ScooterV
Well-Known Member
Looking for some direction so I doon't go and do anything t make this worse.
All was well until needing a fallow period. Once fishless I got some obvious GHA growth. I assumed it was at least partly due to no foxface and tangs left to keep it clear and I used Vibrant for 4-5 weeks. The GHA did clear up. Prior to going fallow N03 was usually around 10 and Po4 around 0.04.
After the below showed up I found N03 and Po4 both at zero. I initially assumed I didn't ghost feed enough. I also experienced snail and pod die offs, so again figured they starved. Once fallow I wasn't testing much and just tried to feed just a little less than I had been. This current issue I at first thought was purely some sort of filamentous algae. However, once hit with a power head it literally almost entirely disintegrates. In some spots a very fine, and almost clear, filament remains unless lightly scrubbed and it deems to just fall apart as well. But, it only takes a few hours and it's back. When I blew it off the first time I was floored thinking it was all detritus, but I can repeat it in just hours after it has regrown and get the same thing again. No air bubbles and it doesn't form a mat, although I've been blowing everything off 1-2 times a day. It's been a few months since being fallow, but nutrients still not there even though the foxface in particular has enjoyed the increase feeding.
To make it worse, I am still really light on cuc due to now wanting to QT even them after the velvet experience and then losing so many snails. Whatever this is I can see the few astrea snails are eating it. However, it's still not 100% but I think I cross contaminated somehow and may have to go fallow again
If I do, I can ramp up the cuc quick any and just not start the clock until they are in. I may also splurge for a UV sterilizer with the Black Friday sales even if put in a storage bin once through this.
I have very little coral yet, but a kalk reactor in my ATO came up just a tad short now and then and I would have to manually dose. I have a CaRx and well as dosing pumps but didn't plan to use either until demand was higher. Now, I've had to bypass the kalk or my Alk spikes so I'm assuming lack of nutrients has reduced uptake?
I do have potassium nitrate on hand, but afraid to add nitrates if not also adding phosphate but I have some of that on the way and if lucky will be delivered tomorrow. Any id, ideas, questions, would be appreciated.
Parameters as of last night/this morning:
SG 1.026
Temp 78
Ph 8.2
Alk 9.5 dkh
Ca 420
Mg 1250
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
And a quick video. Sorry for the blizzard. The power head hit some other rock when getting it close and kicked it up.
All was well until needing a fallow period. Once fishless I got some obvious GHA growth. I assumed it was at least partly due to no foxface and tangs left to keep it clear and I used Vibrant for 4-5 weeks. The GHA did clear up. Prior to going fallow N03 was usually around 10 and Po4 around 0.04.
After the below showed up I found N03 and Po4 both at zero. I initially assumed I didn't ghost feed enough. I also experienced snail and pod die offs, so again figured they starved. Once fallow I wasn't testing much and just tried to feed just a little less than I had been. This current issue I at first thought was purely some sort of filamentous algae. However, once hit with a power head it literally almost entirely disintegrates. In some spots a very fine, and almost clear, filament remains unless lightly scrubbed and it deems to just fall apart as well. But, it only takes a few hours and it's back. When I blew it off the first time I was floored thinking it was all detritus, but I can repeat it in just hours after it has regrown and get the same thing again. No air bubbles and it doesn't form a mat, although I've been blowing everything off 1-2 times a day. It's been a few months since being fallow, but nutrients still not there even though the foxface in particular has enjoyed the increase feeding.
To make it worse, I am still really light on cuc due to now wanting to QT even them after the velvet experience and then losing so many snails. Whatever this is I can see the few astrea snails are eating it. However, it's still not 100% but I think I cross contaminated somehow and may have to go fallow again
If I do, I can ramp up the cuc quick any and just not start the clock until they are in. I may also splurge for a UV sterilizer with the Black Friday sales even if put in a storage bin once through this.I have very little coral yet, but a kalk reactor in my ATO came up just a tad short now and then and I would have to manually dose. I have a CaRx and well as dosing pumps but didn't plan to use either until demand was higher. Now, I've had to bypass the kalk or my Alk spikes so I'm assuming lack of nutrients has reduced uptake?
I do have potassium nitrate on hand, but afraid to add nitrates if not also adding phosphate but I have some of that on the way and if lucky will be delivered tomorrow. Any id, ideas, questions, would be appreciated.
Parameters as of last night/this morning:
SG 1.026
Temp 78
Ph 8.2
Alk 9.5 dkh
Ca 420
Mg 1250
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
And a quick video. Sorry for the blizzard. The power head hit some other rock when getting it close and kicked it up.
