks sunny for your help..but did u know that the Aquaticlife fixture has the same features as the ATI and more...its the same price and same features but includes led moonlights, a built in timer and just one power cord plug...so what do u say now?

 

[ryno212]

Thanks sunny for your help..but did u know that the Aquaticlife fixture has the same features as the ATI and more...its the same price and same features but includes led moonlights, a built in timer and just one power cord plug...so what do u say now?

The ATI has a better ballast that over drives the bulbs and better reflectors. I had a TEK and now I own a ATI... Night and day...Love my ATI well worth it.

 

[Lyfey]

The ATI has a better ballast that over drives the bulbs and better reflectors. I had a TEK and now I own a ATI... Night and day...Love my ATI well worth it.

+1 He speaks the truth, be smart not like 90% of reefers including me, buy the good stuff first cause you will always end up buying it later

 

[kuyatwo]

+1 on the sunpower i pick up mine tomorrow upgrading my tek fixture.