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Bryce Peterson
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That sounds awesome. Just the kind of example I was looking for. Thanks
NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
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Bryce Peterson
Active Member
Do you have a tank thread. I'd like to follow that.
It does get confusing. ESP if you read the internet too much. Im in the same boat you are. And yea you actually can do it the way your talking about.
Pay close attention to what Randy F has to say. Dig into it actually. Not the numbers, the principals. Its a lot more of a natural approach than you think. Took me years to figure that one out.
Why carbon dosing works is what kicked it off. Yup sat up late looking at molecules.
Chemistry and mathematics help explain nature to the apes. Its only the apes who keep thinking they can improve upon nature.
And then their Xena dies.
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Bryce Peterson
Active Member
That is just where I am at. I ran some carbon last week because my sea hare dissapeared and the water started to smell. I feel like I want to stay as natural as possibly in a small closed system. Some of the methods out there just seem to be on the other side of a line that I am not willing to cross. At least at this point in time.
PatW
2500 Club Member
Remember reefs are not self contained units. They have low nutrient water coming in from the open ocean which sweep over the reef and carry away much of the waste.
I have a new tank going. It has a very low bio load. My rock is still leaching some phosphates. So I add alcohol daily. But doing so rapidly takes my nitrates to in unmeasurable. So I add some KNO3, stump remover, so I can maintain some barely detectable nitrate levels. The bacteria growth from the alcohol and nitrates is removed by the skimmer and reduces phosphates.
I could do the same thing with massive water changes, a refugium, algae scrubber. But I lack the natural system's low nutrient waters coming in off the open ocean.
Our nano reefs are not "natural". Coral reefs are typically quite large usually miles in length and not 4' by 2'. Coral reefs don't have heaters, LED lights, return pumps, protein skimmers, sumps, power heads, controllers etc.
Now it is esthetically pleasing to use what we deem to be natural methods. But what we are maintaining are reef gardens and not self maintaining ecosystems.
I have a new tank going. It has a very low bio load. My rock is still leaching some phosphates. So I add alcohol daily. But doing so rapidly takes my nitrates to in unmeasurable. So I add some KNO3, stump remover, so I can maintain some barely detectable nitrate levels. The bacteria growth from the alcohol and nitrates is removed by the skimmer and reduces phosphates.
I could do the same thing with massive water changes, a refugium, algae scrubber. But I lack the natural system's low nutrient waters coming in off the open ocean.
Our nano reefs are not "natural". Coral reefs are typically quite large usually miles in length and not 4' by 2'. Coral reefs don't have heaters, LED lights, return pumps, protein skimmers, sumps, power heads, controllers etc.
Now it is esthetically pleasing to use what we deem to be natural methods. But what we are maintaining are reef gardens and not self maintaining ecosystems.
AlexG
Valuable Member
I think the most difficult thing about dealing with issues when they arise in a reef aquariums is that changes to balance the system take time. I used to battle 100+ ppm nitrates on my first saltwater aquarium and it took years to get a solution that worked. It was before Internet Forums like Reef2Reef were around. When I finally got the biological filter built to handle the high nitrates it took a couple of months to get them down to acceptable levels. I know that many chemicals have been shown to resolve issues quickly or get them under control but to me that is almost like putting a band-aid on a broken bone. The beauty of this hobby is there are so many successful ways to maintain and grow a reef. The hardest part for me right now is that I am going to be in the build phase for a while. Just hang in there and you will eventually find the right balance to give you a ideal reef environment.
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Bryce Peterson
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Looks terrific.my 120 gal. is full of coral. no sps. I don't dose anything. bi-weekly wc's. 2 1/2 years and all is well. never any nitrates but trying to reduce phosphates which I think are causing some diatoms on my sand and glass. I cringe when I read about what people dose with. not saying there is anything wrong with it. just not for me. if I had to even think about dosing vinegar, stump remover, etc. I would go back to fw. may not be the best looking tank, but for the easy maintenance and simple set up, I'm happy.
Epicreefster
Community Member
I don't have a tank thread yet but here is a pic with all the filtration, ATS, skimmer, ozone to the side and m1 vectra in the back. Also a monti cap that's been in the tank 3-4 weeks has about 1/4" new growth. I'm still adjusting alk and calcium levels so it will probably get better, and I need to change bulbs to adjust spectrum... I bought the glass 6 months ago, tank has been running 4 months but has only had coral and lighting since December 1st.
I have built and seen more tanks than most and I would say the key to a "natural" reef is high flow and a high powered refugium, that's lots of flow and lots of light. I would recommend 10x minimum flow through the sump/refugium vs the standard 3-5, and a minimum of 50x tank turnover for corals, 100x for sps, and for detritus removal. Other than that you just need standard lighting and skimming.
I have built and seen more tanks than most and I would say the key to a "natural" reef is high flow and a high powered refugium, that's lots of flow and lots of light. I would recommend 10x minimum flow through the sump/refugium vs the standard 3-5, and a minimum of 50x tank turnover for corals, 100x for sps, and for detritus removal. Other than that you just need standard lighting and skimming.
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Corals adapted to an environment where chemicals are readily available to them. Coral settle and grow in different area's of the Reef due to the environment that they find suitable for their species. They rely on the water for food and nutrients to grow. When we place them in our aquariums they have to adapt to what they are given. Many corals do well like most soft corals which do not live in a low nutrient environment that SPS live in. Sps use the chemicals in the water to provide the building blocks for their calcium skeletons.
One can keep a "Natural" tank if they wish and they can have success. The corals may not be as colorful as those in nature but they will adapt to the basic conditions that you as a hobbyist give them. If you choose to dig deeper into what corals require you will be rewarded with a more colorful reef tank. Its all in what you want to do with "YOUR" tank.
One can keep a "Natural" tank if they wish and they can have success. The corals may not be as colorful as those in nature but they will adapt to the basic conditions that you as a hobbyist give them. If you choose to dig deeper into what corals require you will be rewarded with a more colorful reef tank. Its all in what you want to do with "YOUR" tank.
MikeyAl
Well-Known Member
Build a waterfall algae turf scrubber for your sump. It is easy and cheap and a good way to avoid dosing vinegar or anything else (except for calcium, trace elements, etc to keep your corals heathy). An ats will naturally remove nitrates and phosphates through nutrient exchange process. And will keep your algae growth in check.
