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Recommended by moonshiners or yourself?
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Any MoonShiners in here?
- Thread starter Mike Lemming
- Start date
moonshiners, join the fb group and download the handbook here. Read it before making purchases.
Reef Moonshiner's Handbook
Buy Reef Moonshiner's Handbook from Andre Mueller
andremueller.e-junkie.com
I would recommend to start with the handbook before u buy anythimg. Read it over and over and over, the more u read it the more it starts to make sense. When u decided to dive in, start with the oceamo ms test for your first correction and buy 1 of each element. You will need all of them eventually, this will save shipping cost. The shipping cost will be the same for each shipment regardless of the number of items. The initial cost will be around $500 more or less depending on which and how many test kits you buy. Dont expect to see instant results, it will take a few monthly ICPs. All of what I mentioned are also in the handbook. Have fun reading!
Yea it was the updated one, it was crappy timing when I sent it out with thanksgiving approaching. Still not getting any alk consumption just keeps rising with no dosing so hoping something might pop up on the icp.
Maybe issue with PH?
I should probably get a proper meter at this point my salifert ph test kit probably isn’t cutting it. Through that test kit it’s always right about 8.0. I’ve tried increasing surface agitation, opening windows, adding an airstone next to my skimmer inlet, and increasing skimmer pump speed for more air exchange but still doesn’t seem to budge. I had high nitrates about 100ppm so I did a series of water changes and it’s now down around 18ppm haven’t lost anything and things look good but still alk is rising without dosing anything. Pic from a couple days ago…
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Thank you for the insight! I’ve been reading a few pages here and there as I get the chance. The more I read, the more I want to start!
you don’t use all for reef do you
Read the handbook, then read it again and again, join the FB group and ask tons of questions. This method was specifically designed around ATI test kits so use what they recommend. After about the 4 months mark, things will get easier to understand in terms of water chemistry and you'll be able to make more daily dosing versus larger correctional dosages if you inclined to do so.
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How are you keeping nutrients in check if they discourage water changes..
Mine are high at the moment but with time and bacteria, they'll be more stable on the new system. Vodka dosing for no3 and 10 drops phosphate rx in the skimmer every couple of days. My last system, ran 100+ no3 and super lower phosphates, adjust your feedings and give it time, it'll straighten out. You can also do a water change if need be, and then send out another icp and mane the necessary corrections from there.
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I’ve been vinegar dosing for a bit but water changes have been much more efficient! Gfo is helping with the phosphates. I’m just worried I won’t be able to control my no3 without water changes
The program does not discourage water changes, many reefers that are on the shine still keep their water change schedule because they choose to do so. Since you are replenishimg each element and keeping them in the proper range there is no need for a water change unless you dont have an efficient import export system in place for nutrient control.
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That has been my problem. I over feed and my nitrates crept up pretty high. I’ve been doing water changes and they’re down to like 25 now but don’t really have an export method currently other than water changes. I’ve also been vinegar dosing for a bit trying to figure that out..
Feed less, I say this so I can see it as well. I'm heavy handed and have a few larger fish in my system that could use a diet.
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I’m actually thinking about switching foods to a pre-packaged food as opposed to making it myself like I’ve been doing. It’ll be more expensive but killing corals has been pretty damn expensive if you ask me! Smh..
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So I am still reading through the handbook before I make any moves with Shiners.. Do you think I should get my system under control as far as nutrients go before diving in? With somewhat elevated No3 and Po4, It's probably not the best time to start something new right?
I recently did the same I was making my own. I also defrost in rodi then drain it then add just the food and I stopped using reef roids. Since doing those things my nutrients are much more stable and I feel I can feed my fish more. I also do the same on my 60 cube seahorse tank that gets four cubes of frozen mysis a day and even that tanks nutrients are now quite steady.
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Good to know. What did you end up switching to? My nitrates for weeks was blinking 75 on the nitrate test kit, so I don't even know what the actual number was. I am down to around 25 now and still working on it!
U need more coral less fish. I don't do water changes ( maybe yearly, also on the shine ) and don’t have a fuge , just a skimmer. I also only keep enough fish to maintain my nutrient level. For me 4 fish is the max before I start seeing jumps in nutrients. Most people overstock the tank then can’t keep anything in check. It’s all a balance of what goes in , what’s in it and what gets consumed/taken out.
