Confused

Tautog · Jul 19, 2016

I've been fighting high No3's for 2 months with Nopox will small results. I started Nopox due to a gray algae on my rocks and corals, especially the goni's.
I have spent more time exporting any waste.
My WC's are 18-20% every 2 weeks.
I feed every other day.
My tank: 180 gal., DSB, No3's over 40. Everything else is in line.
Should I clean my DSB? Sump?
Half my corals are growing good, others are dead or dying. My goni's have a black algae or something, but aren't opening anymore. Whereas a chalice is growing faster than grass, and others seem to be dying. Acros are turning white from the bottom up or receding, but others seem fine .
I have not started to vinegar dose or limewater, but my Ca is starting to go under 400.
Where do I go from here?
Thank You in advance for your help.

Kershaw · Jul 19, 2016

How old is your tank? I would start using kalk.

Tautog · Jul 20, 2016

I started May 1,2015
I know I need to start dosing stuff.
Which or who's method? What stuff?
It seems everyone's doing something different.
I like the vinegar method with kalk, or are corals growing better, not faster, with a Ca reactor?
I know the Apex controller is in my future, but what dosing system is reliable?
I have had these issues for 2 months, but recently many seem to be dying, while others have recovered, multiplied, and grow.

sawdonkey · Jul 20, 2016

Do you have an ATO. If so, dosing kalk through it is nearly free and will maintain alk and calcium. Dosing some vinegar by hand should help with nitrates. I don't think 20% water changers every two weeks is going to bring those nitrates down too much. You'll need to do bigger water changes or do them more frequently.

I'd keep it simple for as long as possible, until simple no longer works.

Tautog · Jul 21, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Do you have an ATO. If so, dosing kalk through it is nearly free and will maintain alk and calcium. Dosing some vinegar by hand should help with nitrates. I don't think 20% water changers every two weeks is going to bring those nitrates down too much. You'll need to do bigger water changes or do them more frequently.

I'd keep it simple for as long as possible, until simple no longer works.

Yes, I've been doing that, keeping it simple, but the growth and the die off is very screwy. I know it sounds silly, but explain " vinegar by hand" ? I was thinking in the sump, I only dose those other things, reef plus, trace, phyllo, fuel straight into the DT. I'm thinking the Nopox is killing some of the corals. I'll start dosing vinegar today and kalk, just very nervous. Thanks for the push.

sawdonkey · Jul 21, 2016

Tautog said:
Yes, I've been doing that, keeping it simple, but the growth and the die off is very screwy. I know it sounds silly, but explain " vinegar by hand" ? I was thinking in the sump, I only dose those other things, reef plus, trace, phyllo, fuel straight into the DT. I'm thinking the Nopox is killing some of the corals. I'll start dosing vinegar today and kalk, just very nervous. Thanks for the push.

We can help more if we have a better idea of how much coral you have and what type. If I were you, I'd stop dosing all of that stuff and just worry about maintaining alk and calcium (and possibly mag, but water changes usually keep it in range). Dosing Kalk through topoff will take care of alk and calcium, but unless you have a bunch of SPS, its likely that you're not using a bunch of either. Measure your alk OFTEN until you dial it in. I'm guessing a calcium reactor is overkill at this point for you?

Large Water changes should help get your NO3 in line. Back off on feeding a little. If you still can't get NO3 under control, you can dose NoPox or vinegar, or vodka. Just go slow and don't try to do anything quickly.

sawdonkey · Jul 21, 2016

I'm also wondering about your deep sand bed. Is there a lot of stuff built up there kicking up NO3? Have you tested your PO4?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 21, 2016

Tautog said:
I've been fighting high No3's for 2 months with Nopox will small results. I started Nopox due to a gray algae on my rocks and corals, especially the goni's.
I have spent more time exporting any waste.
My WC's are 18-20% every 2 weeks.
I feed every other day.
My tank: 180 gal., DSB, No3's over 40. Everything else is in line.
Should I clean my DSB? Sump?
Half my corals are growing good, others are dead or dying. My goni's have a black algae or something, but aren't opening anymore. Whereas a chalice is growing faster than grass, and others seem to be dying. Acros are turning white from the bottom up or receding,

others seem fine .
I have not started to vinegar dose or limewater, but my Ca is starting to go under 400.
Where do I go from here?
Thank You in advance for your help.

how high is nitrate? I doubt it is the main problem, and I wouldn't assume chemistry is the issue with the corals.

What is the alkalinity and calcium?

Tautog · Jul 21, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
how high is nitrate? I doubt it is the main problem, and I wouldn't assume chemistry is the issue with the corals.

What is the alkalinity and calcium?

Ph 8.0
No3 over 80
Ca 360
K 9.8
Mg 1400

Tautog · Jul 21, 2016

sawdonkey said:
I'm also wondering about your deep sand bed. Is there a lot of stuff built up there kicking up NO3? Have you tested your PO4?

I've been sucking out any debris out into sump, and have power heads positioned to collect debris easy. Sorry no PO4 test kit. Just posted current water tests

Kershaw · Jul 21, 2016

You cal is way low

Dom · Jul 21, 2016

Kershaw said:
How old is your tank? I would start using kalk.

Dom · Jul 21, 2016

Tautog said:
Ph 8.0
No3 over 80
Ca 360
K 9.8
Mg 1400

What is your salinity?

Dom · Jul 21, 2016

Tautog said:
My WC's are 18-20% every 2 weeks.

Isn't that a bit infrequent... every 2 weeks?

domination2580 · Jul 22, 2016

Calcium is pretty low.

sawdonkey · Jul 22, 2016

Dom said:
Isn't that a bit infrequent... every 2 weeks?

I'd say it's frequent enough, but he quantity is probably too small to remedy your nitrate problem.

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 22, 2016

Tautog said:
I started Nopox due to a gray algae on my rocks and corals,

nopox is carbon dosing(vinegar/vodka)
But Id like to see the grey algae. could be something else. the black algae could be too. Like brown jelly etc. those two thing really make me wonder.
fwiw my tests are a lot worse than yours and my corals are fine.
what light are you using. Led? base die off can be from shadowing too.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 22, 2016

I agree that a picture would be good.

Tautog · Jul 22, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
nopox is carbon dosing(vinegar/vodka)
But Id like to see the grey algae. could be something else. the black algae could be too. Like brown jelly etc. those two thing really make me wonder.
fwiw my tests are a lot worse than yours and my corals are fine.
what light are you using. Led? base die off can be from shadowing too.

Here's the gray algae