Is it possible....

[Raggamuffin]

Having a bit of a problem with my tank, cannot find the source but have theory.

I have a mixed reef, mostly LPS and SPS but a few softies as well and those are giving me problems. Everything is doing fine except 1/2 the softies, my eagle eyes, Tubbs Blues, purple hearts ect ect zoos are fine. My GSP and shrooms are fine. For some reason my Bamm Bamms, Candy apple reds, nightmares all melted! Along with my green striped shrooms (my green with orange spots are doing great though).

My theory is my water is TO clean, I vodka dose, MB7, and run GFO/carbon as well as have a way over sized skimmer.

temp: 78
Sal: 1.026
PH 8.4
Cal: 440
Mag: 1400
PO4: 0
Amonia: 0
Trates: very very slightly tints the test kit... close enough to 0
Trites: 0

Tank info, 40b with 75g sump, 20l fuge, 20l dsb skimmer is a reef octo 150 NW


another clue is my cheato has basically melted to over the last 2 months.

 

[Reef UP]

If I was you start dosing some amino's and vitamins my tank was doing the same thing until I did so ! Feed your tank a lot more as well

 

[_Alex_]

yea more feeding and dose vitamins. being that clean of water they lack a lot more from what they usually get from the water column. there for needing dosing and more feeding!!

 

[Raggamuffin]

ok then what brands would you recommend trying? and what vits should I focus on?

 

[TinaFoster]

I'd read where a reef expert once said the ocean is not as clean as we're attempting to keep our tanks and he added dirt or something to the tank once in a while. I wouldn't go that far, but I can see the point. You might really be onto something.

 

[jenmay44me]

IMO, softies prefer some NITRATES to be happy. I usually keep mine around 20ppm, if I see it go higher, water change, but not too drastic as to wipe them out altogether. Ive noticed when my nitrates have gone higher than that, around 40pm, my softies are super full/expanded, I just dont trust that level of Trates long term in my aquarium.