I own Reef2Reef and I am coming clean....

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I thought twice about it also but i wound up having 90 ppm maganese, had a couple of orange hammers bail, my zoas werent opening, burnt tips on acros, i started with real reef rock nd were adding to many corals in at once so i was having a problem with no phosphate readings so i stopped with gfo for 3 months and acros still continued to bleach, did hundreds of gallons worth of waterchanges then i triton tested again my maganese was way way worse , i use(d) redseacoralpro

What was the source of the maganese?

Another thing, what carbon nd gfo do you use?

No carbon and using the BRS High Capacity GFO.

 

[pciscott]

I jumped in the hobby in 2009 with a corner tank off CL. I found a message board and added better lights and flow and that tank thrived.

I then struggled for years and knowledge is sometimes overrated! I learned that P04 had to be less than .03 and Nitrates undetectable. On my first tank I did not check for those I learned to start with Dry Rocks to avoid pests. So I built my dream tank with Dry rock. I killed coral and struggled with every reef nick knack and reactor for years and my dream tank Failed to get even Cora-line to grow. This tank took over 2.5 years to Season and I think that quality LIVE ROCK is highly underestimated and needed in a Reef Tank. I also learned that I needed nutrients and the single best thing I did to my new system was to take BioPellets off line. I keep my P04 above .05 and do not even worry until I see .16, I like to keep my Nitrate over 5 and it has been as high as 25 with no ill effects. I do regular water changes and my system has turned a corner for the better and things are looking good finally! Here is a video of a couple months back.


I would say quality Live Rock, and some Nutrients and you will turn the corner. I was embarrassed to have reef friends over for the years I was struggling with getting this new system running smoothly and growing corals and know how you feel!

 

[Sabellafella]

This is a fresh batch of rscp that someone triton tested on this forum, mine was at 90 with the use of gfo

 

[CherryCorals Verified Sponsor]

Did you post parameters? Maybe I missed them?

I'm a big fan of keeping things simple. No Apex controllers or dosing pumps...I use a good skimmer, chaeto and a little live rock in my sump. I don't do water changes religiously but my parameters stay in check somehow. I don't have expensive lights either. I have lost very little in the last couple years. I've been in this hobby for 25+ years and I think some people make this hobby more rocket science than it needs to be.

Truth!

 

[Sabellafella]

What was the source of the maganese?



No carbon and using the BRS High Capacity GFO.

I always always used gfo (rowa)but once i cut my dosage inhalf , things started to really really take off, also i would deffinitly icp test ur water for any metals, ive only had polyp bailout with lps is when metals were high or really really high nitrates, you were having a problem with your rodi right? Maybe some came through

 

[reefwiser]

Rev it's ok not to have the perfect tank. We all see the TOTM and want ours to be like that. But even TOTM are not perfect. Everyone goes thru times when our tanks don't behave the way se wish them too. Even when we have not changed anything. Something is not working right. I find it is always good to go back to the basics limit chemical additives and use just a skimmer and algae scrubber to keep the tank going. Do the basic water changes and let the tank settle down.

 

[kschweer]

I remember you mentioning you had a problem with your rodi water a little while back. Have you resolved that issue?

 

[davidc]

"using no carbon"
Allelopathy a possibility?
I too agree on possible heavy metals build up.

 

[ReeferCub]

How about getting a triton test done, if not done already. That way water parameter issues can be ruled out.

 

[Chrisfish]

I jumped in the hobby in 2009 with a corner tank off CL. I found a message board and added better lights and flow and that tank thrived.

I then struggled for years and knowledge is sometimes overrated! I learned that P04 had to be less than .03 and Nitrates undetectable. On my first tank I did not check for those I learned to start with Dry Rocks to avoid pests. So I built my dream tank with Dry rock. I killed coral and struggled with every reef nick knack and reactor for years and my dream tank Failed to get even Cora-line to grow. This tank took over 2.5 years to Season and I think that quality LIVE ROCK is highly underestimated and needed in a Reef Tank. I also learned that I needed nutrients and the single best thing I did to my new system was to take BioPellets off line. I keep my P04 above .05 and do not even worry until I see .16, I like to keep my Nitrate over 5 and it has been as high as 25 with no ill effects. I do regular water changes and my system has turned a corner for the better and things are looking good finally! Here is a video of a couple months back.


I would say quality Live Rock, and some Nutrients and you will turn the corner. I was embarrassed to have reef friends over for the years I was struggling with getting this new system running smoothly and growing corals and know how you feel!

I have to say your tank is beautiful!!!

 

[ksanfranfan]

I know the feeling of having a tank full of corals thriving and everything at its best.
My current tank has been up for a few years now, mostly sps from the start. Up until August 2014, colors and growth was great, even from the start of this tank. I would take browned out corals and those that other fellow hobbyist would leave for dead and they would color up into amazing pieces.
Then it happened, I just couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to make my tank even better. Started carbon dosing, changed my lighting up, salt mix.
Corals started fading, browning, bleaching,had stn and rtn. I've lost several nice sps that I have had a hard time finding locally.
My tank looked like cap for the rest of 2014 and half of this year before things began to turn around. At this point in time it still isn't as nice as before but many corals look significantly better. I had to redo my lighting, stopped carbon and go went back to my old salt mix which worked well with where I kept my parameters prior to all of the changes.
I know how you feel. I know many long time hobbyists that have tinkered with their tanks or made even the smallest of changes and felt embarrassed by how their tanks end up.
I'm pretty sure you will get it figured out. Nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything this thread will be useful to many others struggling with their own tanks.

 

[Chrisfish]

Well I am so new to this hobby but I have to say I am learning so much from everyone here and am enjoying reading everyone's threads (so much information) I am going from an 8 gallon nano reef to a 30 gallon nano reef and after reading this thread I think that instead of going out and buying everything ie: protein skimmer sump etc. I'll take it slow and keep it simple, but always check parameters, salinity, calcium and you know the rest, I'm sure I'll get some slack from this but I'm open to suggestions. And I want to thank you for having such a great place to come to!!!

 

[ksanfranfan]

I know the feeling of having a tank full of corals thriving and everything at its best.
My current tank has been up for a few years now, mostly sps from the start. Up until August 2014, colors and growth was great, even from the start of this tank. I would take browned out corals and those that other fellow hobbyist would leave for dead and they would color up into amazing pieces.
Then it happened, I just couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to make my tank even better. Started carbon dosing, changed my lighting up, salt mix.
Corals started fading, browning, bleaching,had stn and rtn. I've lost several nice sps that I have had a hard time finding locally.
My tank looked like crap for the rest of 2014 and half of this year before things began to turn around. At this point in time it still isn't as nice as before but many corals look significantly better. I had to redo my lighting, stopped carbon and go went back to my old salt mix which worked well with where I kept my parameters prior to all of the changes.
I know how you feel. I know many long time hobbyists that have tinkered with their tanks or made even the smallest of changes and felt embarrassed by how their tanks end up.
I'm pretty sure you will get it figured out. Nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything this thread will be useful to many others struggling with their own tanks.

 

[ksanfranfan]

Sorry double posted

 

[saltyphish]

Well, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Fortunately, you are a member of a great support group.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Welcome to the club good sir. I have been going through somewhat of the same thing in my tank. Though mine will have periods of looking good , then it all comes apart a few weeks later. Corals will have great growth, fish are all healthy and then , mass coral and fish loss. Actually have reached a point where I'm gonna shut it down for a bit, just getting burnt out. I'm going to trade in all of my rock , livestock and coral with my LFS and rebuild the system one more time. I have 160 lbs of dry rock waiting to be sculpted, going to redo all of the plumbing, upgrade to Apex from RKE, refinish the inside of the stand(there have been a few leaks and overflows caused by a flaw with the sump design). Maybe it will be wet again in a few months, and if so, I probably won't stock it for some time.
I wish you luck and will be following your progress

 

[Dtackett]

in all honesty, you over complicated it. you used to rely on your own knowledge now you rely on machines. follow the k.i.s.s. method of reef keeping and you will be just fine.

 

[Chrisfish]

in all honesty, you over complicated it. you used to rely on your own knowledge now you rely on machines. follow the k.i.s.s. method of reef keeping and you will be just fine.

Hey there, hope you'll read my thread 8 gallon to a 30 gallon, lol and add some of your great knowledge to setting it up.

 

[Bo N Rachel]

What's the k.i.s.s. Method? Keep it super simple?

 

[kschweer]

What's the k.i.s.s. Method? Keep it super simple?

Close. Keep it simple stupid