Hello, this my very first reef aquarium going on 3 years. I started with softies and easy sps {no acro} for the 1st year. I continued to break my back with 10% water changes weekly and BRS reactor with GFO and carbon changed every 2 to 3 weeks. 2 and half years later I started getting acropora corals and learn how to control my parameter to a T. I really struggled because nitrates kicked my butt until I started testing weekly if not 2 times a week. Even with testing I had a hard time and took a break from acros until I went to a coral swap and learned from fellow reefers about carbon dosing with vodka. I read as much information as possible about vodka dosing and followed the recipe on reefkeeping.com. A week later the water was more clear than any water change. At full swing with vodka dosing and 2 to 3 months later colors popped in away only seen in most of the best tanks online. The acros that browned out came back! I am falling in love with acros again and p04 are around .03 and no4 at near 0! Dosing vodka really helped me because I had no sump to help with filtration. With vodka dosing and a skimmer rated for a 200 gallon tank on a 65, I hardly do water changes, only when i change my reactor media so about 5 gallons a month if any. I use kent essential element for trace elements to compensate for the water changes. Now I am buying equipment for my 225 build and reading to find the best way to automate my vodka dosing. Wish me luck, because I am hoping to keep vodka dosing with minimal water changes for another 2years before the switch to the 225. I will post pictures soon, sadly camera phone pics, but trust me a good camera is on my list to buy soon and suggestions would be appreciated on what camera/lens to get the best color.

Carbon dosing is the way to go with all the droughts and less hassle! Year mark and still happy but it can be better. I switched from vodka dosing to vinegar.