Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15283870#post15283870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tobit
Sonny: If you were starting a brand new tank today, would you use any of these additives starting on day one? What would your initial routine be like today for the first 20 days or so? Thanks.

I would dose heavy with the MB7 for the first two weeks, one cap full per 25gl. Assuming that this is a "fresh" tank I would run very little light for the first two weeks, probably two hours a day. You want the algae to get going as it is very important and part of the food web in your system.

After the first two weeks you can then start up slowly with the Vodka. After a month you should be adding your first creatures into the tank. This is when you will start using your preferred CA/ALK supplementation method. Around this time I would start up slowly with the Lugol's solution as well. The Amino Acids probably wont come into use until about 6 months out. By then your tank should be well on its way and may require AA's to boost coloration and/or growth.

Just take it slowly and be sure to stick to the basics.

 

[Tobit]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15284102#post15284102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX Just take it slowly and be sure to stick to the basics.

Always. Ok, thanks man. I think I'm going to try your method on my new 40G Breeder I am setting up.

 

[sondaar]

Sunny thanks again for all your help! You and this thread,along with all the other mass amount of info on RC, have truly been a blessing to me and my reef! I was lucky enough to stumble upon this thread back in Dec. when I was thinking about starting a reef tank! I set up, cycled using MB7, as per Sunnys suggestions on this thread and PMs back and forth. I've never owned a salt or a fresh water tank, but thanks to Sunny quiding my ways, people come into my house and cant believe that my tank has only been set up since March of this year and GROWING SPS, LPS, and one very small group of palys! With that said Go For It Tobit! Sunnys methods truly work! Take it from a total NOOB that knows nothing about reefing except for this method!

Thanks Again for all you help Sunny!
Mike

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15284846#post15284846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sondaar
Sunny thanks again for all your help! You and this thread,along with all the other mass amount of info on RC, have truly been a blessing to me and my reef! I was lucky enough to stumble upon this thread back in Dec. when I was thinking about starting a reef tank! I set up, cycled using MB7, as per Sunnys suggestions on this thread and PMs back and forth. I've never owned a salt or a fresh water tank, but thanks to Sunny quiding my ways, people come into my house and cant believe that my tank has only been set up since March of this year and GROWING SPS, LPS, and one very small group of palys! With that said Go For It Tobit! Sunnys methods truly work! Take it from a total NOOB that knows nothing about reefing except for this method!

Thanks Again for all you help Sunny!
Mike

I am happy that the information provided here has helped your reef and love for this hobby to prosper and grow.

Hopefully this first tank will lead to a lifetime of reefs for you and your family.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

SunnyX, Why do you recommend CA/ALK supplementation adding your first creatures? First creatures can mean corals, snails, fish, whatever. My thinking (which may not be normal) is that there should be enough CA/ALK in water to support "first creatures". I'm thinking that CA/ALK should not be supplemented unless needed.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15284900#post15284900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aqua Keepers
SunnyX, Why do you recommend CA/ALK supplementation adding your first creatures? First creatures can mean corals, snails, fish, whatever. My thinking (which may not be normal) is that there should be enough CA/ALK in water to support "first creatures". I'm thinking that CA/ALK should not be supplemented unless needed.

I should have clarified the word "creatures". Snails,crabs,corals,etc will need CA/ALK in order to grow. Up to a point you could handle the demand with water changes but soon enough once you start to fill your tank out with corals you will need the additional supplementation.

If you decide to use a two part you may start up with a small daily dosage of say 10-20ml. Slowly over time you will gradually raise the levels to meet the requirements and demands of the corals.

It is best to start you tank with a small and sometimes insignificant amount of dosing if only to acclimate the tank to the dosing, and the user to the daily dosing and habit.

It is better to dose the small amounts of CA/ALK daily and then increase the dose, instead of simply starting up dosage once coral demand takes off. Most CA reactors and two parts will take time to get the hang of and tune so by the time your corals are ready to grow your system should be ready to meet their needs.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Now that sounds like what I have learned through the yrs.

 

[naz42]

What does Lugol's solution do for your tank?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15285519#post15285519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by naz42
What does Lugol's solution do for your tank?

Supposedly, it will kill harmful bacteria, improve coloration, reduce bleaching, and increase polyp expansion. I have been dosing Lugols weekly for 8 years and can tell you that the biggest difference I see is the increase in blue coloration on corals, most likely due to the potassium in the Lugols.

I stopped Lugols for 2 months to see exactly what it was doing to my system and sure enough my blue coloration began to fade and start heading towards green. I immediately started Lugols back up and my blue coloration is back and as vibrant as ever.

I have been using Lugols for 8 years now and have never had any problems so I see no reason in stopping it.

 

[Tobit]

I have been using Lugols for 8 years now and have never had any problems so I see no reason in stopping it. [/B]

How much do you dose per week on the rimless?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15286201#post15286201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tobit
How much do you dose per week on the rimless?

5 drops a week on about 140gl total system volume. I was dosing 4 drops a week but recently plumbed a 30gl rimless onto the main system so I added an extra drop per week.

 

[tas5tas]

Chris Brightwell told me that it is better to dose the Lugol's daily so there is a constant level of Iodine in the system and not a jump and then fall off over a week and then a jump again. I switched last week from dosing weekly to dosing 3 drops daily on my tank.

 

[JCR's Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15286710#post15286710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tas5tas
Chris Brightwell told me that it is better to dose the Lugol's daily so there is a constant level of Iodine in the system and not a jump and then fall off over a week and then a jump again. I switched last week from dosing weekly to dosing 3 drops daily on my tank.

Have you noticed anything different when you switched?

Sonny-Do you notice a fade in colors before you dose Lugols for your weekly dose?

 

[JCR's Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15286866#post15286866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCR's Reef
Have you noticed anything different when you switched?

Sonny-Do you notice a fade in colors before you dose Lugols for your weekly dose? Also if your levels are undetectable will you still continue to dose Vodka? And how do you really determine how much to dose if you Po4, nitrate is 0?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15286866#post15286866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCR's Reef
Have you noticed anything different when you switched?

Sonny-Do you notice a fade in colors before you dose Lugols for your weekly dose?

Well, you wont notice it after a week but if you went a month without you could tell the difference.

 

[tas5tas]

The only thing that I've noticed that is different is that my polyp extension is constant now and definately at it's max. That could be from the coral amino though and not the lugol's. Before...I had good polyp extension at day and great at night. Now polyp extension is the same during the day and at night and is awesome!!

 

[Reefer08]

Sonny, how come you only add vodka? Why not VSV + MB7?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15291427#post15291427 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer08
Sonny, how come you only add vodka? Why not VSV + MB7?

I currently dose Vodka + MB7. The vodka has worked out great for my system so I see no need in changing over to VSV.

 

[Joel A]

Sonny, I've been meaning to ask you...

I'm going to have a rimless 48x24 made for me as well... but i was looking at doing it 17" tall so it could be made out of thinner glass and be a bit cheaper... do you think your tank would look goofy 3" shorter? Do you think the 20" height is a really good number? Mine will be lit by a 6x54 watt ATI, so i'll have one less bulb then you which is why i was maybe thinking the 17" height would work better. What do you think though?
Thanks

 

[stocker]

a question on lugols. How many drops on approx. 50 gals volume, and how frequent.