Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

[sps1-2-b]

Hi Sonny, just got done reading the 65 pages of this thread. AWESOME TANK!!! (Let me pick up my jaw off of the ground and wipe my drool b4 I continue. lol) I want to get rid of my DSB in my fuge and start dosing vodka/MB7. Your tank is inspirational. What steps do I need to not shock my system. System is 2 yrs old.

Do I dose MB7 for two weeks, then follow the vodka regimen, then remove the DSB and phosphate reactor? Or do I remove the DSB and GFO first? Sorry for the long post. Thanks. Looking forward to your opinion/expertise.

 

[snaza]

How high are your lights from the water? Do you raise them for the photos cuz they look about 8inchs.

Thanks

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15184285#post15184285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sps1-2-b
Hi Sonny, just got done reading the 65 pages of this thread. AWESOME TANK!!! (Let me pick up my jaw off of the ground and wipe my drool b4 I continue. lol) I want to get rid of my DSB in my fuge and start dosing vodka/MB7. Your tank is inspirational. What steps do I need to not shock my system. System is 2 yrs old.

Do I dose MB7 for two weeks, then follow the vodka regimen, then remove the DSB and phosphate reactor? Or do I remove the DSB and GFO first? Sorry for the long post. Thanks. Looking forward to your opinion/expertise.

Hello and thank you for following along.

Removing a DSB can be tricky so care and caution should be taken when doing so. It will likely take you at least a month to slowly remove the DSB.

I would dose and increased dosage of bacteria along with a PO4 remover and increased water changes during the removal of the DSB. Over 2 years of PO4,detritus, and potentially deadly gases are likely trapped in the bed and could cause many issues.

If you are siphoning out the DSB the addition of bacteria should aid by keeping the nitrogen cycle in check. I would vacuum the DSB first before physically removing any of the sand. This will remove most of the waste before it has a chance to get into your system.

Take it slowly and don't rush with the removal. Be sure to have at least 50% volume of your display in fresh saltwater handy in case of an issue.

Good luck and be careful.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15184383#post15184383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
How high are your lights from the water? Do you raise them for the photos cuz they look about 8inchs.

Thanks

I had them raised in the one photo for some top down shots. Normally, the fixture in about 3" off of the rim of the tank. I try and get the fixture as close to the water as possible.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15184237#post15184237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef
Cool Sonny...great link on your website

Its like an endless redundant loop. :lol: A link to a link to a link to a....... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[trueblackpercula]

Sunny x
Have you tried the Vodka/sugar dosing on your system?

 

[SunnyX]

Well, the Vortech MP20 is coming out. I had traded a couple Tunze 6045's and some cash for the Vortech but the person I traded with wasn't too happy with the Tunzes. So, I did the right thing and offered to trade him back. Oh well, ill just get an MP40W in a couple months.

But, on a brighter note I picked up some amazing Jumbo Aussie Dendro's yesterday. Within 10 minutes in my tank they were fully extended and eating. One of the heads is about 3" fully open! These are probably the coolest corals I have picked up in a long time. :thumbsup: The Dendro's come from www.Cherrycorals.com stock. As with everything from there these corals are unique and look great!

Anyone have any general care tips on them? Things I should look out for?

Ill have a few pics of them this afternoon.

Sonny

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15185690#post15185690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
Sunny x
Have you tried the Vodka/sugar dosing on your system?

Hello.

I currently dose Vodka along with Microbacter7. I never got into the sugar but VSV is supposed to be a great method of waste reduction.

I plan on going with a full blown Zeovit system sometime this summer. Right now I am gathering as much info as I can concerning reactors,dosages, and additives.

 

[jbanks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15185704#post15185704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
But, on a brighter note I picked up some amazing Jumbo Aussie Dendro's yesterday. Within 10 minutes in my tank they were fully extended and eating. One of the heads is about 3" fully open! These are probably the coolest corals I have picked up in a long time. :thumbsup: The Dendro's come from www.Cherrycorals.com stock. As with everything from there these corals are unique and look great!

Anyone have any general care tips on them? Things I should look out for?

Ill have a few pics of them this afternoon.

Sonny

Hey Sunny,

Do those guys have to be target fed are they the same as sun corals?

 

[sps1-2-b]

Thanks Sunny for your advice regarding the DSB. Was wondering why you are thinking of switching to Zeovit. Do you think it's a better method than your current vodka/mb7?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15186239#post15186239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbanks
Hey Sunny,

Do those guys have to be target fed are they the same as sun corals?

They are like Sun corals but much larger in size. The biggest difference between the two being that Dendro's are supposed to stay open much more than the Sun corals. I guess you can also train Sun corals to stay open longer.

They are non-photosynthetic so they will require regular feedings. The more you feed, the more they will grow.

They look so nice and unique that I don't mind feeding them at all.

I have not seen them in a while and now they are commanding a premium price at $40+ a polyp.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15186240#post15186240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sps1-2-b
Thanks Sunny for your advice regarding the DSB. Was wondering why you are thinking of switching to Zeovit. Do you think it's a better method than your current vodka/mb7?

I have been looking around for a while really enjoy the Zeo tanks and philosophy. Time will tell if I actually go through with it.

I will probably end up doing a hybrid system of Zeo supplements and others.

 

[sps1-2-b]

Sorry to keep bugging you Sonny, but I regard you as an experienced reefer. So you think I should remove the DSB over a months time. The DSB is in my sump, you don't think I'll get away with turning off the return pump, closing all the valves, completely clean out the sump including the DSB, and then turn on the return. I figure this way nothing from the sump's dirty water will reach the main tank. What do you think? Once the DSB is removed do I have to be careful about anything particular now that there's no more DSB? Thanks a great deal for your help.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15186458#post15186458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sps1-2-b
Sorry to keep bugging you Sonny, but I regard you as an experienced reefer. So you think I should remove the DSB over a months time. The DSB is in my sump, you don't think I'll get away with turning off the return pump, closing all the valves, completely clean out the sump including the DSB, and then turn on the return. I figure this way nothing from the sump's dirty water will reach the main tank. What do you think? Once the DSB is removed do I have to be careful about anything particular now that there's no more DSB? Thanks a great deal for your help.

No problem, as as many questions as you would like.

I didn't know that the DSB was in your sump. In that case you could move it out much faster. I would start a dosage of Microbacter7 for a few days before removing the DSB. I would remove the sand along with all the water in the sump as you don't want any of those harmful byproducts released into your main tank.

Since it is small and in your sump you could probably have it done all in one day but I would dose some bacteria for at least a couple days so that the removal of the DSB does not harm anything.

 

[sps1-2-b]

That sounds great Sonny. I'm so excited to get this going. I've been keeping sps for 2 years but can't get the colors like yours. I think the DSB is retaining unwanted nutrients. And I'm not a lazy reefer either. I test every week and tend to the tank every day. I really appreciate your help and truly believe that your tank is TOTM.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15186774#post15186774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sps1-2-b
That sounds great Sonny. I'm so excited to get this going. I've been keeping sps for 2 years but can't get the colors like yours. I think the DSB is retaining unwanted nutrients. And I'm not a lazy reefer either. I test every week and tend to the tank every day. I really appreciate your help and truly believe that your tank is TOTM.

Thanks.

Just keep your water clear, PO4 low, proper flow, proper lighting, basic maintenance and you corals should color up nicely. \

Let us know how the changes work out.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Why bother switching to Zeovit? You are having great success with your current method, the tank looks awesome, and it's cheaper.

 

[teo reef]

that tank is amazing Sunny!!

 

[SunnyX]

Dendro pics as promised!

 

[elijaher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15187114#post15187114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aqua Keepers
Why bother switching to Zeovit? You are having great success with your current method, the tank looks awesome, and it's cheaper.

+1 Sonny how much vodka you dose with MB7.