Sorry I have been MIA. I've just let the tank do its thing and not mess with it.
Here's a few notes over the last few months: SPS does well here. I added a green monti-cap and stylo about a month ago and am seeing great growth. The stylo is branching out from a small single stick to about 5 spots and the girth has gotten 3x in size. The monti-cap is growing in all directions. The fire shrimp I added has been growing well and has already molted around 3 times, each time when I see his exoskeleton in the power head thinking he was a goner. I just added a lepto, another stylo, and a chalice yesterday along with a lawnmower blenny. Even though algae has been very minimal on this tank. I've gone out of town for weeks at a time only to come back on the weekend, scrape the glass, and change my pre-filter floss while emptying the cup. Purple coraline is coming in.
Nutrients (or lack of) have been an issue. I cannot keep nitrates. My PO4 averages at 0.02 PPM while I dose NO3 every day/other day to keep it at 0.5-1.0 PPM; otherwise some of the coral (mainly the meteor) was bleaching and dying back. My chaeto only gets trimmed once every few weeks and keeps a small size but dense. The sump is nasty with film and some hair.
The DOS has been great, set and forget with weekly testing to make sure I'm on track. I needed to make a Ca adjustment yesterday, I was pretty low at 375 because I haven't tested that for a month. Same with Mg (but my 2 part is almost out) which was to be expected. I use the Red Sea 4 part trace weekly.
Good or bad, I have not done a water change in months. Tank looks good, why bother if I feed well and replenish trace.
I just cleaned my return pump and power heads a few days ago for the first time. Flow on the return is better. My Apex said I was down to 36W from now 44W. Flow seems better. I also broke a MP10 wet side by dropping it (***); it still works fine however, the ceramic part of the shaft came off at the base exposing the metal slightly. I hope it's titanium or stainless. I noticed the tip is exposed on the unit and have not noticed corrosion. Next time I clean, if I see corrosion, I'll buy another....
Just an FYI, if you fill your ATO manually like me, pay attention. I hook my RODI up to it once every two weeks or so; however I've managed to overflow it not once, but TWO TIMES. I get sidetracked with meetings or something and all of a sudden I have a OMG moment. My office is on top of my kitchen and has engineered flooring (luckily), the first time, I was able to take out my can lights, find the water and use towels to prevent drywall damage. Second time, I missed a spot and the water found its way into a drywall seam and now is slightly discolored.
Now I set a timer every time. Maybe I really need the Apex leak detector kit...
