Introduction
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.
Filtration
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.
Feeding See more
Larry's Reef Frenzy frozen food
·
New life spectrum
·
Hikari