Looking for ideas for my tank.

WVReefJunkie · Dec 21, 2016

Hi Reefers, I have a 220 gallon mixed reef that has been up and running for two years. I have a Kalk Stirrer to help with All & Calcium demands. I have a Apex controller, Radio Gen 2s with 70 percent intensity and two MP 40a power heads. I keep levels at 9dkh, 450 calcium, Mag 1350. I am posting this post because I am getting poor color quality in my sps corals, lps seems to be growing good. I was going through a spell of zoa's melting, seems to be stabilized. I am looking for advice from Reefers that I might add to my daily routines to increase my color and growth rates of my sps corals. Thanks everyone.

CodyRVA · Dec 22, 2016

What are your NO3 and PO4 testing at? Have you considered aminos or phytoplankton? If you're not performing routine water changes you might want to consider trace elements; I rarely do water changes and heavily rely on Red Sea Coloration Program which I dose weekly.

WVReefJunkie · Dec 22, 2016

Phosphates are normally low, I test with Hanna Checker. I run gfo through a phosban 150. Now Nitrate on the other hand, it is 50-100 ppm testing with a salifert test kit. I do 10 percent w/c weekly.

WVReefJunkie · Dec 22, 2016

How do you test your aquarium for trace elements?

CodyRVA · Dec 22, 2016

Inconsistent PO4 is just as bad as too high or too low, same can be said with water chemistry in general. Just my two cents but your NO3, assuming those numbers are accurate, is way too high and could very likely be a culprit of the fading. As far as trace elements, i'm not sure thats your issue at this point, can be based off of your CA demand. Red Sea Coloration Program is dosed according to how much CA your system uses. I always under dose, but do so weekly. You probably don't need to do that if you're doing weekly WC.

WVReefJunkie · Dec 22, 2016

My phosphates are 0.05 or less. I have a large refugium, but have had a hard time keeping chaeto alive. So I would assume I have a low nutrient system. What would be the most effective procedure to lower nitrates if they are accurately at those higher levels? Thanks

CodyRVA · Dec 22, 2016

That's not bad for PO4, slightly high, but ballpark. What kind of lighting are you using on your chaeto and what light cycle? If you can test with multiple test kits that you indeed have 50-100ppm nitrate then no that's not a ULN system (Ultra Low Nutrient). If they're that high, you could consider carbon dosing, figuring out your macro algae situation, evaluate your feeding regiment. If you're feeding flakes or pellets, maybe consider cleaning frozen and feeding that instead; or just feeding less all around. I think you can rule out trace elements. Do you have any signs of hair algae or anything like that?

WVReefJunkie · Dec 22, 2016

I have two CFL bulbs on the refugium with a reverse lights cycle of the tank. I am using salifert n03 test kit. What other kit would you recommend? I have also seen a denitrifying system you could buy. How does Carbon dosing work?

CodyRVA · Dec 22, 2016

By no means am i championing an expensive light, i use a dang Home Depot clamp light with a walmart LED bulb and mine grows like a beast. Salifert is solid, assuming your kit isn't defective. Maybe ask a fellow reefer to test it or check with your LFS just to confirm your NO3 before making changes. Old school carbon dosing can be done with vodka or vinegar, there are a plethora of threads out there on dosing and how much and all that. The more modernized version is bio pellets. I would just make absolutely sure that you have nitrates before doing anything. If the tests are wrong and you do have low nutrients right now, adding pellets will only strip the nutrients down further. If you do go with pellets, research them first. Start with a very small amount, VERY small, and give it time; they take weeks to activate so it might not look like its working for a week or two and if you keep adding more, you'll over do it and have way too many pellets. Like everything else in the hobby, research, start slow, adjust accordingly.

WVReefJunkie · Dec 22, 2016

Ok thanks, do you think n03 at high levels could be hurting my growth and colorations of my sps corals? Thanks

CodyRVA · Dec 22, 2016

It's a highly debated topic as to if you can sustain high nutrient SPS tanks. Some claim you can, and I believe them, but I believe it has to be a gradual acclimation. If you have a nutrient spike, your corals will absolutely suffer. Maybe your nutrients are just a tad bit too high and stunting growth, could be your lighting, maybe your test kit is defective and you have super low nutrients, its had to say. I would confirm your test and respond accordingly. I would also try to work your PO4 down some as well, but just my two cents.