Duncan/GSP Frags Near Death. HELP!

[DeLegge90]

The Duncan has passed away, unfortunately. I purchased another small Duncan frag with just a couple heads on it. No issues at all currently. Doing 15%-20% water changes every 4 days to hopefully cut down on phosphate/nitrate (which will also hopefully prevent any of the small patches of gha and diatoms from growing/spreading). I also looked up the specs on my blue light (Zetlight), and I believe it is too strong for my tank size. It has a switch on it that puts it to 50% on brightness, so I'm experimenting with that right now. The zoas that were closed in the picture are finally starting to open back up after changing it's location. Everything seems happy thus far, will update on the status of the new Duncan soon.

 

[DeLegge90]

How often do you clean the cansister filter? What is in it? I have seen how much crud my media basket catches. I can only imagine how fast a canister gets nasty.

Also what light do you use?

I clean my canister filter once a month. I'm using a Fluval 306 Canister Filter - Running a couple bags of carbon, chemipure elite, lava rocks (for bio media), water polishing pads, and mechanical foam.

 

[Tamberav]

I clean my canister filter once a month. I'm using a Fluval 306 Canister Filter - Running a couple bags of carbon, chemipure elite, lava rocks (for bio media), water polishing pads, and mechanical foam.

Seems like a big yikes to me. I change my floss twice a week and only run a small amount if carbon. Nice and clean. Seems like once a month is a month of fish poo rotting. I wouldn't even have bothered to use a cansiter if only cleaning it once a month. Most people are probably cleaning their socks more then once a month or not running them and your canister catches the same crud.

 

[Hemmdog]

I clean my canister filter once a month. I'm using a Fluval 306 Canister Filter - Running a couple bags of carbon, chemipure elite, lava rocks (for bio media), water polishing pads, and mechanical foam.

Do not use lava rocks! That will put heavy metals into your system. Never use lava on marine tanks. That could be your problem.

 

[DeLegge90]

Do not use lava rocks! That will put heavy metals into your system. Never use lava on marine tanks. That could be your problem.

Hmm...I've heard good and bad things about using them too, but everything is very happy currently at least. I already have plenty bags of biopellets/bio media just waiting to be exchanged, so I might just do that. One bag exchange per week (only running two bags/trays with lava rocks currently). Dont wanna undo the cycle by doing them both at once...

 

[Mjrenz]

Hmm...I've heard good and bad things about using them too, but everything is very happy currently at least. I already have plenty bags of biopellets/bio media just waiting to be exchanged, so I might just do that. One bag exchange per week (only running two bags/trays with lava rocks currently). Dont wanna undo the cycle by doing them both at once...

I would definitely get those out of there, if you soak your new media in a bottled bacteria like biospira before you add it you shouldn't need to worry about the tank cycling again

 

[DeLegge90]

I would definitely get those out of there, if you soak your new media in a bottled bacteria like biospira before you add it you shouldn't need to worry about the tank cycling again

I switched out the lava rocks, cleaned the filter, and cut back the lighting a bit. The new Duncan frag is still doing wonderfully. The Zoas are definitely opening up more than before, but still not opening fully. I know zoas take their time tho. Seems like my pulsing xenias are starting to become weaker now, however. They are no longer pulsing, but they are at least opening/extending out in the day (but closing at night). Could a bacteria bloom be causing my issues?

 

[Mjrenz]

A bacterial bloom is usually pretty easy to identify by a foul smell and cloudy water. I'd be more concerned about what your water parameters are currently. Zoas also usually require an occasional boost of iodine to thrive