Thinking of going fauna

[Myka]

Hi Marie! I agree with fencer. I suck at doing water changes too because I am also lazy. I have set up myself a system where water changes are super easy though, and I find I do a lot more water changes. I used to do maybe 6 water changes a year before, now I'm up to weekly!! If you make it easy for yourself you will be more likely to do it.

You could use some of the additives without using all the nutrient lowering products. You can gradually ease into using some of the bacteria encouraging products as time goes on, and see the reaction of that. I am familiar with Zeo, so I would have to suggest these products: Sponge Power, Xtra, Amino Acid High Concentration (for SPS), and Coral Vitalizer. These four you should have no issues using on your established tank, except the latter of which I find I have to use very sparingly or I will get diatoms and cyano. You could also put Coral Snow to use which I have found is a great combatant of algae especially if used with Bak. However, on an established tank I would be careful using both of those, but especially the Bak.

As far as Zeo goes...don't follow the directions on the bottles. If it says use 1 drop per 25 gallons daily use 1 drop per 25 gallons 3x per week or even less. You should notice a different with a small amount. However, I do find that with Zeo you need to be tedious about it (I assume FM is the same way). Either do it, or don't - there is no halfway. If you do it halfway (use the additives irregularly) you will cause yourself more grief than good imo.

[Aqua-Digital]

Hi

Sorry for late coming into this, trying to take weekends of now.

As everyone has said for now it is important to get your basic maintenance regime in place.

10% water changes a week
PO4 and nitrate tests.

If your PO4 is high then using FM Ultra power phos to bring this down. This is powerful suff and does not leach the PO4 back into the system it remains bound, you also dont have to use much of it and the absorbant rate on tests is fast. (but thats another subject we will be doing this review in the new year)

correct PO4 test proceedure

heat sample of water to 80oC
Allow to cool for 5 minutes
Take test in normal way

By doing this you are unbinding the PO4 trapped in the water molecules and obtaining a correct reading.

After this as Myka says you can use some nutrient lowering products, a good start would be

Ultra Bio
Ultra Bak

These as Mike proved in his tests rids he system of any nutrients in a stable and structured manner. But again as Myka points out you must keep up with this.

IF you want to go down the Ultra lith route, in some parts it is not too different from Zeo but you will not get the crash situations if you come right off of it, as the forumla is a lot milder in nature. However we do still recommend a weaning process off of it as no tank should experience sudden changes.

With Fauna Marin Lith systems the independant reports are you get a more gentle change to the tank and more natural colours, it is reported to eb more user freindly.

So what would you need

the very least is the following

Ultra Lith rock
Ultra Bio -(the bacteria)
Ultra Bak (the bacterial food)
Ultra Min-S (the amino acids)

This is the basic 4 for start up.

Again - If you chose this route, it would mean for the first 6 weeks some daliy tasks of adding drops of the above mentioned products. After this period things settle down, and after the first 3 months you will have a stable system.

Remember also, we offer direct and outstanding support every step of the way to anyone that starts and continue to use Ultra Lith you are not left wondering what you should be doing.

[marie]

Hi Myka, you say I can use these 4 zeo products safely ( Sponge Power, Xtra, Amino Acid High Concentration (for SPS), and Coral Vitalizer.) but what exactly would they do for my aquarium? I'm not looking for things I can add to my tank just because.

Specifically I'm looking for the easy way to control numerous species of macroalgae. The algae isn't particularily out of control (except maybe the coralline algae) just unsightly when guests come over

[Aqua-Digital]

Hi Marie,

This being the Fauna Marin product forum we can only really talk about FM products here.

To control Algea we first need to know the route cause before suggesting any Fauna marin product (that goes for any product as well really)

If you can get back to us with your "true" PO4 results and nitrate results, we can then establish a maintenance plan for you.

Using FM products you would only need two

Ultra Bio
Ultra Bak

This is the uilding blcoks of low nutrient dosing and will keep you nutrients in check

[marie]

Hi aqua digital,
So the ultra bak is the bacteria food and the bio is the bacteria, what do the amino acids do for the tank...

[Aqua-Digital]

Hiya

Ultra Bio is a very powerful blend of bacterias that are designed specifically for consuming nutrients.

Ultra bak is the foods source, call it the energy drink for the Bio.

Min-S (amino acid supplement) is used to replace the negative nutrients with the exact requirments your system and corals require without causing algal issues

I would suggest adding a small amount of Min-S after you have your nutrients down other wise the corals can go pale due to lack of nutrients.

ULNS is a balancing act, once you found the balance it is very easy to maintain.

One piece of advise given above older tanks do not react well to ULNS due to the high build up of trapped nurtrients in sand and rock.

I would suggest testing your nutrient levels and then getting back to me for further advise.

At this time i do not receommend full Lith dosing, but I do recommend a structured maintenance program that could or may include the use of bak bio and some min-s.

Regards
Michael

[Aqua-Digital]

Ultra Bio

UltraBio is a mix of highly active bacteria, specifically formulated for the Ultralith system. This bacteria mix will prevent a monoculture in the filter and promotes the rapid processing of nutrients in the filter.
Standard dosing:

Shake well before use.

When starting to use UltraBio or after an exchange of the UltraLith filter medium add 1 drop per 100 liter/26gal every day for 2 weeks. After this initial phase, add 1 drop per 100 Liter/26gal. every three days, until the next exchange of the Ultralith filter medium. Please add the UltraBio either directly into the tank or into the intake of the Zeolite Filter.

It is advisable to turn off the skimmer for 2 to 3 hours after the addition of UltraBio.

UltraBio is a mix of several nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial populations that were carefully selected for their ability to convert ammonia to nitrite, nitrite to nitrate and nitrate to nitrogen gas. Please add UltraBio at the beginning of using the Ultralith system and after an exchange of Ultralith.

Our bacteria mix is highly concentrated. You can actually see the bacteria with the naked eye as aggregates drifting in the solution. Please shake the bottle slightly before each use.

UltraBio contains the marine nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial strains „Nitrosomas sp. Nitrobacter sp. Nitrospira sp. Paracoccus sp. Pseudomonas sp. and is highly concentrated

ADVICE :

In older tanks with high nutrient concentrations please reduce the phosphate concentration with Ultraphos down to levels around around 0,1 mg/l – 0,05 mg/l before using UltraBak. After the phosphate reduction, dose UltraBio as recommended above.

UltraBio contains the marine nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial strains „Nitrosomas sp. Nitrobacter sp. Nitrospira sp. Paracoccus sp. Pseudomonas sp. and is highly concentrated.

ATTENTION: Our bacteria mix is highly concentrated and you can actually see the bacteria as aggregates drifting in the solution. Through the high concentration of the bacterial cells in the solution, a contamination with foreign or a decay of the product can effectively be ruled out and makes preservation like storage in a Nitrogen atmosphere unnecessary. The solution has a shelf life of at least 9 months and does not require refridgeration. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
FAUNA MARIN BACTERIA SYSTEM for nutrient reduction in Reef tanks


UltraBio can also be used for nutrient reduction without the use of Zeolites or other adsorbers. If you want to use UltraBio without Ultralith, you have to use UltraBio in combination with Biofood as a food source for the bacteria.

Dosing :
Shake well before use

1 drop each of UltraBio and 3 drops of Biofood per day per 100 L/26gal, directly into the aquarium. Keep this dose until Nitrate and Phosphate levels have dropped significantly. After you have reached the desired water parameters, decrease the dose by 50%.

Cyanobacteria:

The combination of UltraBio and UltraLife are a very effective treatment against cyanobacteria in reef tanks. Cyanobacteria form red films or carpets which can cover the entire decoration. They are good indicators for a misbalance between nutrients. An addition of UltraBio and Ultralife will reactivate the growth of a healthy and diverse bacterial population by balancing out the nutrients.

Dosing:

Different products have to be mixed before dosing. The daily dose per 100 L of tank volume is 2 drops of UltraBio, half a tablespoon of UltraLife and 2 drops of UltraBio. Mix all the ingredients together and add them into the intake of a pump or any other place with high flow.

Maintain this treatment until the Cyanobacteria are clearly reduced. This may take several days to weeks, so please be patient. In most cases the treatment works in less than one week

[Aqua-Digital]

Ultra Min-S

Ultramin S is a nutrient solution and food additive, specially developed for filter feeders, corals and clams. Due to its special formula it is taken up extremely fast. Polyps will expand much further and the protective mucus membrane of the corals will be strengthened. Greatly aides the buildup of coral tissue, nutrients will be transported into the coral/clam much more efficiently. The corals will expand and take up more particulate food (UltraMin F), the natural coloration will be enhanced.
UltraMin S contains all all Amino acids, Vitamins, and over 70 trace elements.
Add 3-5 ml per 1000 L (250 gal) daily, depending on nutrient concentrations in the aquarium.
For husbandry of Sponges and non-photosynthetic corals UltraMin S is an essential product in combination with UltraMin F.
UltraMin S is available in 100 ml/ 250 ml/ 500 ml/ 1000 ml.

Contents:
Water
Glucose Monohydrate
Magnesium Sulfate
Potassium Chloride
Ethylene Acetate
Sodium Acetate
L-Arginin Hydrochloride
L-Histidin Hydrochloride
Taurine
L-Threonine
DL-Tryptophane
Glycine
DL-Valine
Thiamin Chloride 100 mg
Nicotinamide 1500 mg
Riboflavine 40 mg
Dexpanthenole
Pridoxine Hydrochloride 100 mg
Cyanococobalamine
Sodium Methyl-4-Hydroxybenzoate
More than 70 trace elements

[marie]

Also I'll apologize in advance in case I come across as "difficult and negative" . I say I'm lazy but really I have slightly different thoughts on reef tanks then a lot of others.
I believe the ocean reefs are finely balanced systems with algae and bacteria playing equal roles. For my tank I've always strived for a balance between the two and sponges, other filter feeders, pods and worms are as important to me as the fish and corals.
I'm researching ultra lithe to find out if it will help me maintain that balance. I don't want a "low nutrient" system... I want a healthy one and I don't think they are the same thing

[Aqua-Digital]

The concept is without debate, we all want to provide what is natural. (sales hat on sorry - This is why i distribute FM becuase they only use natural elements where possible)

Sales hat off again - The only issue you will have is that our tanks do not have billions of gallons of fresh filtered sea water passing through them daily removing all negative nutrients, we have a captive environment where the bad guys will lurk and linger and build up over time in your system and this is where they then become an issue to remove when things get out of control.

In your case, absolutley do not go down the full nutrient route.

BUT

I would get your PO4 in check and nitrates (please report back) and then if required address these naturally with the bacterial elements bak and bio

After this as you are interested in filter feeders it would be good to look into Ultra Sea Fan and ultra min-S in very small doses to bring out all the micro life you wish to maintain.

Lets start at the beginning though, and show us your readings as advised to take above using PO4 heat test especially.

I will then endeavour to find the most natural solution for your system