What type of System are you running?

[shandy_say]

Seems like ive been reading so much people running ULNS systems such as Zeovit or Neozeo. However ive also read a lot of people still pushing for the traditional methods such as DSB's or macroalgae. I myself am running a hybrid system using a dsb fuge and mb7 while no carbon dosing but im thinking about dosing carbon. Just thought of running a poll to see how many people are using the different systems.

If you're running a hybrid system or another system, please post what it is. Thanks!

 

[neoyhng]

vodka+zeolite

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

water changes, barebottom, macro, and some brightwell stuff.... dont put it into any one "method" I call it "my soup is good" lol

 

[Muddy35]

DSB in tank and plumed alternate refugium, Charcoal, starting NP pellets soon, No macros, PO4 remover in reactor. Kalk water topoff, iodide, mag, clacium reactor, and baked baking soda water mix. wtaer changes every 3 weeks.

 

[shandy_say]

water changes, barebottom, macro, and some brightwell stuff.... dont put it into any one "method" I call it "my soup is good" lol

ScrubberOTanky's special soup! hehe!

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

Da soup is good no?

 

[shandy_say]

yeah the soup is good. Im using something similar to yours. Macroalgae and some brightwell stuff. Although I have a dsb and LR fuge. SPS are thriving and growing. My only issue with thinking about doing carbon dosing is that i have to feed a lot to my anthias so my nitrates swing from 0-20 from time to time.

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

I hear ya. I have 3 damsels, a purple tang, double bar rabbit, multifasciatus angel, and yellow coris in about 160g of water. TONS of SPS, and I feed a pinch of pellets a day. Nitrates undetectable, too much flow to have any sort of sandbed

 

[shandy_say]

i see. With anthias i have to feed a cube of DIY food a day and everytime i feed my nitrates shoot up and my skimmer goes wild. My macroalgae cant seem to grow fast enough cause my phosphates are 0.01 only. So im really thinking about vodka dosing to bring down nitrates since feeding less its not really an option for anthias.

 

[shandy_say]

Hmm....where are all the ULNS systems? Anyone?

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

i see. With anthias i have to feed a cube of DIY food a day and everytime i feed my nitrates shoot up and my skimmer goes wild. My macroalgae cant seem to grow fast enough cause my phosphates are 0.01 only. So im really thinking about vodka dosing to bring down nitrates since feeding less its not really an option for anthias.

Maybe double size your skimmer and run a reactor full of GFO or Phosguard? Then you could feed as much as you want?

 

[shandy_say]

Maybe double size your skimmer and run a reactor full of GFO or Phosguard? Then you could feed as much as you want?

My skimmer is already oversized. My skimmer is rated for 200gals and my total water volume is only 100gals. I run phosban in a reactor and also have carbon in the tank 24/7. Still not enough.

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

Well I meant double size it from what it is now... maybe like the SS5000int space saver octopus rated up to 300 gallons with the new bubble blaster pump, truly a beast and only a 10x 13 footprint... just an idea

 

[shandy_say]

i see. heheh! Will keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

[franklypre]

Try putting sugar in your DIY mix. Easier than vodka, I use pappone and the sugar is supposed to do the same as vodka??? It seem to work, I have a small ball of chaeto in my sump, a 3" bed, and quite a bit of rock. I have mostly wild SPS and they thrive. Oh and a 400w HQI on a 58 show.

 

[shandy_say]

Try putting sugar in your DIY mix. Easier than vodka, I use pappone and the sugar is supposed to do the same as vodka??? It seem to work, I have a small ball of chaeto in my sump, a 3" bed, and quite a bit of rock. I have mostly wild SPS and they thrive. Oh and a 400w HQI on a 58 show.

Thanks! But doesn't sugar cause browning in SPS? I don't really have a problem with keeping SPS alive. They are actually growing in my tank. Problem is the nitrate swing is making it difficult to color up my sps. Most of them are green.

 

[shandy_say]

Wow it seems that there are more traditional systems than ULNS systems!

 

[franklypre]

I just posted a pic of my tank in another thread but here is another, these are browned out acros, or were, they all came from bluezoo.

 

[shandy_say]

Nice! Looks like they're doing nicely. Do you have before and after pics?

 

[Reefer08]

Lots of vodka

I tried the full vsv route for a while but now I just stick with the vodka only. I also rely on the sponges in my cryptic zone in my sump for an extra form of filtration.