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

[cracker]

Thanks Revhtree, Your not the only one. I can tell you honestly there is at least one more reef keeper out there with issues as well.

 

[ritter6788]

We try to get @revhtree to post more often. Sheesh... I haven't had that many people read my build thread ever. Lol

 

[Diesel]

David, if it makes you feel better............. mine tank is yours too!
Thanks so much for what you all do to have guys like me lots of success due to this awesome forum.

 

[Diesel]

We try to get @revhtree to post more often. Sheesh... I haven't had that many people read my build thread ever. Lol

I'll give you a LIKE for this

 

[Aussie paul]

Try a little less fussing. I'm lucky if I change half my water once a month. Try NSW AND JUST ADD TRACE ELEMENTS that's all I use I figured fish and coral thrive in in it so why use any different

 

[B40REEF]

I've lost all credibility...HAHA!

I see that it's an open top tank and sometimes we over look the possibilities of contaminates getting into the water, like aerosols etc.

 

[Topside Reef]

Thanks guys and gals for the pep talk and advice. I know how to keep alkalinity and calcium stable. I know how to have a tank without measurable phosphates and nitrates. I keep my parameters VERY stable including PH, temp, and salinity. There is something that I can't find! I am starting to believe there could possibly be something rusting in the tank.

id say you have too much light and not enough nutrients. You say you know how to keep a tank without measurable nitrate or phosphate but that's not a good thing for most lps and soft corals. Lots of others have said the same thing but thought you might have missed it. Love the rock work and the tank

 

[Mike in CT]

Now I bet Rev wished he just sent a pm to a couple people.... Lol
We should not let anyone with less then a year under their belt In the hobby read this thread, less their head explode.

 

[dallasg]

aah i feel your pain, i started this hobby in 1991 at age 14, my first tank was my best too
now i am a respected reefer here in South Africa on our local forum and i do not have the best tank at all, i still loose sps, fish vanish and have gha
what i do have is a simple easy setup that has minimal maintenance

but what i have seen over the years is that reefers always like other peoples tank and that many reefers manicure their tanks before taking pics...

i also think we over complicate this hobby with all the new equipment, additives etc, when we should focus on the basics and start slower and be more patient.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks guys and gals for the pep talk and advice. I know how to keep alkalinity and calcium stable. I know how to have a tank without measurable phosphates and nitrates. I keep my parameters VERY stable including PH, temp, and salinity. There is something that I can't find! I am starting to believe there could possibly be something rusting in the tank.

I think the suggestion is that 0 nitrates may be working against you to some degree? Maybe I'm missing something though, wouldn't be the first time!

 

[Newb73]

One piece of advice not yet given.

Your test kits may be giving you a bad reading.

Your refractometer could be bad.

Your temperature probe could be reading way off.

You could have bad salt.

I completely disagree with all the KISS advice and agree with Terrence.

I solve my low nutrient problems by stocking heavily with beautiful fish and feeding them hardily...but I still run all the equipment and do water changes and monitor and dose.

Triton test might be in order as well as trying one of those wonder pads that removes certain situations toxins and changes color (can't remember what they are called). GAC helps with toxins also.

KISS is a good rule of thumb for problem shooting....don't trust the readings your test kits and refractometer and temp Probs are giving you if the tank isn't happy......

Get a friend's test kits, get a friend's refractometer, get a cheap thermometer and verify everything then run all the tests on a freshly mixed batch of your salt to check for bad salt.

I find its very difficult to make zoas unhappy so the problem is rather impressive.

Copper bands and dwarfs will pick at acans and I agree that they don't like kessils. We all know that acro can be finicky. Leathers do not like clean water.
Zoas and torch corals usually live and even thrive in clean water or dirty water, with bright or dim lights with fast or slow circulation and with almost any kind of fish imo.....which is why I suspect you have a testing or equipment issue.

 

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

It's hard for me to tell but is your current tank a similar size compared to the old one? Personally I was able to keep anything alive in my old 125g tank, but since I went nano it's been a real challenge for me. May not be the same problem for you if they are similar sizes though

 

[argue.oa]

DON'T make me do it again..............argghhhhh you guys done it again with that simple and easy comment lol

I enjoy watching this video thank you for sharing this amazing and very well narrated video...I don't feel bad anymore....

 

[Clink51]

maybe its a simple case of "too much". All the best stuff in the world wont do anything unless you let things grow. I was changing my GFO every few weeks as every forum said to, and ecyano kept growing and everything stayed closed. Once i decided to only run at night and not change out the GFO, Cyano is gone and everything is opening up..

 

[melypr1985]

I haven't read this whole thread, but I admire your ability to get it all out there. I bet it's a load off to finally have your secret out. You have to shine light on the dark parts for anything to grow. Somebody already mentioned it, and I'm with them. Simple is sometimes better. Start taking the fancy equipment offline one at a time and see what happens. I bet things start to improve for you. You could even have a defective piece of equipment and not know it until it's off line for the first time in a while and things look better because of it. Good luck Rev! We are all here for ya

This should show all the newbies that no matter how long you've been doing this, no matter how much of an expert you are, you can always learn more. You will always need to ask questions. Thanks for teaching us still Rev.

 

[Josh King]

That simple reef video that was awsome. Made my day.

I agree! I had to contain my laughter here at work

 

[TheClark]

My tank has struggled lately for no apparent reason.

Here is a little advice give to me from the local reef club pros beyond the basics:

- Clean skimmer
- Double check Refractometer
- Double check mag test kit (they go bad)
- Triton test
- Triton detox
- Polyfilters
- Feed only mysis and nori (yep, real pros, with beautiful tanks I personally visit. My algae growth slowed way down can see the LR again for the first time in years)
- Check RODI TDS
- Check for rusted magnets

Truthfully though I am still fighting it... Thought I would share if someone is looking for a list of things to try.

Really great thread, thanks all for the tips I will be monitoring this one...

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Thanks again and I am reading every one of these posts!

As you can see in previous posts, I have kept some semi-successful reefs. This problem I have been having as been going on for a while. It was happening when I had elevated Nitrates, different salts, different lighting, etc.. I have literally tried it all EXCEPT for trying to find rust. But I'm not sure that would be enough to cause me all this trouble. I could at least grow zoas and palys and recently they are starting to close up and act funny. I'll get it figured out so keep throwing out the ideas!

You all are the best!

 

[klp]

I am interested to learn what you find with Triton testing if you go ahead with it. You said zero nitrates which are too low as I am sure you are aware. I wonder if all those deaths have put poisons in the water that continue as animals die out. Possibly a complete water change if nothing else checks out with Triton. Checking test equipment was very good advice for all of us to be reminded about. I love your new tank layout as it should stay clean. I wish you the best of luck with this problem as I know your frustrations as do many of us. Keep us posted please.

 

[Josh King]

Thanks again and I am reading every one of these posts!

As you can see in previous posts, I have kept some semi-successful reefs. This problem I have been having as been going on for a while. It was happening when I had elevated Nitrates, different salts, different lighting, etc.. I have literally tried it all EXCEPT for trying to find rust. But I'm not sure that would be enough to cause me all this trouble. I could at least grow zoas and palys and recently they are starting to close up and act funny. I'll get it figured out so keep throwing out the ideas!

You all are the best!

I have read through this. I didn't see anyone mention the possibility of rock leaching. What kind of rock do you have in the tank? Could it be leaching something not normally tested for? Good luck Rev.