Need help with corals, dosing, switching salts or whatever.

[Matt Miller]

I think I got in a little overboard with corals.

My original plan was just clowns and anemones...I started with mated clowns, coral beauty angel, orange spot goby and a handful of toadstools.

I now have mushrooms, riccordia, zoas/paly? Maze coral, pulsing zenia, bird's nest, pocci? Hammer deepwater pipe organ, gsp, and an inferno anemone. I have a bit or coraline algae that's spreading around the walls.

Most have been doing well but some are fading and not fully opening and looking well.

I have a 110g dt, 40g sump with fuge and skimmer. 2 16" reefbrite Wi-Fi LEDs. PH about 8.0, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate 0. That's the only tests I have.

I know I've gotten in a little over my head and am trying to move forward without breaking my bank. I'm busy with 2 kids under 2 and am struggling to understand what I need to do to get a handle on this.

I was thinking about switching salts, using reef crystals now, but I don't think that's going to be enough to bring these corals back to life.

I doubt it could be as easy as 1 test and additive but I am limited on budget and hoping to start small if possible.

 

[Matt Miller]

 

[tgp4274]

6' tank????
prob need nother light as 2 16" for 6' not enough...

 

[Matt Miller]

6' tank????
prob need nother light as 2 16" for 6' not enough...

5'l, 18"w and 22"d

I've got the lights turned down around 40% whites when they are on.

 

[Matt Miller]

Oh they are SBReeflights not reefbrights sorry.

 

[ciscomania]

still going to need another light fixture. 2x16" light is not going to be sufficient for 60"tank

 

[ciscomania]

I know that's not what you wanted to hear since you are on a budget but maybe you can find a used one for cheap.

 

[Matt Miller]

still going to need another light fixture. 2x16" light is not going to be sufficient for 60"tank

I can probably do that, but would I be ok with one of the 50/50 lights, or supplemental actinic lights or you think I need another 16?

 

[tgp4274]

with the shadeing in the middle from your pic..
do you have the lights 16" front to back???
if do maybe turn them 16" side to side.
that'd get you 32" outa the 60"
maybe try turning them up alittle
you said 40% on the whites. what on the blues??

 

[Matt Miller]

with the shadeing in the middle from your pic..
do you have the lights 16" front to back???
if do maybe turn them 16" side to side.
that'd get you 32" outa the 60"
maybe try turning them up alittle
you said 40% on the whites. what on the blues??

Yeah they are side to side, and my math was off so they are a little farther apart than should be. I will fix that soon, I think my blues go up to about 80%

 

[MmmmBalf]

If you're going to keep corals you'll need to start more regimented testing of the water. You should be testing for Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate & Nitrates.

You may need to dose, especially since coralline algae also uses up the calcium & alkalinity. But you need to be testing before you can dose.

You mentioned your Nitrate is 0. That's not a good thing for corals, you need some nutrients in the tank. Colours fading is typical with zero Nitrates. I had to start dosing Nitrate for the same reason & my LPS corals got their colour back fairly quickly. Aim for Nitrates around 3ppm - 5 pmm. You could start feeding a bit more to raise the Nitrates as well.

 

[Matt Miller]

If you're going to keep corals you'll need to start more regimented testing of the water. You should be testing for Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate & Nitrates.

You may need to dose, especially since coralline algae also uses up the calcium & alkalinity. But you need to be testing before you can dose.

You mentioned your Nitrate is 0. That's not a good thing for corals, you need some nutrients in the tank. Colours fading is typical with zero Nitrates. I had to start dosing Nitrate for the same reason & my LPS corals got their colour back fairly quickly. Aim for Nitrates around 3ppm - 5 pmm. You could start feeding a bit more to raise the Nitrates as well.

I use an API saltwater master test kit and nitrate, nitrite and ammonia almost always at 0.

I figured because I don't have many fish, and I have started deesinf more but don't think it's changing anything.

Can I start with something to raise nitrates?

Should I get a reefmaster test kit and start adjusting params from there?

I would like to be able to keep the corals I have now and just grow them out.

 

[MmmmBalf]

I would recommend a better quality test kit, API are not very accurate. They're ok for cycling tests, but you'd be better off getting something like Salifert or Red Sea Pro for the other parameters. You can stop testing for Ammonia & Nitrite now (unless something happens).

I'm not sure of your location, I know people in the U.S. can use stump remover to dose for Nitrates (it contains Potassium Nitrate). Search Spectricide on this site, there are some threads about it. We can't get it in Australia, so we have to buy Potassium Nitrate from a chemical supplier.

First thing is to get the test results for your parameters to work out where you stand. Good luck with it.

 

[Matt Miller]

I have been considering adding a yellow tang but am afraid to add anything else before I get the corals doing better.

 

[MmmmBalf]

Tang poop is the best coral food.

 

[Matt Miller]

Tang poop is the best coral food.

I'm nervous about adding fish too because I've only had the clowns and angelfish. I know it's big enough for more just don't know how well they will take to new fish.