Did the BRS/WWC Hybrid Method really work?? 9-month update!

[@ldcsreef5232]

I have used that pink and purple coralline algae and can say that it works as advertised. I’ll be using it again on my next tank build.

[@plaidjoker1321]

Sand beds are a MUST! the amount of surface area you get for filtration is unmatched. And cleaning your sand bed isnt going to remove the bacteria. The bacteria sticks to the rock, unlike detritus. In my experience, I clean as much sand as I can before the water change is over (6 gallons of 60gal system) which is usually ~50% of the tank. hopefully this helps someone! I think sand looks nicer and is not as much of a bear as others make it seem!

[@elchappo1320]

Its too much work and headache keeping sand clean

[@plaidjoker1321]

@@elchappo1320 That tank is no longer running but I promise you, kinking the gravel hose will save you a lot of sand and frustration. You can do it mate!

[@rja9784]

I’ve played billiards, I’ve played golf, I’ve been a bowler, I’ve played cards. None of those hobbies have been as satisfying as maintaining a reef tank. I guess I’m weird but I actually find a lot fun in mixing the RODI water with my salt and physically doing a water change.

[@PazLeBon]

no football, what are you ? yep, fkn wierd

[@spacecowboy07723]

You want to do my water changes? 😂

[@AS-qi7iu]

That E170 deserves its own update video, it looks absolutely amazing!!

[@azslotracer]

Who makes the E170?

[@JamesThomas-wf9sl]

great video, and I have learnt to clean my sand in the tank, I now have super stable nitrates at around 2 and I can increase my feeding and the tank keeps up. Love these videos, keep em coming!

[@DaquanJohnson]

The Ecotech battery backups are amazing. I have had mines for over five years, and they still work.

[@maokinus]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You saved my tank three times with the ecotech battery backup and the apex heartbeat recommendation. I had a pretty long power outage around 48 hours and with the battery backup my tank didn't miss a beat and there was no loss of life coral or fish. The heart beat has been great to know when my house looses power or my son unplugs my switch the apex is connected to😭. Overall I feel pretty protectived and I have taken it a step further and got a whole house generator. It hurt the wallet for sure but I am just coming out of another 24 hour power outage and my tank lost power for 15 seconds from when we lost power till the generator kicked on. Again keep talking about the ecotech battery backup. It took me around 5 times hearing it before I listened. I owe my 90% of my reefing knowledge to BRS TV. It makes it really hard to buy from anyone else. One for the bean counters 😉. Thank you again for all that you do!

[@sunnygoold9449]

Awesome episode - after seeing what happened to the fish I got a battery backup and a heater controller - on my 15G tank! They have never been used... yet! But it will probably save my tank at some stage - worth it!

[@chbnorth]

Glad you shared about the bacteria bloom. I'm following this same approach but with travertine tile bottom and at day 30 it's fairly cloudy in my tank as well. A little patience will likely clear it up. Great series as well. Thanks.

[@BobleeBBQandOutdoors]

I can vouch for Elliot first hand! Wouldn’t even consider using anyone else to stock my tanks. The fish are top notch with zero problems!

[@joshmackow450]

4 months in: 12 fish, heaps of SPS and LPS. 6 months in, all grown and encrusted, colors coming out, fish growing, nitrates and phosphates pretty much 0. Very happy :) The rules make sense, but if you do it properly, it can go quickly

[@S2minute]

As far as your "cat litter box" analogy , while i agree with that, having sand in the system can have more than one function. For example a DSB remotely OR as part of a cryptic zone. For years i've used a 6" DSB. This was in a standard 150 gal that served as a cryptic zone tank. No light to ambient room light, southdown sand and segmented into 12 compartments so that if/when i wish to change out, i can easily do so one compartment a month or two months. Also, no fish here, NO sand sifters and no cleaning with only a long air wand on the bottom on one side with large bubbles to slowly circulate the water. The ONLY things that take care of the detritus are benthic pods and worms,(infauna), that move the detritus below the surface and eat it. You can see the Nitrogen bubbles rise out of the DSB as an end product.

[@bobellis3117]

Same issue for me... Cloudy cloudy cloudy... but I know it's gonna turn for the better!! Bare bottom is just a different animal!

[@michaelarmstrong5208]

You guys are amazing. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.

[@peach0221]

Planning a future tank and going to use this method but with sand and slightly different equipment on a 5 foot. Thank you for sharing this :)

[@athomeontwo]

I would love to see you illustrate a successful system with water changes and mechanical filtration, that’s it. The challenge would be balancing livestock levels, lighting, flow, and actively managing the mechanical filter media. It works amazingly well and I would challenge anyone to start by learning how to balance a system this way before adding in even a skimmer.

[@rc2300s2r]

I totally agree on the flow front. I turned off one of my back glass power heads because my anemone set up shop super close to it. One of my monti s that was near that pump started to loose tissue and algae was growing on the exposed skeleton. I moved the power head (stupid anemone still there) a little and fired it back up and the monti recovered in a few days and is covered in tissue again.

[@livingwithlov3959]

Great video! I struggled with Dino’s and Dino x worked well. Now please find a cure for vermetetid snails :)

[@caleweston7925]

Please do an experiment on vermatids guys!

[@TechGuy42ilm]

Use bumble bee snails

[@nickolasgilley5868]

You can super glue them shut🤷‍♂️

[@christopherbraxton7289]

I think the work is always going to be part of this.

[@Nolimitsenju]

Can’t wait to see the new tank build.

[@ReefDork]

Really valuable video guys - love your work 🙂👍

[@wolfmanjack3451]

Cleaning the sand is just part of my routine maintenance,My E260 takes maybe 20 minutes once every five weeks or so..No big. As for the cat box? His name is Sly and he goes outside🐱

[@wolfmanjack3451]

@@renedejong6386 ,I've had Mexican turbos before they kept the algae down but, have a short life span,my bumblebee snails are great little workers they devour detritus and for their tiny size they get around quickly..our 120 gallon has thirty, I highly recommend bumblebees.

[@TripedalTroductions]

I'm still figuring out how to clean my super fine oolitic sand bed without sucking it up!

[@Reefahholic]

Franks F-Aiptasia will NUKE those Aiptasia for you. Get them now before they spread more. It’s the only Aiptasia product that actually works because it forms a hard shell over the anemone and smothers it completely. It’s Acro safe too. My tank is about 95% Acropora dominated. Just make sure to cut all the pumps for 30-45 minutes until the product hardens. Then siphon out any product that misses the anemone and collects on the bottom of the tank (subjective but probably smart). Later on, you can peal/siphon the hard white shell off the rock and you’re done.

[@thereefaholic]

Great video as always. Can you explain what is the “Hybrid” method? I have been watching all of the videos and it’s not real clear. Maybe I missed a video on what’s “Hybrid” about it...

[@lolNololshittalk]

ME 2

[@AJ-bi6ns]

TheReefaholic it’s a collaboration between BRS and WWC ideas that’s the “hybrid” thought process

[@Tetrastructural]

@@AJ-bi6ns yeah but what does that mean exactly.

[@rooob-toob5845]

It implies that there is a hybrid in methods between what BRS's has done + WWC' has done; respectively in the past = a hybrid of the two companies methods. Its not a bulletin list necessarily, listing each "requirement" to this method, but a blending of how both teams address their tanks over all the videos encompassing the series. BRS has notoruiusly set up tanks "overnight" in their older videos, just to create content/ show off products. WWC takes their time, and doesn't make "instant" tanks for content, they take their time to do it right as they are a coral retailer. This hybrid method is, imo, incorporating how WWC approaches their livestock care regiment with the addition to how BRS implements their products they sell, into the mix. to show viewers (new hobbiest) how you can attain these kinds of tanks with their products/equipment/timeline with these two companies products.

[@doowaynepylez]

If you go up to the video description, there is a link to the playlist.

[@mattc8163]

What type of lightning schedule is used on the E170? Do you run the T5's on the same schedule as the LEDs or a shorter peak period

[@jasepoag8930]

My eyes almost literally bugged out at the 40dkh figure. As for coraline algae, my mature SPS tank barely grows any of it. If I would have waited for it, I'd still be waiting 4 years now.

[@ReefDudes]

haha, My "new" build is full of acos already :P IMO as long as your tank is stable the acros should be fine.. they may not "thrive" until your tank settles in.. but if alk and major parameters are in check they should be ok

[@Mike__B]

Yeah been in the hobby for 20 years, from VHOs to MH to LED lighting, kalk and 2 part, and I literally never had "purple covered rocks", coraline has always seemed to want to grow more on flat surfaces like the glass or in the sump, but not so much on the rocks. Meanwhile yeah my sps grow all over the rocks.

[@TheTeddy9212]

The reason they say that is because if you wait to see coraline grow ur tank is mature enuff to START adding coral naturally when u add the sps they are gonna start using up ur calcium n alk so then ur coraline may not grow as your corals mature its a reference to start adding hard corals.

[@MerkDolf]

When going from sand to no sand you should just move the sand into your sump, put it in mesh bags and throw it in the sump.

[@plaidjoker1321]

great idea!

[@baldcattle83]

Is there a fish stocking list somewheres on the site? I think that would be a good addition to the website, so we can figure out what some of the unique fish are we see in all the videos!

[@BRStv]

I like it. We'll try to put one together.

[@danchac01]

Alot of good information 👍👍 thanks

[@gabesreef]

Oh yeah, an hour full of secret nuggets of wonder info

[@gabesreef]

@@ryannielsen3448 I'm glad I did it when I did it but I I probably shouldn't have waited do long

[@tmrvstyle]

I would like/have liked to see more fails in real time not hidden until later. Also the BRS series is the reason I bought a MP40 to get a battery backup, I live in northern California and PG&E fire risk power outages are a summertime norm for a foreseeable future and a generator and battery backup were a quick money adder to my setup I had to have. The generator is loud and off at night with circulation at night from one power head on a 220 gallon tank got me through 6 days without losses

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

Mm near 7 grand of lighting over that tank, I dunno I’d like to see an affordable version done. So a $500 T5 could deliver the same results if not better. I have to say ecotech really know how to do product placement :)

[@taylorpinkowski9411]

The cost is 500 up front but the bulb needs to be replaced often and that will add up after 5 or 10 years, I agree it is ridiculously expensive but there are cheaper options of LEDs and you could even compromise by doing a LED x T5 hybrid which is IMO the best of both worlds.

[@mooredmb32]

Hey guys noticed you removed the Brightwell bio blocks you had at the start.... was there a reason? Loved the video thanks!

[@pawelkoscielniak1238]

Hi was wondering which bulbs are you using in the hybrid ati fixture ? Along with led on the ofice tank. Im planing to get it. Color Looks amazing:)

[@nightsaints]

Yes please share.

[@andretoles9505]

24:30 good shot 👍

[@AJ-bi6ns]

Definitely guilty of being an under feeder and blaming the skinner, thanks for the food for taught. Redoing my tank currently happens to be a 750xxl and bare bottom. I really need to move on the rollermatt to keep things clean. Would you still recommend the theiling? The flow rating seems low? (500gph)

[@BRStv]

The Theiling compact rollermat has worked out great. No issues with the slower turn over rate :)

[@ReefingwithO]

Do you think the tank survived at 40dkh because it’s bicarbonate and the ph didn’t rise ?

[@BRStv]

That's definitely a possibility. We also solved the issue (relatively) quickly. Not to mention maybe a little luck too.

[@fatheadedfish]

Question answered on aquatic life hybrid mount height please. Hello, I have a 48 inch fixture over a mixed reef, leaning more towards sps. Currently have it 13 inches from water line. Is this too high? Your video on the aquatic life and the ati Sunpower recommended around 8inch from water line and on the brs WWC hybrid method you day a foot or more..what height would you recommend for my situation? Many thanks!

[@JCSReefing]

What rock was used? Marco shelf and base? How much roughly?

[@Mattcarr3]

Would love an in-depth update on the e-170. That's what I'm running at my home as well. Thanks for the updates and what worked.

[@ifly65]

Great job guys. Excellent videos. What ancient leftover from the 70s thinks we need makeup for tv?

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

Why I love live rock, why I won’t be putting it in my next display, but rather down in my sump. Too many pests in live rock, but it will chop months off your startup time.

[@rlynagh]

Do you think having the T5 supplements may have played a significant role in the small tank looking better quicker in addition to the more established live rock?

[@BRStv]

The more established rock absolutely helped. That's an interesting point about the T5's. Given that we have 10 XR15s over the 750XXL, light spread shouldn't really be an issue, although it's definitely a notable difference between the two tanks.

[@joetaff]

Hey there just wondering what you are doing for mechanical filtration in the E170 as it looks incredible. There’s not really a spot for filter floss or socks -do you maintenance the rear chamber regularly?

[@BRStv]

Nope, we don't utilize mechanical filtration in that tank. Just a skimmer, auto water changes and the occasional siphoning of the back chambers. :) This one has been pretty easy!

[@rja9784]

Brilliant pro move @ 37:08 to 37:12 Thats how to start a syphon without using your mouth

[@frankcava8073]

So the rock you used - you said it was in an established tank for over a year. Had it been out of that tank for an extended period before you used it or was it right directly out of the tank and then used in the new one?

[@StrugeLabs]

i prefer the get a friend/shop to 'seed your tank' with live rock + microbacter/miracle mud approach.

[@rickg8439]

Awesome video! I’ll take the 1st frag pack please 😉

[@chadfoster3]

What nutrient export method are you using on this tank? Just a skimmer? I didn't see a refugium or bio-pellets, etc.

[@TF-Times]

My next big upgrade is a Tesla power wall. No more electricity fears.

[@pvt.watson5]

BRS... do you have a video of your rollermat upgrade to your Sump? I have the 750 xxl and would love to see how you did it. Thanks

[@BRStv]

Hey Joshua, We don't have a video, but we had to use a couple of conversion fittings to go from the metric plumbing on the Red Sea tank to the standard 1.5" size on the compact rollermat. The good news is that we've started selling conversion fittings on the BRS website, so we should now have everything you need.

[@alexandravivaldi9993]

So conclusions if it’s not broken don’t fix it don’t add extra things One think I would say aquascaping is so hard doesn’t matter how you lay your rocks you still not happy

[@ClaytonDeeringC3D]

I’m a IT Director/ starter reefer, just saying. Nice office tour. Good to see the hybrid updates. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@sergiocastellanos8503]

Great video

[@taryndeclyn1474]

Hey guys! Has the parrot fish worked out great for you! Would love to get one but I am trying to gather other’s experience

[@BRStv]

I hate to say it, but no. The first one went carpet surfing overnight pretty early one. The second one passed a couple of months back. No signs of disease, just one of those fluke, unexplainable deaths.

[@anthonypollard8261]

Coralline algae in a bottle -helix. Sooo word of caution!!! I used it. It occasionally has chunks of rock in it. One of those chunks of rock had vermatid snails!!!! Defeated the entire point of using it as I would have just used coralline from a tank at the lfs -I didn’t because they had vermatid snail. Although the bottles did totally work as far as coralline is concerned.

[@anthonypollard8261]

Luckily I was adding it to a 4.5 gallon display and so I can catch things very quickly as we see everything not matter how small it is.

[@supusakis]

Hello from Greece! Congratulations for the video. Did NO3 and PO4 rise in the tank after you got it blacked out for 5 days? (7,10)

[@jakesmith9113]

Does the E170 have its own video?

[@wolfmanjack3451]

Go to the Red Sea youtube channel.

[@jakesmith9113]

@@wolfmanjack3451 Thank you Celeste

[@Darkwingduck94]

Hahah I had 38dkh at one point when I first started and same thing super cloudy but corals made it through and tank as well

[@SpiegNet]

To use your analogy - I double dog dare you to go home and take the litter out of your cat box. See how a bare bottom cat box works out for you... LOL

[@sspu1]

I am new to this and haven't even opened my tank yet. I was as at a shop and all his tanks had red slimy looking algae. If I decided to buy a fish one day from him could his water bring that red slimy algae into mine?

[@BRStv]

It sounds like you're describing cyanobacteria. It usually forms on the sand and rocks, so if you're getting a fish from them, the risk is probably pretty low. That said, we usually recommend adding as little water from the fish store as possible.

[@sspu1]

@@BRStv thank you for the reply

[@ShawnHolman77]

How much do you feed the tank?

[@BRStv]

The XXL 750 and E-170 get a heavy feeding of our home made frozen food multiple times per day :)

[@ShawnHolman77]

Do you sell that recipe?

[@nickgialias8015]

Did the corals go through a quarantine or just dip and in?

[@BRStv]

Since all of the corals came from the same source (WWC), we opted to dip and add them right into the tank.

[@devilsnare17]

Can you still get dinos if you have really phosphate but 30+ nitrate?

[@jluusaltwateraquarium8320]

Very fantastic videos sir.... I have questions about corals.... if corals have browns hair what costs that...Also how you getting with that... Sir help me out on that...

[@Trickmanii]

Get us that Qt Procedure...Make us a awesome video.

[@vleis7226]

Isnt this the second time you guys forgot the HEARTBEAT? Sorry for the loss guy... We need to learn from our mistakes, hehehe

[@vleis7226]

OR wait, was it on this tank or was the 1st time on the BR160?

[@BRStv]

Thankfully we did learn from that mistake and turned it on (plus installed some battery backups!). This is more of a recap of what all has happened over the tank's lifetime so far :)

[@vleis7226]

Bulk Reef Supply My bad.... 😬😬😬😬

[@boomcar911]

What is the red coral on the bottom left? I like it!

[@boomcar911]

27:03

[@BRStv]

I believe the one you are talking about is a Montipora Setosa. :)

[@boomcar911]

@@BRStv awesome thanks!

[@cameroncarter3253]

Looks like you took out the brightwell bricks, why?

[@egbertsaquatics7004]

What day is the hydra 32 video coming out?

[@BRStv]

We've got the Hydra 64 video scheduled for, I believe, this upcoming Friday. No specific date on the 32 yet, but it's coming, we promise!

[@bananna7465]

Hah back in the late 90s we used to do reverse flow from canister filters down under the gravel. Did it works well like evrything depends who ask. For me no. Heheheh

[@MilliradianRaptor]

What kind of striped fish were in the 170 tank?

[@BRStv]

striped blenny 🙂

[@RicardoPerez-bg4xs]

Very formal dress very very good show I enjoy and I take everything you say to heart

[@wsa_mattgaming4960]

Hey Guys, I work near the BRS office and could hook you up with a really large battery backup to try out if you want? They have saved me numerous amounts of times.

[@BRStv]

We've got battery backups installed on these tanks now, but thank you for the offer!

[@benray4fun1]

The brs 160 looked far better with the t5 /kessil combo. You have 10 XR 15 & can't compare, not even close. The kessil shimmer is definitely tops....

[@opethmike]

Hopefully that 750 XXL doesn't bust a seam! :)

[@johndoolittle100]

Is the bottom textured with something?

[@BRStv]

It sure is! We used ABS board to create that protected bare bottom for this tank. Checkout how we did it in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn_PnpmmnKyXicU

[@BRStv]

It's a textured ABS sheet :)

[@pK-wy7rb]

6ft tank or 4ft?

[@andrewsdrmike]

Do you really need 10 lights over that tank...?

[@BRStv]

Short answer is no. We recently tested all of the Ecotech G5 lights and were very happy with the spread that they offered. Because of that, we removed the 10 G4 XR15's and replaced them with just four of the G5 XR30's. Not only are we getting awesome performance with fewer lights, I'd also argue that fewer fixtures look better over the tank from an aesthetic point of view.

[@megadeth1763]

The BRS gfo reactor doesn't work and the sicce water-pump is severely underpowered.

[@malinoisnation9392]

Are we still believing in old tank syndrome? Is that different that having too deep of sand bed and stirring it up?

[@Painterpal123]

lol. Ryan you gotta stop saying "more better" lol its driving my fiancee crazy and she lives here

[@gibbnal]

More Ryan More Better

[@Painterpal123]

@@gibbnal Agreed!

[@tomg5405]

What is this method?

[@BRStv]

It's the method that we discuss in this video series :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqLWlqCCZr-En9U

[@zsxking]

I'm not sure of kitty litter box is the right analogy. The reef tank is an ecosystem, it's more like a garden. Sand is more like soil. Detritus get into it, and feeds to the creatures that lives within. Kitty litter box have no supporting creatures to breakdown the waste.

[@BRStv]

True. However, with how sterile some of our reef tanks have become, there is sometimes a lack of biodiversity in the sand bed.

[@zsxking]

@@BRStv The reason for sandbed get sterile is because we siphoning it though. If we leave the sandbed be, there is no way to stop it to grow in biodiversity. By siphoning we're destroying the ecosystem within.

[@PavTheSlav1]

Alright

[@sunnygoold9449]

You know the problem with this method - it's too simple

[@clintparsons3989]

$$$