Can't Figure Out Acros

[fishboy11]

Well after testing for calcium, I discovered it was much lower than I previously tested, at 350. When I had success for a few months last year, I was at 450 calcium and 1400-1420 mag. I will be raising my calcium slowly now. I have read that prolonged periods of low calcium can cause recession at the base. Not sure if this helps explain my problems. But worth a shot

 

[mcarroll]

Here's how I'd tell the story:

been setup for 10 months.

New tank

Last August I added my first acros:

New reefer

After a month of them doing great, I bought a frag pack

Moving too fast

I had a few RTN within the first few days

First sign of nutrient stress....missed

At this time, I had hair algae

Are you sure it was hair and not bryopsis?

Was it just leftover from the initial uglies the tank went through? Or was it a bloom that came after the livestock went in the tank?

so I began dosing NOPOX for 3 weeks. I didn't see any reduction of my algae, but did see a loss in color of my acros

Miracle cures. I think you have already, but just to say it: I would lay off the GFO, carbon and all other "cures".

I had no nitrates, and no phosphates. So basically I was back at the start.

I added some potassium nitrate to up my nitrates to 2ppm, which has maintained, and increased fish feedings, which has brought phosphates up to 0.02.

You're getting on the right track! I would favor even higher nutrient levels until this is all a distant memory.

Try...
NO3: 5-10 ppm
PO4: 0.10 ppm

 

[Torqued]

9 dkh alk is too high for a low nutrient tank. 7 to 7.5 is a good target

 

[mcarroll]

9 dkh alk is too high for a low nutrient tank. 7 to 7.5 is a good target

I would be leaving the low-nutrient concept behind – that certainly should be the OP's short term goal. Any dKH around normal should be fine once nutrient levels are corrected to normal as well.

There also seems to be a strong connection between carbon dosing and the problems that are being associated with higher alkalinity levels. The only question is whether the bad side-effects are directly related to carbon dosing, or the bacterial community shifts that happen, or the depleted N and/or P levels. Or maybe a combination.....any of those could be bad for corals.

Certainly before the low nutrient and carbon dosing "crazes" took off, higher alkalinity levels weren't an issue – they were quested for!!

 

[ikolbaba06]

Nopox has really hurts my as it is very efficient at dropping nitrate and slower with phosphates. I know since I did this with my tank too. I would stop nopox and feed heavy and do regular water changes. Possibly more than just 5 gallons and let the corals rebound a bit before doing anything drastic. Just have patience and things will turn around.

 

[ikolbaba06]

Also your lower calcium is likely the lowest in the list for stn /rtn. My money is dosing nopox and dropping nutrients quickly.