Many things going downhill

[Docdiggy]

Long story short. Phos got to 1.1 with nitrates of 0. Things started looking ugly with corals, algae, cyano, etc. I dosed sodium nitrate, but dosed too much. I'm guessing around 14ppm. Over the next few weeks lps looked fantastic, but sps were and still are stn. Not all of them though. Well after some water changes and letting the tank do its thing the phos came down to .04 and nitrate .75. This was over 3-4 weeks. I carefully dosed a bit more nitrate to stay around 2ppm. Things still are struggling.

Alk 9.4
Salt .026
Cal 400
Nitrate 1ppm
Phos .04
Temp 78

Could this be a slow crash or just a setback?
The Monti may seem ok in the pic, but it has faded a lot.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Not sure. But I’d double check other stuff first. Rodi would be first.

When my numbers or tank wendy south there’s was usually another issue. I’m not 100% on this , but Po4 of 1.1 and zero no3 is prettt odd.

 

[Docdiggy]

I use the BRS 5 stage with the additional ro. Once I dosed the nitrate the algae and cyano didn't stick around long. I took my carbon reactor off line for a bit, but I think I'll start it up again.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I use the BRS 5 stage with the additional ro. Once I dosed the nitrate the algae and cyano didn't stick around long. I took my carbon reactor off line for a bit, but I think I'll start it up again.

I had a recent rodi prob, it was literally right before the color changed on the di. 1tds, the following week 2 tds.
But my water here is awful.

Yea it could be the alk drop too.

Or both stressing corals.

 

[Docdiggy]

I never had an alk drop. I had a nitrate spike then went to nothing again. Phos went from 1.1 to .04, but over a few weeks. I don't think that's too fast.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I never had an alk drop. I had a nitrate spike then went to nothing again. Phos went from 1.1 to .04, but over a few weeks. I don't think that's too fast.

Ah, sorry , I read cal reactor not carbon. Senior moment.

If the tank went to Heck and the Po4 dropped that much , I’d not remove it from the realm of possibility. 1 to .04 is a pretty wide margin. Did you use Lanth cloride ?

 

[Docdiggy]

Just some water changes and an algae reactor. I'm not sure if the addition of nitrate somehow reduces phos.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Just some water changes and an algae reactor. I'm not sure if the addition of nitrate somehow reduces phos.

Yes, adding N03 will drive P04 down.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Just some water changes and an algae reactor. I'm not sure if the addition of nitrate somehow reduces phos.

I’d have to go with test error.

Yes , in some cases nitrates will lower Po4 because the bacteria are starved (no3). So feeding the no3 allows them to propigate.

But that’s quite a stretch for it to drop that fast.

Thers a melev article on phosphate RX and how fast it’ll drop and the safe ranges.

Even carbon dosing (vinegar and Red Sea Po4 X ) won’t drop it that fast.

 

[Docdiggy]

I've been using a Hanna ulr tester. It keeps going lower every week.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I've been using a Hanna ulr tester. It keeps going lower every week.

Understood.

Let’s get some more eyes on this.
#reefsquad

 

[ihavecrabs]

I'd give it some time. You have awesome polyp extension and they are in recovery mode.. It'll like take some time for them to rebound (some more than others).

Keep those parameters stable and looking good and give them some time without other changes. They'll bounce back!

 

[Docdiggy]

I hope so. I've adjusted the alk dose. I'm planning on slowly getting alk under 9.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I'd give it some time. You have awesome polyp extension and they are in recovery mode.. It'll like take some time for them to rebound (some more than others).

Keep those parameters stable and looking good and give them some time without other changes. They'll bounce back!

I hope so. I've adjusted the alk dose. I'm planning on slowly getting alk under 9.

Just to be clear, my statement was in response to the upset coral. Not necessarily the drop in PO4.

Getting your alk back where it was and keeping it stable would be my #1. That and some more frequent PO4 and Nitrate tests just to make sure things stay in proportion.

Good luck!

 

[Docdiggy]

I understood. I'm already monitoring most things daily.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How often are you doing water changes and using what salt mix? How do you mix salt

What are your parameters and Age of tank?? Salinity is at ______ ???

Are you feeding corals and how often ?

What lighting are you using and how are you testing your water??


THESE ANSWERS SHOULD GET YOU A FEW GOOD RESPONSES AND TIPS ON CARE AND MOVING FORWARD.

 

[Docdiggy]

Basic parameters are in the first post.

Salt IO mixed in a 5 gallon bucket for around 24hrs. Tank is about 4 yrs old.

6 bulb ATI.
Red sea nitrate
Phos hanna
Alk Hanna
Refractometer for salt.
I only feed lps.

 

[erky]

id boost that nitrate up a bit

 

[Docdiggy]

I've been slowly adding some daily. It's currently at 1.

 

[erky]

I've been slowly adding some daily. It's currently at 1.

you can add them as fast as you want. I think you should be at about 4-5ppm