NaClCrocodile Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Looks like a Hamilton reflector to me. Not sure though. I've decided to go VSV + MB7 on my new tank. Looking forward to some awesome SPS. Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 4, 2010 Author Share Posted June 4, 2010 Looks like a Hamilton reflector to me. Not sure though. I've decided to go VSV + MB7 on my new tank. Looking forward to some awesome SPS. I think you are right it is Hamilton from what I remember. Good choice with the VSV and MB7 take it slow and you wont be disappointed. You may have a few corals fade on you or even die if you are too fast, but in the long run its worth it. Well the tank has been fish-less for a month now. I think in a week it will be safe to say whatever Ich was left from the fish meltdown should be eradicated and dead now. I will be adding a fish or two again shortly. Stay tuned! I am excited to have a little life back. Quote Link to comment
mdannyg Posted June 4, 2010 Share Posted June 4, 2010 hey AJ, i've been thinking about dosing vodka in my tank. The article at Reefkeeping as well as most everything else i've read assumes the person already has noticeable nitrates and phosphates. my test results have never shown enough phosphates to even show up on the color chart, as well as nitrates. i only have 3 firefish (i feed every other day) in a 33 gallon tank, very few corals and some cheato in the sump which probably helps too. is it even possible to dose vodka if you dont begin with some noticeable nutrients? or would you recommend i begin with dosing MB7 first? I'd really appreciate any thoughts on this when you get a chance. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 hey AJ, i've been thinking about dosing vodka in my tank. The article at Reefkeeping as well as most everything else i've read assumes the person already has noticeable nitrates and phosphates. my test results have never shown enough phosphates to even show up on the color chart, as well as nitrates. i only have 3 firefish (i feed every other day) in a 33 gallon tank, very few corals and some cheato in the sump which probably helps too. is it even possible to dose vodka if you dont begin with some noticeable nutrients? or would you recommend i begin with dosing MB7 first? I'd really appreciate any thoughts on this when you get a chance. Thanks! Well first things first. If you have SPS and they are still brownish anywhere, or if you have any algae growing whatsoever it probably means you have nuisance nutrients. Many test kits on the market are not sensitive enough to test a ULNS. If you have algae you may still test zero but the nutrients are in your system they are just locked up in the algae I started vodka dosing on this system with 100% new water and I had zero detectable nutrients on Seachem test kits. I now use a Hanna Phosphate Checker and a Salifert Nitrate Test kit for more accurate results.. It's really up to you if you should start. Many people will suggest if it isn't broken don't fix it. I had an immaculate system in my BC29 all SPS stayed relatively colourful and I had literally no algae ever. However since beginning probiotic reef keeping I notice far better colour in my corals, clearer water, more skimmate, further polyp extension etc. and this was on a setup I assumed was already flawless. If you were to start. I would dose MB7 for two weeks by following the directions on the bottle. Then begin vodka or VSV. I recommend VSV. I dosed vodka for about 3 months and noticed a Cyano bloom. Since then I have dosed VSV and the water is perfect no bad bacteria in sight. Quote Link to comment
mdannyg Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 thanks a lot. that really clears up a lot for me. i still will think about it a bit before taking the plunge. do you have trouble keeping your refugium cheato alive with the lowered phosphates and nitrates? Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 6, 2010 Author Share Posted June 6, 2010 thanks a lot. that really clears up a lot for me. i still will think about it a bit before taking the plunge. do you have trouble keeping your refugium cheato alive with the lowered phosphates and nitrates? Cheato growth definitely slowed down. I am about to take the refugium offline. Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 6, 2010 Author Share Posted June 6, 2010 I recently purchased a Hanna Phosphate Checker to keep an eye on the low end phosphates in my ULNS. I highly recommend these units to anyone who is attempting to carbon dose. The unit comes with the checker, a battery, 6 reagents, and two testing vials. I also purchased an extra reagent pack which comes with 25 more reagents. It turns on easily and prepping the test is simple. 10 ml of tank water for the calibration. Add one pack of reagent to the 10 ml after the calibration. Wait 3 minutes for your result. It's that easy. It is important however to keep your fingerprints or water off the vial as this can create inaccurate results. One reagent is used per test and the whole process takes about 5 minutes. It gives very accurate results however my one complaint is that the result only stays on the screen for 10 seconds when it is done and it is very easy to miss the display if you are multitasking. Regardless this unit is a great purchase and almost a must as most phosphate tests on the market are useless in the low range. Quote Link to comment
NaClCrocodile Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Mind if I ask where you got the Hanna Checker? I know I've seen it advertised but it looked too "cute" to really do it's job. Now that I know it does, I may look into it. If you bought it at a LFS, do you know who carries them online? Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 6, 2010 Author Share Posted June 6, 2010 Mind if I ask where you got the Hanna Checker? I know I've seen it advertised but it looked too "cute" to really do it's job. Now that I know it does, I may look into it. If you bought it at a LFS, do you know who carries them online? I got it from a group order with a LFS in Canada. However you can buy them in several places in the states online. I recommend Aquarium Specialty. I have never shopped their personally but they are a sponsor of GDB and one of the first I saw selling this unit. I am sure there are tons of other online suppliers with this unit. Heres a link to the Checker at Aquarium Specialty. Quote Link to comment
Dizzle21 Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 what kind of liverock is that? where did you get it? Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 what kind of liverock is that? where did you get it? I have had it for years. I think it is primarily Fiji but it varies. I have gone through a lot of rock over the years and these are some of the pieces that stood out. Most of it has come from other reefers tearing down their tanks etc. I have no base rock, every piece has been selected because it is interesting in some way. Quote Link to comment
Dizzle21 Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 well it sure shows! It just looks different from any other rock ive seen. im planning on upgrading my tank this summer and plan on doin a system very similar to yours. I personally think you have the best tank i have seen. Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 well it sure shows! It just looks different from any other rock ive seen. im planning on upgrading my tank this summer and plan on doin a system very similar to yours. I personally think you have the best tank i have seen. Thanks I really appreciate the compliments. Keep us posted when you set up the new system. A few people have posted in this thread claiming the 47g rimless inspired their current reef. I love the hobby and to be able to share it with people is great. Thanks for reading and keep the comments or questions coming! Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 As promised new photos up sooooon. Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 Shoot done. Photos very soon.... Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 The reef has had a hard month with no fish. I had an SPS colony bleach out and a zoa colony begin to shrink because the water was too clean. Also about two weeks ago the AC was broken in my place for a couple days so the temperature skyrocketed causing some brown to come back in some of the SPS. On the lighter side I actually just added two clowns today. The system has been fish free for about 5 weeks so its great to get some action in there again. Regardless of the last month everything is still stable and things are looking up. The colour is starting to come back in all of the SPS and the tank is beginning to look better than ever. To celebrate the return of life to the 47g waters here is a June FTS and several other photos taken this afternoon. Enjoy and always questions and comments welcomed. - A. Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 Stunning beautiful as always! Thank you both. I will be uploading more periodically through the week. Thanks for the feedback... cheers. Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 looking good! Thanks, as is yours.. Quote Link to comment
naswa312 Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Ur tank so sweeettttt...n ur sand so clean,, What ur u planning in the future for this tank ? Quote Link to comment
AJ_Tsin Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) Ur tank so sweeettttt...n ur sand so clean,,What ur u planning in the future for this tank ? Thanks naswa... I keep the system pretty clean but really its just good water quality that keeps everything white. The VSV and MB7 works wonders. I am planning a few things. I would like to add a lot more SPS and get rid of some of the browner pieces. I am always collecting zoas however I want to see the frags I have grow out and fill in then look where coral needs adding. I have been thinking of adding 3 Anthias next. Also I would like a Longnose Butterfly eventually. As for equipment. I would like to get an automatic doser for two part and I will take the Refugium offline soon. I will also be plumbing in a frag tank and perhaps a FOWLER tank in the basement. Not sure yet. I have built the fish room to allow scalability in the basement. I will also be adding a Controller of some kind in the future and I may switch to ATI T5s or LED's sometime soon. Is that what you mean for what are my plans? Edited June 7, 2010 by AJ_Tsin Quote Link to comment
naswa312 Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Yup, that's what i mean..Wowww..a lot of plans u got there.. Can't wait to see that all thing become reality, that will make ur tank more colorfull, especially adding anthias n Longnose Butterfly oh btw, Why u change ur light to ATI or led's ? Quote Link to comment
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