Help please!

Dustin813 · Aug 12, 2018

So I’ve been battling high PO4 in my tank for several months. About 3 weeks ago I added a reactor and have been running media, which has brought phosphate down to an acceptable level. I’ve noticed that several of my corals are looking distressed. Tested my water this morning and several things were out of whack. KH was down to 7.7, ph was down to 7.8, and NITRATES were at 64ppm! I have no idea what has caused things to get out of control! I do a 15% water change weekly, and feed them pretty lightly. Any suggestions to help the situation would be appreciated!

GoVols · Aug 12, 2018

Well,
Bringing down your phosphates too fast, got the ball rolling.
It can shock a reef. You have to take it nice and slow.

Tagging for suggestions

HCA Coral · Aug 16, 2018

I agree with above. Dont know answer of how to proceed. If it were me i would turn down flow to reactor and let the water dirty up and slowly work back . I dont know , thats a tough one.

Isaac Alves · Aug 16, 2018

What type of media are you running in the reactor you mentioned in your original post?

rob safron · Aug 16, 2018

Except for high nitrates your parameters are fine. That pretty much where my tank runs all the time. If alk and pH drop very quickly, like in hours, that can stress out the corals. Do some water changes to get nitrates down. What do you use for nutrient control beside the GFO?

DSC reef · Aug 16, 2018

I'd wager you made changes way to quickly. Give it time and let the tank stabalize.

Softhammer · Aug 16, 2018

How old is your tank? 99.9% of mistakes and mortality are from trying to manipulate parameters on a new or small aquarium. If it’s not a year old don’t Jack with it. You absolutely do not need reactor media of any kind until you are very very well versed in what it does.

vetteguy53081 · Aug 17, 2018

Water changes work but takes time to see results.
I add 1m1ml every other day of Red Sea Pox4 remover. Keeos tank in check.
Also phosphate RX works well. Last option is Phoszorb media.