Can turning off a phosphate reactor affect/kill coral?

steallife904 · Apr 19, 2017

I over dosed alk months ago and have been struggling ever since. Lost most of my coral. Now after I have levels balanced out ever frag I throw in to test stns and dies. They seem to stn all over not just bottom to top, just kinda random and eventually bleach out. Been in the hobby over 10 years and to a degree know what im doing but for the life of me cant figure out whats going on now..... The one thing I did change was a few months ago I turned my phosphate reactor off. My phosphate has always read 0 and still does even with it off which is why I decided to just shut it down. Now I am wondering if this somehow has affected the tank????

hybridazn · Apr 19, 2017

What test kit are you using?

Other factors can be in play here, are you light acclimating the corals? If you dip what kind of dip are you using? There are a number of different issues that can cause this problem, not sold on the idea that the non running reactor is playing a part here unless you do have high nutrients. Also test nitrates

steallife904 · Apr 19, 2017

ya I really don't think the reactor is causing anything but just popped in my head and made me wonder. I have red sea and salifert kits. also have a hanna meter for alk. Have an ati as well I use for nitrate. My nitrate, phosphate and ammonia always ready 0 or undetectable.
You know I have never really don't much as far as light acclimating, have gotten by fine before with it but I think its time to do that.
I use coral RX for dips, I have also wondered if this is an issue at play, I have heard of it killing acros.

Liquid360 · Apr 19, 2017

Here's my philosophy...
Coral Troubleshooting/LIVE food

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Coral-Troubleshooting-LIVE-food.294045/

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2017

I don't think the phosphate rising is any concern here. It may still be too low.

steallife904 · Apr 21, 2017

bit off subject but can nutrients affect the calc and alk consumption? My alk has been stable around 7.6 to 7.4 but my calc will not drop under 500... I even shut off my doser for over a month now and levels stay there (with water changes). Since I am not getting a phosphate or nitrate reading maybe I really am not feeding tank as much as I thought I was.... should I feed more and would the higher nutrients influence the calc levels?????

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 21, 2017

steallife904 said:
bit off subject but can nutrients affect the calc and alk consumption? My alk has been stable around 7.6 to 7.4 but my calc will not drop under 500... I even shut off my doser for over a month now and levels stay there (with water changes). Since I am not getting a phosphate or nitrate reading maybe I really am not feeding tank as much as I thought I was.... should I feed more and would the higher nutrients influence the calc levels?????

yes. Too low and corals will starve, too high of phosphate can reduce both coral calcification and possibly abiotic precipitation.