GSP/zoa growth stunt

asome_one

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
104
Reaction score
33
What state or country do you live in
Pennsylvania
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have a 18 gallon total volume tank. About a year old. I was running a reactor with carbon in it and purigen until I finally wised up and realized It wasn't needed. Since removal, I have seen considerable growth in the past 2 months. I only keep zoas, gsp, and xenia. 2 snowflake clowns, 1 6 line, various inverts. Levels are stable as they have been for the past 6 months. Only readable value is nitrates that I let hover around 5-15ppm. Water change of 5 gallons once every 1-1.5 weeks. I have a bit of an dino issue. I've been dosing Vibrant that has since killed off my chaeto in my fugue. Reef roids dosed weekly.
My xenia stopped growing quite a while ago...probably about the same time I took out the carbon and purigen I honestly am not particularly sure why. Meanwhile the zoas and gsp grew rapidly, seemed to be new polyps every couple days. Okay so I attribute this to the nutrient spike they experienced when removing the extra filtration. Problem here is that my gsp has closed and stayed closed after my most recent water change. My nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and ammonia are all pretty much the same as they have been. My gsp has not extended its polyps since my last water change on the 26th, now it is the 31st. Zoas still all open as they have daily, close upon feeding, seem normal.
Maybe I'm worrying about nothing but I'm somewhat concerned about performing a water change as I normally would if it has already caused my gsp to retract for this long. I do heat my water and ensure salinity as well as utilizing an rodi system with a tds meter on the water before mixing.
The xenia slowing dying I really thought was just due to my other corals utilizing the nutrients. I guess if I think about it the xenia hasn't really spread in months, it originally spread before I added my carbon reactor.
I don't know Im rambling haha. Lots of thoughts. Thanks for any advice.
 
I would try running some carbon again.
Wait why run more carbon if these corals prefer dirtier water with carbon my nitrates fall to 0.
 
Obviously, your having an issue at current state. I think these corals like some N and P in the water (Not necessarily dirty water) - carbon won't remove that. I don't think carbon will hurt anything and it definitely might help. You said all your perimeters are stable and within norms. I would not use Purigen though. Vibrant might have caused an issue as well. I used Chemiclean once and it was the worst thing I've ever done in a reef tank.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top