Mines the same… white biofilm daily but never algae.. takes about 2 weeks to build up around my sand.
Thanks!Hello,
I use a Tunze Calcium Dispenser. Its a very simple contraption, and likely something you could make yourself at home. The dispenser holds kalk, and is connected to my ATO. As the water tops off it will pass through the dispenser and come out on the other end as Kalkwasser.
Depending on your system and needs, this may or may not work for you. Kalkwasser is primarily a supplement to the All for Reef so I can get by on the top off.
I have had stirrers and all sorts of contraptions in the past, with this unit here being the most simple and user friendly of them all.
-Sonny
Update 10/20/2023
Well, the system has preformed beyond expectations and grown corals quicker than what I would have imagined.
You can read about the "Bacteria-Powered Reef" in the latest issue of Reef Hobbyist Magazine.
Original Post:
It feels good to be back!
Well, I’ve been back in the hobby for two years now. Over that time I had setup a small 50gl reef in my office. It was nothing special, just something to get my fingers wet again in this hobby. The tank grew in nicely from small frags and helped to get me ready for this point in the journey.
I have been in the hobby for 25 years now and took a long hiatus about eight years back. This was primarily due to illness. Since then, I have been doing well and hope to continue my journey for as long as I am fortunate to do so.
Prior to my hiatus, I along with member JimC ran a small company: Pro Corals. Some of you may have the very corals in your tank.
Updated video: 07/13/2022
Radion Mobius schedule: http://reefsite.com/radion-mobius-schedule/
Updated shot 06-04-2022
More recent Shot:
With this latest setup, I will be again be carbon dosing. Over the years have found great success doing so.
I decided on a peninsula aquarium as I like to run my setups without a background or overflow to divert attention away from the aqua scape.
The tank you see here has been setup for one week as of today.
Display Tank
Waterbox 6025
60.5"×25.3"×23.6"
Sump
47gl Waterbox sump
36.2"×20.5"×15.7"
Water Movement
Ecotech Vectra L2 Return pump
Vortech MP40QD x2
Tunze Stream 3
Lighting
Ecotech Radion G5
2 XR30 PRO
2 XR15 PRO
Skimmer
Ultrareef UKS-200
Dosing
Tropic Marin All for Reef
Substrate
CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand
Filtration and supplements
Carbon
Reef Crystals Salt
MicroBacter7
Tropic Marin NP-Bacto Balance
Selcon
Lugols Solution
Dosing updated 07/10/2022
Daily
- 75ML Tropic Marin All for Reef
- 3ML Tropic Marin NP-Bactobalance
- 10ML Microbacter7
- 100ML Randy Two part (ALK portion ONLY)
- Kalkwasser for all ATO water. Tunze Osmolator connected to a Tunze Kalk reactor.
- Two drops of Lugols solution.
- Clean glass
- Fish fed twice per day. 07:00 and 18:00.
- AM: Two frozen cubes: Spirulina Brime Shrimp and Mysis Shrimp. Formula One Flakes. Spectrum pellets
- PM: LRS Reef Frenzy 2”x3” sized piece
Weekly
- 25% water change with Reef Crystals Salt. Sand siphoned, tumbled and filtered.
- Blow off the rockwork with a turkey baster.
- 50ML of DIY Coral Snow (Added after water change.)
- Swap out filter socks
- Top off ATO reservoir with fresh RO/DI
- Fill Kalk reactor with Kalkwasser powder
- Inspect pumps and light fixtures. Clean as needed.
The new setup
Below you will find pictures of my setups over the years:
Hello,
The rock was originally KP aquatics, and transferred over from a 40gl reef I had setup.
I dont know exactly how much rock was put in the system, but it wasnt much at all.
Not the best of images, but you can see where it started, and a second photo from a month ago when I gave the corals a big trim. Dont fret about the amount of rock. In no time, the corals will fill in the gaps.
