l8_apex_it
Community Member
So I've had a tank for about 20 years now. Still learning every day.
I have a 65 gallon tank and Trigger sump setup that I've had for the last 10 months since upgrading from a 30 gallon setup.
I have leathers, frogspawn, acans, zoas, and sps. For the last year I've noticed that none of my corals are really growing. They just exist (LPS and SPS). Zoas just tend to slowly recede although I have found one that is actually growing. Part of my problem may be related to over-sized skimmer and only 4 smaller fish - Percula Clown fish, Starry Blenny, and 2 Pajama Cardinalfish
My numbers tend to stay about:
Alk - 8.9 dKH (has been higher and am currently slowly lowering to 8)
CA - 440 ppm
MG - 1350 ppm
SG - 1.025
N03 - has been zero (salifert) and recently dosing to bring up closer to 5 ppm (post Triton sample)
PO4 - was also zero (hanna ULR) and recently dosing Seachem phosphorous to bring up just below 0.02 (post Triton sample)
RODI - I change the pre-filters every 6 months. I use two in line, serial, DI cartridges. When the first increases above 0, I move the 2nd to the 1st location and place a new one in the 2nd location.
Because of struggling, I sent samples for Triton testing.
High Fe jumps out to me. Should I be focusing on any other parameter as well?
I believe the higher Fe may be do to hinges rusting in my canopy and small shavings making it into the tank.? I noticed Zn was high too. Would this go along with the hinges which are likely zinc plated?
Randy and others -
Since obtaining the results:
I have a 65 gallon tank and Trigger sump setup that I've had for the last 10 months since upgrading from a 30 gallon setup.
I have leathers, frogspawn, acans, zoas, and sps. For the last year I've noticed that none of my corals are really growing. They just exist (LPS and SPS). Zoas just tend to slowly recede although I have found one that is actually growing. Part of my problem may be related to over-sized skimmer and only 4 smaller fish - Percula Clown fish, Starry Blenny, and 2 Pajama Cardinalfish
My numbers tend to stay about:
Alk - 8.9 dKH (has been higher and am currently slowly lowering to 8)
CA - 440 ppm
MG - 1350 ppm
SG - 1.025
N03 - has been zero (salifert) and recently dosing to bring up closer to 5 ppm (post Triton sample)
PO4 - was also zero (hanna ULR) and recently dosing Seachem phosphorous to bring up just below 0.02 (post Triton sample)
RODI - I change the pre-filters every 6 months. I use two in line, serial, DI cartridges. When the first increases above 0, I move the 2nd to the 1st location and place a new one in the 2nd location.
Because of struggling, I sent samples for Triton testing.
High Fe jumps out to me. Should I be focusing on any other parameter as well?
I believe the higher Fe may be do to hinges rusting in my canopy and small shavings making it into the tank.? I noticed Zn was high too. Would this go along with the hinges which are likely zinc plated?
Randy and others -
Since obtaining the results:
- I have performed 2x 15% water changes using IO salt and plan on two more. (4 minimum)
- Purchased Two Little Fishies, Metasorb, and plan on adding that for a few days
- Any suggestions for using this? Duration? After 4x water changes or do it after the 2x water changes performed so far?
- More water changes afterwards to make up for some trace elements being stripped?
- Are there other parameters that I should be focusing on beyond the high Fe?
- I have two magnets for Jebao RW4 wavemakers and don't see any sign of them leaking into the tank.
- I also checked magnets in my water mixing container but didn't see any indication of anything out of sorts there.
