Coral

[GlassMunky]

I’m here still wondering how his ALK has increased from 10 up to 12 without dosing anything. And 12 is getting up into the “too high” range

 

[ScottJ]

The op corals are photosynthetic and while yes they do need some phosphate and nitrate you could literally bring them home from the LFS, put them in a bucket of brand new clean sw, give them proper light and flow, and they will last longer than 2 days

I thought that also. If it's really true they die in 48 hours, something in the water? But I think OP said mushrooms were doing ok.

 

[VintageReefer]

Tank has a lot of instability and I suspect op is still trying to get into a routine. Salinity has been all over the place. Alkalinity too.

 

[TeamAquaSD Verified Sponsor]

Okay thank you about the glass lid. The lights came with the tank so I have limited experience with this. I am keeping the blue on at the moment as I was informed that would penetrate further which appears to work with the mushrooms on the sand bed. The Salinity fluctuated and was but is stable now at 1.025 for a few weeks now. Maybe the tank is settling down as its about 7 months in as I have had the nuisance algae. The fish are fine and the temp is 27 degrees

Could you post a pic of the lights?
Also if nitrate is actually 0 that can cause corals to be unhappy longterm

 

[VintageReefer]

Could you post a pic of the lights?
Also if nitrate is actually 0 that can cause corals to be unhappy longterm

See post #6

42w led lighting included in a bundle

 

[Glowurm]

I’m here still wondering how his ALK has increased from 10 up to 12 without dosing anything. And 12 is getting up into the “too high” range

I've put this down to large water changes (25% weekly), which might also be the cause of his low Nitrate levels. Personally would reduce that to 10% then check parameters for a couple of weeks to see if we start seeing:

A - Stanility
B - Rising nutrient levels

 

[couragefirst]

I've put this down to large water changes (25% weekly), which might also be the cause of his low Nitrate levels. Personally would reduce that to 10% then check parameters for a couple of weeks to see if we start seeing:

A - Stanility
B - Rising nutrient levels

Good afternoon. Thank you for getting back to me. I am now reducing the water changes by 10% not 25% but on previous research I have read to keep the Nitrate as low as possible. My tank is around 8 months old and have gone through the various different stages in setting the tank up with slime and hair on the rock. Things seem to be settling down but am getting algae green on the glass is this because the tank is still newish ?

 

[VirginiaReefer]

Good afternoon. Thank you for getting back to me. I am now reducing the water changes by 10% not 25% but on previous research I have read to keep the Nitrate as low as possible. My tank is around 8 months old and have gone through the various different stages in setting the tank up with slime and hair on the rock. Things seem to be settling down but am getting algae green on the glass is this because the tank is still newish ?

Even after years you'll get algae on the glass. keeping it in check as well as what kind of algae is important. Overall thats normal so just scrape it off the front. i always let it grow on the sides and back for starfish, sea slugs, and copepods to have something free to eat(thats of course up to you if you want clear sides)

 

[couragefirst]

Even after years you'll get algae on the glass. keeping it in check as well as what kind of algae is important. Overall thats normal so just scrape it off the front. i always let it grow on the sides and back for starfish, sea slugs, and copepods to have something free to eat(thats of course up to you if you want clear sides)

Hello thank you for the quick response. I do scrape it off the sides and front. Like you there are some critters that need this so I leave it on the back unless it get over run. I am looking at adding some colour in the form of corals have you any recommendations despite the age of my tank and where best to place them

 

[Glowurm]

Hello thank you for the quick response. I do scrape it off the sides and front. Like you there are some critters that need this so I leave it on the back unless it get over run. I am looking at adding some colour in the form of corals have you any recommendations despite the age of my tank and where best to place them

Start with something easy, Zoanthids are a good starting point, add pops of color and are reasonable forgiving.

 

[VirginiaReefer]

Hello thank you for the quick response. I do scrape it off the sides and front. Like you there are some critters that need this so I leave it on the back unless it get over run. I am looking at adding some colour in the form of corals have you any recommendations despite the age of my tank and where best to place them

zoanthids. they can be pretty cheap if you shop around for small frags that you can grow out. tons of diff types and colors. they are fairly forgiving and can adjust to a wide variety of lighting and flow. mushrooms as well

 

[couragefirst]

Start with something easy, Zoanthids are a good starting point, add pops of color and are reasonable forgiving.

Great and thanks for the feed back. I have some mushrooms only smal and they are sat at the bottom of the tank and doing well. Where would Zoanthids be best placed

 

[Glowurm]

Great and thanks for the feed back. I have some mushrooms only smal and they are sat at the bottom of the tank and doing well. Where would Zoanthids be best placed

Keep mine below 100 par, so lower down on my rock work (actually on a separate island as they can take over) with low to medium flow.