Desperate plea for help.

[dolpator]

Processing of nitrate via bacteria will produce a positive shift in alk. I believe it is 2.3dkh per 25ppm of nitrate. Is that happening in your tank? kind of hard to say as your nitrate isnt that high to begin with but new nitrate is being made daily so maybe? I am sure there is a better explanation just the first that came to my mind.

Interesting. I was not aware of this. I stopped Carbon Dosing a few days ago, maybe this was just residual? I will monitor it. I will keep this in mind. I will also test Nitrate today to see what my numbers are. I just read from @Randy Holmes-Farley that if you have an increase in nitrates, alk will also increase. So this is something I need to be aware of as well... HMM still learning...

 

[twentyleagues]

Interesting. I was not aware of this. I stopped Carbon Dosing a few days ago, maybe this was just residual? I will monitor it. I will keep this in mind. I will also test Nitrate today to see what my numbers are. I just read from @Randy Holmes-Farley that if you have an increase in nitrates, alk will also increase. So this is something I need to be aware of as well... HMM still learning...

Alk should decrease if nitrates rise from normal cycle process. If you add nitrates directly no change.

 

[bubbgee]

I forgot to add that. RO filters have been replaced in the past month, and we recently spent 3K on a whole house water purification system. It removes everything, has an extra chloramine remover, and has a UV sterilizer on the system as well. I feel my water is as pure as it gets. The sediment filter in the RO/DI unit hasn't even turn brown yet after a month of making RO water for the ATO's . I was using Reef Crystals before and was having issues with dkh and Mag. I do not know if I just got a bad batch of Reef Crystals, it was a salt I was always using. This is why I went to a different salt that was more inline with where I wanted to keep my parameters.. I will say the salt tested as it was presented to on the bag for two water changes. So I do not know if that means anything but there is that...

I think the reef crystals is the problem. I had so many issues from that salt bag. I switched to CoralVue and have been good since. Not sure what's wrong or if I had a bad batch but that plus using marine buffer shot up my ALK beyond testing grade that I was losing euphyllia left and right.

Reef crystals base ALK is 14dkH if you aren't aware. It's on the max end of the alk.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have to fix my other post its 50ppm for 2.3dkh....sorry.

 

[dolpator]

I think the reef crystals is the problem. I had so many issues from that salt bag. I switched to CoralVue and have been good since. Not sure what's wrong or if I had a bad batch but that plus using marine buffer shot up my ALK beyond testing grade that I was losing euphyllia left and right.

Reef crystals base ALK is 14dkH if you aren't aware. It's on the max end of the alk.

One of the reasons why I wanted to give Nyos Pure a chance. They featured it at RAP in Orlando, and with the ICP test that comes with each batch, I thought at least I knew what I was getting. I bought salt mixed it up, and it tested what was on the ICP test on the bag. For Alk, Cal, and Mag. So, I have been happy with that. The Alk is set in the 8-9 DKH range and that is where I typically keep my reef... That is why I changed salt mix as well. Alk was too high for me.

 

[bubbgee]

One of the reasons why I wanted to give Nyos Pure a chance. They featured it at RAP in Orlando, and with the ICP test that comes with each batch, I thought at least I knew what I was getting. I bought salt mixed it up, and it tested what was on the ICP test on the bag. For Alk, Cal, and Mag. So, I have been happy with that. The Alk is set in the 8-9 DKH range and that is where I typically keep my reef... That is why I changed salt mix as well. Alk was too high for me.

Cool. At least that's eliminated as an issue. The water change is the right move.

 

[dolpator]

I did want to thank everyone that has given constructive feedback and helping me figure somethings out. It is very much appreciated. I do not think we haven't covered just about everything, and we are pretty much in a standstill with the tank until I get my dkh and calcium back down around 8.5 - 9 and 450's. From there we will start over and find out a suitable course of action to take going forward. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks things will start settling down in the tank, and more loss can be prevented, though I saw PC Rainbow looking dreadful this morning, so may take that loss as well. I hate killing corals, it makes me sick to my stomach. I know it is all learning, but that is not how I see it. It also maybe where I take an account of the tank and wonder if I should move forward with SPS or to step back. I think as long as I have the right process instituted, I will be ok. I love having a mixed reef, I find the joy in keeping all kinds of corals that I personally love, and I would like to stay on that track. Difficult to maintain or not, if I can manage the elements and parameters better I should be successful. I just need to Implement something that is easier for me. Thanks again everyone will continue to monitor this post. I really got some good insight everyone...

 

[Beefyreefy]

I did want to thank everyone that has given constructive feedback and helping me figure somethings out. It is very much appreciated. I do not think we haven't covered just about everything, and we are pretty much in a standstill with the tank until I get my dkh and calcium back down around 8.5 - 9 and 450's. From there we will start over and find out a suitable course of action to take going forward. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks things will start settling down in the tank, and more loss can be prevented, though I saw PC Rainbow looking dreadful this morning, so may take that loss as well. I hate killing corals, it makes me sick to my stomach. I know it is all learning, but that is not how I see it. It also maybe where I take an account of the tank and wonder if I should move forward with SPS or to step back. I think as long as I have the right process instituted, I will be ok. I love having a mixed reef, I find the joy in keeping all kinds of corals that I personally love, and I would like to stay on that track. Difficult to maintain or not, if I can manage the elements and parameters better I should be successful. I just need to Implement something that is easier for me. Thanks again everyone will continue to monitor this post. I really got some good insight everyone...

So if any sps let lives, obviously keep it, but you could stick with easy things like almost all montipora, setosa, easy acros like green slimer, poccilapora, etc… they won’t die like all the crazy expensive ones lol. Personally I find plating monti and green slimers to be very pleasing and they grow quick. They can pretty easily stay healthy in a mixed reef. Plus once you get everything sorted you can add the fancy stuff. I feel that the corals I just mentioned are a good way to make sure you are ready to move on as well.

 

[Northern Flicker]

I agree with @Beefyreefy - aint no shame in a tank full of beautiful Montipora digitata if you want sticks

 

[Devisissy]

I did want to thank everyone that has given constructive feedback and helping me figure somethings out.

I feel personally attacked.

 

[dolpator]

I agree with @Beefyreefy - aint no shame in a tank full of beautiful Montipora digitata if you want sticks

I will see where things take me. There is a pretty nice selection of Acro's in the tank. Lets just hope I have diverted any more losses, and build from here.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting. I was not aware of this. I stopped Carbon Dosing a few days ago, maybe this was just residual? I will monitor it. I will keep this in mind. I will also test Nitrate today to see what my numbers are. I just read from @Randy Holmes-Farley that if you have an increase in nitrates, alk will also increase. So this is something I need to be aware of as well... HMM still learning...

Increasing nitrate depletes alk. Dosing or declining nitrate adds alk. 2.3 dKH per 50 ppm nitrate in either direction.

 

[dolpator]

Increasing nitrate depletes alk. Dosing or declining nitrate adds alk. 2.3 dKH per 50 ppm nitrate in either direction.

I really need to get a handle on nutrient export and how to efficiently control it. I really lack knowledge on this topic. I currently run a N18 Pax Bellum Cheato Reactor, as I do not have enough space in the sump for a refugium. I really do not know if the reactor is doing anything on this tank. I have tried NoPox from RedSea and have had ok results with that, and I have used the TM Bacto-balance with ok results. I am currently testing at .02 P04 and 8 N03, as of this morning. With everything going on with the tank I have literally been testing everything almost everyday to make sure things are going in the direction I need them. With your comment I would need to have dosed 50ppm of Nitrates to gain a 2.3 dKH rise. Well that didn't happen, and was still wondering if I was not dosing anything in the tank, why my alk spiked to 10.3 over night. Unless it was a residual effect of the carbon dosing and that is what brought the alk up. it went from 9.5 - 10.3. So that was my question.... Any and all advice on nutrient exporting and effectively controlling Phosphate and Nitrate I am all ears...

 

[Beefyreefy]

I really need to get a handle on nutrient export and how to efficiently control it. I really lack knowledge on this topic. I currently run a N18 Pax Bellum Cheato Reactor, as I do not have enough space in the sump for a refugium. I really do not know if the reactor is doing anything on this tank. I have tried NoPox from RedSea and have had ok results with that, and I have used the TM Bacto-balance with ok results. I am currently testing at .02 P04 and 8 N03, as of this morning. With everything going on with the tank I have literally been testing everything almost everyday to make sure things are going in the direction I need them. With your comment I would need to have dosed 50ppm of Nitrates to gain a 2.3 dKH rise. Well that didn't happen, and was still wondering if I was not dosing anything in the tank, why my alk spiked to 10.3 over night. Unless it was a residual effect of the carbon dosing and that is what brought the alk up. it went from 9.5 - 10.3. So that was my question.... Any and all advice on nutrient exporting and effectively controlling Phosphate and Nitrate I am all ears...

I still think you’re over doing things here. Do you rub a skimmer? I can’t remember. I run a large skimmer and filter floss that I change once a week. I check nutrient levels once every 3 months, and they are high, lol. If you are feeding lightly, and you don’t have too many fish I really think you’re fine just to stop chasing numbers. Let your tank find its own equilibrium. Skimmer, maybe socks or floss, weekly water changes should be all you need. Also, if your coral mass starts growing it will take up most of the nutrients anyways.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any and all advice on nutrient exporting and effectively controlling Phosphate and Nitrate I am all ears...

There are many good ways:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

Phosphate in the Reef Aquarium

The phosphorus atom is one of living matter's basic building blocks. It is present in every living creature and in every reef aquarium's water. Unfortunately, it is often present in excess in reef aquaria, and that excess has the potential to cause at least two substantial problems for...

www.reefedition.com

 

[dolpator]

I still think you’re over doing things here. Do you rub a skimmer? I can’t remember. I run a large skimmer and filter floss that I change once a week. I check nutrient levels once every 3 months, and they are high, lol. If you are feeding lightly, and you don’t have too many fish I really think you’re fine just to stop chasing numbers. Let your tank find its own equilibrium. Skimmer, maybe socks or floss, weekly water changes should be all you need. Also, if your coral mass starts growing it will take up most of the nutrients anyways.

I am currently running a Aquavitro Division 250 Skimmer and filter socks that get replaced weekly. My tank is usually doing great at around 15 nitrates and .1 phosphates, but keeping these values is what I am not great at. If I do not test in a week number climb quickly in this tank. I feed frozen once a day and TDR Pellet Food 2x week. I have 12 fish in the tank. Weekly water changes of only 10 gallons isn't going to make that much of an impact on nutrient reduction??

 

[dolpator]

There are many good ways:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

Phosphate in the Reef Aquarium

The phosphorus atom is one of living matter's basic building blocks. It is present in every living creature and in every reef aquarium's water. Unfortunately, it is often present in excess in reef aquaria, and that excess has the potential to cause at least two substantial problems for...

www.reefedition.com

Thank you for this. I was wondering on phosphate, if my numbers get out of hand we will say .1 is the threshold, I should be able to just turn on a media reactor with GFO to pull some of the phosphate out, and turn it off when not needed?? question on this is how long can the GFO be not tumbled in a reactor, and how long does the GFO last before needing to be replaced. Also I stopped running Carbon a long time ago, I think it was bad information on it negative effects on coral. Has there been any debunking of this issue. I know someone said my water didn't look clear enough. It is probably because I do not run carbon except when I think there were toxins in the water like here lately. Do you run carbon all the time?

 

[twentyleagues]

I am currently running a Aquavitro Division 250 Skimmer and filter socks that get replaced weekly. My tank is usually doing great at around 15 nitrates and .1 phosphates, but keeping these values is what I am not great at. If I do not test in a week number climb quickly in this tank. I feed frozen once a day and TDR Pellet Food 2x week. I have 12 fish in the tank. Weekly water changes of only 10 gallons isn't going to make that much of an impact on nutrient reduction??

15N and .1P is good. You say that it will rise weekly higher then that? To what levels and how did/do you handle it? But currently you are at .02P and 8N? So what have you done recently to drop the N and P numbers? And .02P could just be testing error. How long have your numbers been that low? Might be why your corals are unhappy. Low nutrients and high alk are not usually a good combination.

I dont run carbon at all unless I am using it to remove medication of some sort. Water is clear enough for me with just a weekly coral snow treatment.

 

[bubbgee]

I really need to get a handle on nutrient export and how to efficiently control it. I really lack knowledge on this topic. I currently run a N18 Pax Bellum Cheato Reactor, as I do not have enough space in the sump for a refugium. I really do not know if the reactor is doing anything on this tank. I have tried NoPox from RedSea and have had ok results with that, and I have used the TM Bacto-balance with ok results. I am currently testing at .02 P04 and 8 N03, as of this morning. With everything going on with the tank I have literally been testing everything almost everyday to make sure things are going in the direction I need them. With your comment I would need to have dosed 50ppm of Nitrates to gain a 2.3 dKH rise. Well that didn't happen, and was still wondering if I was not dosing anything in the tank, why my alk spiked to 10.3 over night. Unless it was a residual effect of the carbon dosing and that is what brought the alk up. it went from 9.5 - 10.3. So that was my question.... Any and all advice on nutrient exporting and effectively controlling Phosphate and Nitrate I am all ears...

I am also planning to switch to Tropic Marin dosing instead of NoPox for the long run. Keep us posted on progress

 

[dolpator]

15N and .1P is good. You say that it will rise weekly higher then that? To what levels and how did/do you handle it? But currently you are at .02P and 8N? So what have you done recently to drop the N and P numbers? And .02P could just be testing error. How long have your numbers been that low? Might be why your corals are unhappy. Low nutrients and high alk are not usually a good combination.

I dont run carbon at all unless I am using it to remove medication of some sort. Water is clear enough for me with just a weekly coral snow treatment.

We were using TM Bacto-Balance to lower nutrients. They were in the 20's on nitrates and .15 Phosphates. We stopped carbon dosing from advice on this feed. I need a better way. I am not liking trying to control nutrients with chemicals. I know it has its place, but I am really thinking of putting a reactor with GFO and turning it on when P04 goes above .1 but I do not know if this is a good practice or not.... I do not worry to0 much about nitrates but I know the tank looks good at 15 to 20...so I try to keep them there, but I think the carbon dosing was still at work and that is why my numbers are where they are at.. We stopped carbon dosing on Tuesday..