Tanks based on Aquaforest Products:

[domination2580]

There are few people around who are very experienced in AF. Like Perry, Debora, Gary and Jsker who are using it for quite long time and have great results. As far I understand and remember @domination2580 is using it longer than 3 days but as he does not have enough surface media to house a lot of probiotic bacteria it will take longer for the process to start working efficiently.

Correct....I've been using the reef salt for the past 3 months and just started the probiotics...I do not have media running as of right now....but it must be a must for faster results?

 

[Anirban]

Correct....I've been using the reef salt for the past 3 months and just started the probiotics...I do not have media running as of right now....but it must be a must for faster results?

Not faster but it helps a lot in long run.

 

[jsker]

Correct....I've been using the reef salt for the past 3 months and just started the probiotics...I do not have media running as of right now....but it must be a must for faster results?

there is no fast in reefing, just patients. Any fast change can also have result either way very fast. I am a little bit of a risk taker and I may make 2 changes at a time, but I still wait 2 weeks to see what is going on with the system before I change back or go forward.

I see that you have most of the AF products now and I am excited to see you system in a month, two months and three months and so on. I saw results I two weeks when I started Aquaforest and it took another two months before I totally switched over to AF and have not look back.

In six to 8 months you and @MrMichael will be old pro's

 

[jsker]

.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Totally agree with a lot said here! Patience is key and having media for the bacteria is important. Just an example....

In one of my systems I have 150lbs of live rock, 300lbs of live sand, about 2 liters of Marine pure, and 15 Liters of Siporax. That's a huge biological filter once established. [emoji6]

 

[domination2580]

Not faster but it helps a lot in long run.

How does it help in the long run? If you have sand and rock and u keep dosing bios and np pro....it will still build up on the rock and in the sand...I'm not sure I get the in the long run part.

 

[domination2580]

Totally agree with a lot said here! Patience is key and having media for the bacteria is important. Just an example....

In one of my systems I have 150lbs of live rock, 300lbs of live sand, about 2 liters of Marine pure, and 15 Liters of Siporax. That's a huge biological filter once established. [emoji6]

Siporax you have to continually replenish don't you

 

[120reefkeeper]

Siporax you have to continually replenish don't you

No it's a media that is permanent.

 

[domination2580]

No it's a media that is permanent.

O....ok that makes more sense now....I gotcha

 

[Anirban]

O....ok that makes more sense now....I gotcha

I think you got your answer ...

 

[domination2580]

Totally agree with a lot said here! Patience is key and having media for the bacteria is important. Just an example....

In one of my systems I have 150lbs of live rock, 300lbs of live sand, about 2 liters of Marine pure, and 15 Liters of Siporax. That's a huge biological filter once established. [emoji6]

U use a canister filter? Or just place in sump? Any bags that you put them in? Special chamber?

 

[120reefkeeper]

U use a canister filter? Or just place in sump? Any bags that you put them in? Special chamber?

I have the media in my sump in a diy box I made out of eggcrate and zip ties.

I used the 25mm pond size siporax.

 

[120reefkeeper]

It's best to stack it like this so that water flows through the media nicely. [emoji4]

 

[domination2580]

It's best to stack it like this so that water flows through the media nicely. [emoji4]

That is huge though....I'm doing this to a 55 gallon lol. So what if I don't want an ULNS? Anything different I should be doing? ULNS is more for sps correct? What would be the benefits?

 

[120reefkeeper]

That is huge though....I'm doing this to a 55 gallon lol. So what if I don't want an ULNS? Anything different I should be doing? ULNS is more for sps correct? What would be the benefits?

Yes UNLS is more for SPS but I do keep some LPS. The benefit is nutrient control. It gives the good bacteria a place to call home . This is a great place for the bacteria to process nitrates. [emoji4]

 

[domination2580]

Would zoas grow in a ulns

 

[120reefkeeper]

I have zoas and I'm UNLS. So yes it's possible.

You see I keep some LPS and zoas etc as visual indicators. What I mean is when I see the colors fade on the LPS then I know I'm very lean or low on nutrients. So I just feed a little heavier . [emoji4]

It's not just about numbers , it's also about learning your tank and adjusting using what you see. There is a lot of visual clues in Reef keeping. [emoji4]

Learning your tank takes time , patience, and experience. Sometimes it means you do nothing and wait..... other times it means you have to act quickly. Most of the time it's all about patience my friend. [emoji16]

 

[domination2580]

Yes UNLS is more for SPS but I do keep some LPS. The benefit is nutrient control. It gives the good bacteria a place to call home . This is a great place for the bacteria to process nitrates. [emoji4]

What would I have to do to keep nitrates around 5 and phosphates around .03? As far as products to use?

 

[120reefkeeper]

Run a UNLS system.

Reef salt or Probiotic salt

Pro bio s
NP pro
Phos minus
Life biofill, Marine pure, or Siporax


This is just a list of things that will help with nitrates and Phosphate

It's not a complete list of a total UNLS system.

 

[domination2580]

Run a UNLS system.

Reef salt or Probiotic salt

Pro bio s
NP pro
Phos minus
Life biofill, Marine pure, or Siporax


This is just a list of things that will help with nitrates and Phosphate

It's not a complete list of a total UNLS system.

What's a complete list?