Lets Talk about my ATI Test

DrinkinPepsi · May 3, 2023

A bit about the tank first

75g with a refugium total gallons is about 100

This test came about because I have now lost about 80% of my Zoas. Hammer is the only thing that still looks great.

I dose about 5ppm per week NO3
This test shows 0 PO4, I usually don't dose that as my Hannah tester usually shows .04.
I do 10-12 gallon change every 2 weeks with Tropic Marine Pro Reef

Hippo Tang
2 Clowns
2 Chromis
Cleaner Shrimp
Coral Beauty Angel

Tank Just turned over a year old. All fish are healthy with no issues.

I would just like some opinions in here that may point to a reason for the mass Zoa die off.
Where did the aluminum come from?

Any other questions on something I may have left out just ask. Just looking to see what others who are smarter think.

Tank Water
RO Water

Rtaylor · May 4, 2023

Zoas like higher nutrients generally. Also iodine is low, could be a factor.

Jason_MrFrags · May 4, 2023

If your nutrients are that low you might want to reduce your water changes.

Are you using marine pure blocks or ceramic media? They are usually the source of AL in tanks.

DrinkinPepsi · May 4, 2023

There are ceramic bio balls in the refugium. Should I even be concerned about that level of aluminum in the tank?

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 5, 2023

Zinc is quite high. Are you adding any or are any metal parts in or near the water?

The aluminum is probably not an issue, but closing up of leather corals can be a sign (not sure on zooanthids).

I'd personally remove some of the spheres, and if nitrate does not increase too much, remove the rest of them.

DrinkinPepsi · May 5, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Zinc is quite high. Are you adding any or are any metal parts in or near the water?

The aluminum is probably not an issue, but closing up of leather corals can be a sign (not sure on zooanthids).

I'd personally remove some of the spheres, and if nitrate does not increase too much, remove the rest of them.

I have to dose nitrate or they will go to 0. Only metal is the light mounts dip in the water a bit where they attach to the tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 5, 2023

DrinkinPepsi said:
Only metal is the light mounts dip in the water a bit where they attach to the tank.

Can you show a picture of that?

DrinkinPepsi · May 5, 2023

DrinkinPepsi · May 5, 2023

SteveMM62Reef · May 5, 2023

Are those mounting arms installed backwards? I saw that on someone else’s aquarium. They had the Left Arm on the Right Side and the Right Arm on the Left. This put the lower bracket in the tanks water.

DrinkinPepsi · May 5, 2023

You know that could very well be. I bought a 55g tanks setup and harvested all the good stuff out of it and set up this 75 and this is just how they were set up so they could very well be backwards. I will explore this tonight when I get home. Thank you very much.