Sps DSB and Cocktailing-Questions

[Veosk]

First off my system is a 40gallon breeder with a 10gallon refugium. The Refugium has small amount of live rock and micro algae. The display tank has 65lbs of live rock and no sand. Tank has been up and running since March/April 2011.

I have added a variety of sps to the tank (8) have a Clam and Lps (2).

The po4 and Na is zero last I checked 2 weeks ago. I don't feed all that much only have 2 clowns (for now) and feed 3 times a week. I do dose/feed DT's once a week. I dose 1ml of vodka 3 times a week. 5 gallon water change weekly

Let me give you a quick tank history. Was dosing vodka 2ml everyday but the water was starting to get cloudy and the 2 sps i had faded after being added to my tank, Cut the Vodka out for a week and water looked great. So I have cut the dose down to above dosing.

I also feel that the lack of feeding with vodka dosing was an issue as well.

I was under the impression that by running no sand that the system would be a cleaner system and i could manage the Na's better. But as I read more I'm wonder should I added a DSB to the refugium. Someone also mentioned a version of a DSB but adding a screen mesh to it? Need to research that one.

Should I start feeding everyday, add the DSB??? Whats best for the Sps??

Advice and help please

Thanks

Alk 11
CA 460

 

[chrishayes]

Adding a DSB or plenum(the screen mesh you speak of) is not a great idea since you are running a bacterial system. A DSB needs plenty of food to thrive. It is an efficient machine that needs to be FULLY understood to be successful long term so make sure you know what you are doing and research it well if you go that route.

I would assume you have a severely undernourished system and have ZERO need for carbon dosing. With two fish and little feeding plus BB why in the world would you start vodka? Its not a fad, its a band aide to overstocked tanks. If I were you I would go to the basics and try to find a natural balance between the amount of fish and coral plus food to the amount of waste you export with the fuge, skimmer, waterchange. Unless you have a hard time keeping nitrate in check then there is NO reason to add more forms of filtration(ie DSB, carbon source, fuge, sand or any other).

Also, there had been no proof that a Jaubert plenum system has any advantage over a DSB with the proper sand size and depth. In fact its the other way around in many cases. READ READ READ! Let google be your nightime companion!