Ready to Give Up!!

[hhholds]

Not really....but extremely frustrated. My system is a 75gal with 40gal sump. I have struggled with high nitrates since day 1 (February 2017). I have tried every thing under the sun to lower nitrates below 25ppm but have been unsuccessful in my attempts. I have used NO3PO4-X, Bio-Pellets, and of course a Refugium loaded with Chaeto, live rock and Dragon's Breath. Soft coral and LPS seem to do fine in my aquarium. They do not seem to grow very fast but don't die either. Coralline algae is very slow to grow, it is hardly present on back glass and rocks. My goal is to do SPS but everytime I place one in the tank it lasts a few weeks and completely bleaches. My assumption is the nitrates but I am at a loss.

Tank Parameters as of 11/09/18
NO3 25ppm (Nyos kit)
Ca 420 (Red Sea)
Alk 9.1 (Hannah)
Mg 1400 (Red Sea)
PO4 .04ppm(Hannah ULR)
Salinity 35-36
Temp 78-80
Ph 8-8.15

I dose BRS 2 part (160ml/day of Soda Ash and 160ml/day CaCl). Doses are spread out on overlapping time schedules for 18hrs at 9ml/hr. I also use Kalk in my top off water.

I also dose once per week Aquavitro "Fuel" and CaribSea "Purple-Up"

My lighting consists of 2 Kessil A160 and 4 t5 ATI bulbs (2 Actinic and 2 Aqua Blue Special)

I use a Reef Octopus 150 Skimmer

I took Biopellet reactor offline 2 weeks ago after running it approximately 1yr. I will occasionally use carbon to polish water if it appears dirty.

I am attaching pics to show current condition of tank with a close up of a Monti frag that was added 1 week ago. Until yesterday it was deep red in color. You can see in the pic how it is starting to fade.

Please help .... any logical advice would be appreciated.

PS...Aiptasia are crazy bad .... tried filefish, peppermint shrimp and now Copperband...no luck. Berghia Nudibranchs due to arrive next week...let the battle commence.

 

[Sailingeric]

How much are you feeding?

 

[declanisadog]

That’s a lot of aptasia. Have you checked your nitrate number with another test? Maybe your testing method is off and nitrates aren’t what they seem?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Not really....but extremely frustrated. My system is a 75gal with 40gal sump. I have struggled with high nitrates since day 1 (February 2017). I have tried every thing under the sun to lower nitrates below 25ppm but have been unsuccessful in my attempts. I have used NO3PO4-X, Bio-Pellets, and of course a Refugium loaded with Chaeto, live rock and Dragon's Breath. Soft coral and LPS seem to do fine in my aquarium. They do not seem to grow very fast but don't die either. Coralline algae is very slow to grow, it is hardly present on back glass and rocks. My goal is to do SPS but everytime I place one in the tank it lasts a few weeks and completely bleaches. My assumption is the nitrates but I am at a loss.

Tank Parameters as of 11/09/18
NO3 25ppm (Nyos kit)
Ca 420 (Red Sea)
Alk 9.1 (Hannah)
Mg 1400 (Red Sea)
PO4 .04ppm(Hannah ULR)
Salinity 35-36
Temp 78-80
Ph 8-8.15

I dose BRS 2 part (160ml/day of Soda Ash and 160ml/day CaCl). Doses are spread out on overlapping time schedules for 18hrs at 9ml/hr. I also use Kalk in my top off water.

I also dose once per week Aquavitro "Fuel" and CaribSea "Purple-Up"

My lighting consists of 2 Kessil A160 and 4 t5 ATI bulbs (2 Actinic and 2 Aqua Blue Special)

I use a Reef Octopus 150 Skimmer

I took Biopellet reactor offline 2 weeks ago after running it approximately 1yr. I will occasionally use carbon to polish water if it appears dirty.

I am attaching pics to show current condition of tank with a close up of a Monti frag that was added 1 week ago. Until yesterday it was deep red in color. You can see in the pic how it is starting to fade.

Please help .... any logical advice would be appreciated.

PS...Aiptasia are crazy bad .... tried filefish, peppermint shrimp and now Copperband...no luck. Berghia Nudibranchs due to arrive next week...let the battle commence.

Could be a lighting issue. I run 20-40 ppm N03 and 0.1 P04 in my system.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Not really....but extremely frustrated. My system is a 75gal with 40gal sump. I have struggled with high nitrates since day 1 (February 2017). I have tried every thing under the sun to lower nitrates below 25ppm but have been unsuccessful in my attempts. I have used NO3PO4-X, Bio-Pellets, and of course a Refugium loaded with Chaeto, live rock and Dragon's Breath. Soft coral and LPS seem to do fine in my aquarium. They do not seem to grow very fast but don't die either. Coralline algae is very slow to grow, it is hardly present on back glass and rocks. My goal is to do SPS but everytime I place one in the tank it lasts a few weeks and completely bleaches. My assumption is the nitrates but I am at a loss.

Tank Parameters as of 11/09/18
NO3 25ppm (Nyos kit)
Ca 420 (Red Sea)
Alk 9.1 (Hannah)
Mg 1400 (Red Sea)
PO4 .04ppm(Hannah ULR)
Salinity 35-36
Temp 78-80
Ph 8-8.15

I dose BRS 2 part (160ml/day of Soda Ash and 160ml/day CaCl). Doses are spread out on overlapping time schedules for 18hrs at 9ml/hr. I also use Kalk in my top off water.

I also dose once per week Aquavitro "Fuel" and CaribSea "Purple-Up"

My lighting consists of 2 Kessil A160 and 4 t5 ATI bulbs (2 Actinic and 2 Aqua Blue Special)

I use a Reef Octopus 150 Skimmer

I took Biopellet reactor offline 2 weeks ago after running it approximately 1yr. I will occasionally use carbon to polish water if it appears dirty.

I am attaching pics to show current condition of tank with a close up of a Monti frag that was added 1 week ago. Until yesterday it was deep red in color. You can see in the pic how it is starting to fade.

Please help .... any logical advice would be appreciated.

PS...Aiptasia are crazy bad .... tried filefish, peppermint shrimp and now Copperband...no luck. Berghia Nudibranchs due to arrive next week...let the battle commence.

Double post

 

[hhholds]

How much are you feeding?

it varies. I typically feed once per day. I try to feed something different each time so I alternate between pellets, flakes, frozen and Nori for the fish. I broadcast feed on the days I serve up frozen and I will use BRS "Reef Chili", and Polyp Labs - Reef Roids. I also will occasionally use Selcon and Kent Marines - "Garlic Xtreme".

 

[hhholds]

Could be a lighting issue. I run 20-40 ppm N03 and 0.1 P04 in my system.

Possibly but I find it hard to believe my lighting option is inadequate. What you using cuz tank looks great?

 

[Bj’s Reef]

How often are you checking your alkalinity? If it’s not stable that will cause problems with sps. Also from your pictures you have a problem with aphasia. If I were you I would work on getting rid of them before they get any worse. I was looking at your dosing schedule. What type of Doser are you using if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[hhholds]

That’s a lot of aptasia. Have you checked your nitrate number with another test? Maybe your testing method is off and nitrates aren’t what they seem?

Yes I have used an API kit in the past with same results as the Nyos kit. I switched to the Nyos to confirm the API...

 

[hhholds]

How often are you checking your alkalinity? If it’s not stable that will cause problems with sps. Also from your pictures you have a problem with aphasia. If I were you I would work on getting rid of them before they get any worse. I was looking at your dosing schedule. What type of Doser are you using if you don’t mind me asking?

Daily to every other day for Alk...because I thought the same issue. I struggle with Ph and Alk hence the reason I use Kalk in my ATO. Jebao DP-4 on the doser.

 

[hhholds]

 

[rock_lobster]

Why 25ppm is perfect.. need to sit back and relax. your alk is not perfect but its not varying that much it shouldnt be an issue. Well looking again there are some big rapid changes going there. Try to keep it at a stable number would be the first thing to do to and rule out.

 

[Captain Quint]

+1 with rock_lobster your nitrates are not killer high at all hhholds. We've all probably seen much higher than that. Congrats on getting the crew that will eat the glass anemones.

Sounds like you're doing good and the tank looks good. Lose the 'Purple Up' my friend.

 

[Bj’s Reef]

The file fish should work. The problem with them is they need to get hungry before they develop a taste for them. I have two in my tank. It took them about three weeks before they started eating them. I had to go out of town for work for three days. My auto feeder is set to feed once per day. I guess they got hungry enough. That they started eating them , the problem is they ate my acans too. However now I have to hunt for the Aiptasia.

 

[ThatFishGuy]

This may sound a little out of the usual but what kind of water are you using? tap water, natural seawater, RODI... because I use RODI and have nitrates at dead zero according to my API test kit and my LFS.

 

[hhholds]

This may sound a little out of the usual but what kind of water are you using? tap water, natural seawater, RODI... because I use RODI and have nitrates at dead zero according to my API test kit and my LFS.

RODI ... 0 nitrates and 0 TDS right out of the unit.

 

[hhholds]

+1 with rock_lobster your nitrates are not killer high at all hhholds. We've all probably seen much higher than that. Congrats on getting the crew that will eat the glass anemones.

Sounds like you're doing good and the tank looks good. Lose the 'Purple Up' my friend.

If it is not the Nitrates then what is it that is causing the SPS to bleach?

 

[ThatFishGuy]

If it is not the Nitrates then what is it that is causing the SPS to bleach?

It could be your alkalinity and magnesium are not stable or your lighting is too intense possibly.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Have you checked your par? I could be wrong. Looks very white and bright.

I would stop the fuel and purple up for now.

I agree to double check you dkh.

Side note, I use CCB's Mars Aquas.

 

[Flippers4pups]

If it is not the Nitrates then what is it that is causing the SPS to bleach?

Par may be too high, spectrum may be off. It's a reach, but everything else pramameter wise looks good.

I do question the amount of soda ash your adding. Your coral load is small. Shouldn't be needing supplement a side of water changes at this point.