Diagnosing my tank, chalice and fava

[wake122]

So I really want to keep any sort of chalice or fava type of coral because I love the color and how they encrust but for some reason they do not seem to do well in my tank. They just seem to slowly die. I've sent my water out and there wasn't anything to crazy in my water. See parameters below. I run a neptune trident and DOS unit so it is constantly taking readings. I'd love to have some people maybe give me some insight. I'm running a Radion XR30 G4 Pro light. The tank has been set up and running since about Aug of 2018.


Salt: 1.025
PH: 8.04-8.15
Temp: 78.1-77.3
Alk: 8.19
Cal: 413
MG: 1355
Phosphate: .0 (haven't run this test in about a week but I will update later)

 

[Hemmdog]

Nitrate ?

 

[wake122]

Add about 20 more per these reading. I increased it due to the zoas waiting more light.

 

[wake122]

Nitrate ?

I'll test that once I get home today. I haven't done that test in awhile either.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Get the par up to the 300’s

 

[wake122]

Get the par up to the 300’s

For chalices and fava? I thought they liked to be more in the lower range or things.

 

[Jon Fishman]

For chalices and fava? I thought they liked to be more in the lower range or things.

I keep chalices around 300

 

[wake122]

I keep chalices around 300

What about like a war coral?

 

[Hemmdog]

Add about 20 more per these reading. I increased it due to the zoas waiting more light.

That’s fairly dim for lps. I’d bump it up.

 

[Tamberav]

My chalices and favia did fine at 80-100 par. If your zoas are stretching then I agree to bump it up.

If you have 0 po4 and nitrate...low levels of dino will bother those encrusters first.

 

[wake122]

My chalices and favia did fine at 80-100 par. If your zoas are stretching then I agree to bump it up.

If you have 0 po4 and nitrate...low levels of dino will bother those encrusters first.

So probably feed more or dos something to raise the lvls up? I am running a GFO reactor and about to set up an algae reactor. My goal is to take the GFO offline eventually and just use the algae scrubber. I got a Santa Monica Rain 2 that I will be using.

 

[Hemmdog]

So probably feed more or dos something to raise the lvls up? I am running a GFO reactor and about to set up an algae reactor. My goal is to take the GFO offline eventually and just use the algae scrubber. I got a Santa Monica Rain 2 that I will be using.

Stop gfo right away if you have low phosphate. It’s amazing anything is alive with that going.

 

[wake122]

I'll def check the PO4 and NO3 lvls as soon as I get home then and take it offline if those are low.

 

[Tamberav]

So probably feed more or dos something to raise the lvls up? I am running a GFO reactor and about to set up an algae reactor. My goal is to take the GFO offline eventually and just use the algae scrubber. I got a Santa Monica Rain 2 that I will be using.

Remove the filtration. My LPS looked best with Nitrate at least 10 and PO5 at least 0.08.

 

[wake122]

so just checked my P04 and it is .04

 

[Braves Fan]

I have read this post several times ,, I am not a Pro but I have a few thoughts & questions ,,

I will start with, your par numbers ,, it helps you have these ,, most people don't I am a strong advocate of every reefer needing to either buy a Par Meter or have access to one ,, and use it we spend a ton of money on corals in the hobby ,, lighting is at the top of the list of coral needs, does't really matter what the rest of the numbers are if they aren't getting the light they need or don't need ,, to not know what your lights are doing ,, I just don't see how you can not have one ,,

From here down ,, its all jmo if any of the Pro's disagree with me ,, that's fine ,, I am not a Pro and would love your insights to help me be better with Chalices.

With your Par numbers in mind ,, I wouldn't place any Chalice corals below the Par 90 number ,, you didn't say where in the tank you were placing the Chalices you were losing , if its just a Par thing going on ,, I am guessing it was below the Par 90 number ,, if you want your Chalices deeper in the tank your going to have to bump those Par numbers up ,, jmo I would try and keep your Chalice Par numbers in the 150 range ,, can the Par number be higher or lower ,, I would say yes ,, the 150 number is a good starting point number ,, jmo a 300 Par number is the starting point for a SPS number ,, I wouldn't put a Chalice into that range of a Par number without a long acclimating period ,,

Your tanks numbers look good to me ,, I would ,, if it were me ,, bump the Calcium number a bit ,, I would make your target number 425 ,, I would make your Mag target number 1400 ,,

Nitrate & Phosphate numbers ,, I feel you aren't testing these as good as you should ,, I would test your Nitrates twice a week ,, I would test Phosphates 3 times a week ,, your going to have to really be testing these numbers a lot ,, get used to it when you put the algae reactor online ,, your going to have to monitor these numbers to get a grasp on how the algae reactor is effecting your numbers ,,

Keep us posted on how things work out

 

[Braves Fan]

My LPS looked best with Nitrate at least 10 and PO5 at least 0.08.

Good advice those are good numbers to shoot for ,,

 

[wake122]

Thanks I tested the P03 last night and it was probably about 5. I've ordered a new test kit for this (nyos). I think I will try to bump up the numbers slightly and see how everything responds (par). Anyone recommend a chalice to give this another try and go?

 

[wake122]

What's everyone's doing to raise their N03 and P04 numbers? Just feeding more or dosing things?

 

[Braves Fan]

Any cheap chalice a chalice is a chalice ,, my advice ,, if your going to put the algae reactor online ,, get it done,, there is no since doing all the testing to figure out what your tank is doing ,, figure all that out ,, and then put the algae reactor online ,,

I just started a Chalice tank ,,, until I know what my new tank is doing ,, my rainbow chalice are staying in a friends tank lol