Rimless Reef 4.0

[SunnyX]

What do you carbon and bacteria dose?

I dose Microbacter7 and Tropic Marin NP Bacto balance. Both are dosed daily, at first light.

Years ago I was a big proponent of carbon dosing, vodka to be precise. I had some struggles with keeping the tank from running too clean and did not want to go through that again. So, for the past two years I have been dosing the NP bacto balance with excellent results. I like that when dosing this carbon source that it also adds phosphate and nitrate in the correct and balanced ratios.

When done right, carbon dosing can do wonders for an SPS dominant system. Where people and struggle with the system is ensuring that for just as much as they filter out they in turn input in. It’s nutrients out, nutrition in.

If you decide to go down this avenue start slow and only 25% of the recommended dose. Increase the dosage until the corals are looking properly. A good indication that you are dosing too much is that the corals will appear pastel and light in appearance.

One final note, you will need to be running an appropriately sized skimmer for this system to work. The skimmer is the primary mode of transportation for the bacteria and waste out of your system. The skimmer also aid in keeping the water aerated as bacteria can lower O2 levels.

-Sonny

 

[SunnyX]

I really like mine but need to modify the mount to take better advantage of it. Tunze has an awesome pump on their hands but terrible mounting options for it

Yeah, mounts could be better but in my specific application it works very well.

Its shame that this pump does not receive more press and recognition. It’s dead silent, reliable, and pushes an immense amount of water.

 

[rtparty]

Yeah, mounts could be better but in my specific application it works very well.

Its shame that this pump does not receive more press and recognition. It’s dead silent, reliable, and pushes an immense amount of water.

All Tunze pumps are overlooked IMO

 

[MtnDewMan]

I dose Microbacter7 and Tropic Marin NP Bacto balance. Both are dosed daily, at first light.

Years ago I was a big proponent of carbon dosing, vodka to be precise. I had some struggles with keeping the tank from running too clean and did not want to go through that again. So, for the past two years I have been dosing the NP bacto balance with excellent results. I like that when dosing this carbon source that it also adds phosphate and nitrate in the correct and balanced ratios.

When done right, carbon dosing can do wonders for an SPS dominant system. Where people and struggle with the system is ensuring that for just as much as they filter out they in turn input in. It’s nutrients out, nutrition in.

If you decide to go down this avenue start slow and only 25% of the recommended dose. Increase the dosage until the corals are looking properly. A good indication that you are dosing too much is that the corals will appear pastel and light in appearance.

One final note, you will need to be running an appropriately sized skimmer for this system to work. The skimmer is the primary mode of transportation for the bacteria and waste out of your system. The skimmer also aid in keeping the water aerated as bacteria can lower O2 levels.

-Sonny

Thanks for the detail

 

[maroun.c]

Glad to learn you are feeling better and very happy you are back in the hobby.
Your minimalistic tanks and the water clarity and of course great fish and corals selection and tank husbandry was always an inspiration.
looking forward to see your tank progress.
You still owe us a visit here

 

[SunnyX]

Glad to learn you are feeling better and very happy you are back in the hobby.
Your minimalistic tanks and the water clarity and of course great fish and corals selection and tank husbandry was always an inspiration.
looking forward to see your tank progress.
You still owe us a visit here

Thank you! One day soon, I will venture back over the pond and be with my people.

 

[Sean Clark]

Home is where you point.

 

[SunnyX]

Home is where you point.

Ha ha, yeah I’m a Michigander, born and raised. I wouldn’t live in any other state.

 

[LaloJ]

It is a pleasure to see your work again in the world of reef tanks, I love your pair of G.melanospilos, they are magnificent fish, maybe you should bet on G.semifasciatus when you need a little more , great work and inspiring as always.

 

[SunnyX]

It is a pleasure to see your work again in the world of reef tanks, I love your pair of G.melanospilos, they are magnificent fish, maybe you should bet on G.semifasciatus when you need a little more , great work and inspiring as always.

Thank you! The Angels makes a great addition to the reef. I can’t believe I went this many years without one. The Lamarck Angelfish is an algae eating machine and gives my tangs a run for the money.

Thanks for following along. I am hopefully that this aquarium will live up to my past creations.

-Sonny

 

[SunnyX]

A few new images. If you all are interested, follow me on Instagram @Reefsite . I post an image each day.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

A few new images. If you all are interested, follow me on Instagram @Reefsite . I post an image each day.

Wow I am impressed that kind of surface agitation doesn’t disco the lights. Need some more radions in my life

 

[SunnyX]

Wow I am impressed that kind of surface agitation doesn’t disco the lights. Need some more radions in my life

The diffusers work wonders.

This video is accurate on the amount of shimmer and what it looks like in person.

 

[MtnDewMan]

I've been meaning to ask, what lighting setup on your Radions are you using? I see you are running the Pros. Do you use AB+? can you give a screenshot or something of your mobius settings for them? I'm curious what percentage of each colors you are using and at what schedule intensities.

Also what do you have your lights set at when you take these fabulous pictures?

 

[SunnyX]

I've been meaning to ask, what lighting setup on your Radions are you using? I see you are running the Pros. Do you use AB+? can you give a screenshot or something of your mobius settings for them? I'm curious what percentage of each colors you are using and at what schedule intensities.

Also what do you have your lights set at when you take these fabulous pictures?

Hi!

I have had a few people ask about the Radion schedule and will have my template uploaded sometime today so that you will have exactly what I have setup. It is similar to the AB+ but with quite a bit more warm and cool white.

As for the photos, I set the lights to 100% on all channels with 100% intensity.

-Sonny

 

[Sgchick]

Yeah, lots of information going back and forth concerning what to dose and what not to. I do notice a difference if bacteria is not dosed, and based on the relatively low cost of MB7 I continue to dose it.

I will be sure to post up some more updates as the weeks progress. So far, so good!

I dose MB7 after a weekly water change and turn off the skimmer For 4 hrs as recommended. If you dose some daily, do you also turn off your skimmer everyday for 4 hrs? Do you do water changes?

 

[SunnyX]

I dose MB7 after a weekly water change and turn off the skimmer For 4 hrs as recommended. If you dose some daily, do you also turn off your skimmer everyday for 4 hrs? Do you do water changes?

Hi!

I dose daily, 10ML on about 180gl of volume. Its less than the recommended amount but works out well for my system. I do not turn off my skimmer.

Are you dosing a carbon source along with the bacteria and running a protein skimmer?

Concerning water changes:

I conduct water changes once a week, Saturday morning, 30-40gl. I use Reef Crystals salt. With an Amazon subscription I get it for only $33.99/Month.

My typical maintenance consists of:

-Feeding the fish(What better time than before a water change?)
-I scrape off the glass and then take a turkey baster to the rock work, blowing off any debris and getting it into suspension.
-Next I will siphon all of the sand. If you want to keep a nice clean sandbed and avoid Cyano this is a must.
-I add fresh saltwater to the aquarium, turn on just the powerheads in the system and blow off the rocks one more time. Now that things are really moving and floating around I will add the coral snow.
-30 minutes later I turn on the main system pump, skimmer and am done with the water change.

In two hours time, the aquarium will look great and I can then enjoy it in peace for the rest of the weekend.

 

[Sgchick]

Wow!! Thanks for the info and maintenance schedule. That will help me a lot. I just dose Microbacter 7 after a weekly water change (Tropic Marin), and yes I have a Nyos 160 skimmer. I have the waterbox 105.4 frag tank and love it!! It’s my first time having a sump and its been a lot to learn.

I ordered the calcium carbonate to try, and will order the bacto balance as well. Other than that I dose the typical 2 part and Acropower.

Again…thanks for the quick response!!!

 

[rtparty]

Not sure I really need it but I ordered bacto balance and should have it this week.

Years ago, I modeled my 40B after Sunny's old Rimless Reef. Dosed vodka and MB7 and ran all T5s...had amazing results.

I've been using DIY Coral Snow for years and love it as well. So if Sunny says Bacto Balance is good stuff, I'll give it a shot

 

[Sgchick]

@SunnyX Can I ask what foods you are feeding?