So frustrating

[sil40sx]

+2 on nitrates. I read somewhere once that sps will die from the bottom up (which yours seems to be doing) if there's no nutrients and they're starving and will die from the tips down if it's alkalinity related. Birds nest is easy to frag. Trim a little ahead of the 'death line' and mount that on a new plug. You can even mount a few pieces on the same plug making a little bush.

Thanks. I'll try it.

 

[sil40sx]

When I ran GFO, it ran 24hrs, I adjusted alk, and upped feedings. Which your feedings are incredible. You could maybe cut back on feeding or keep doing what you are and run GFO 24/7?
Then a cheap and easy way to dose no3 is 'Stump remover'(KNO3) from the hardware store. I have a bottle that's gonna last me 2 years. You'll need to test for no3 also.

The reactor is a must for me I believe, because the way I feed. Otherwise, my po4 will shoot to the roof. Maybe I'll just keep it consistently on and start testing from there.

I definitely need a nitrate test kit.

 

[reeferfoxx]

The reactor is a must for me I believe, because the way I feed. Otherwise, my po4 will shoot to the roof. Maybe I'll just keep it consistently on and start testing from there.

I definitely need a nitrate test kit.

That's helping with getting things back on the simple track.

In addition to trying to frag the coral, you need to figure out what parameters you want to keep consistent. Should go hand in hand with your tank intentions. SPS coral need consistency.

FWIW Stylophora coral would survive all this

 

[North Borders]

Yeah your phos looks OK, but with no nitrate there as well, the corals will starve as they need some of each for their nutritional building blocks.

 

[sil40sx]

That's helping with getting things back on the simple track.

In addition to trying to frag the coral, you need to figure out what parameters you want to keep consistent. Should go hand in hand with your tank intentions. SPS coral need consistency.

FWIW Stylophora coral would survive all this

I thought I was on the right track. I was able to keep my calcium from swinging from 380-450, to keep it consistent at 450ish by dosing liquid calcium.

And I thought Alk was ok at 7.5 with just 0.05 swing. But I've read mixed recommendations from 7-11dkh. So confusing. LOL

 

[sil40sx]

Yeah your phos looks OK, but with no nitrate there as well, the corals will starve as they need some of each for their nutritional building blocks.

Yup. Need to take care of the nitrates too. Going to LFS today and get some test kit and maybe something to dose for it.

What would be a good range for no3?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Yup. Need to take care of the nitrates too. Going to LFS today and get some test kit and maybe something to dose for it.

What would be a good range for no3?

Between 2 and 5ppm is where you want it. 10ppm is your limit.

 

[North Borders]

I thought I was on the right track. I was able to keep my calcium from swinging from 380-450, to keep it consistent at 450ish by dosing liquid calcium.

And I thought Alk was ok at 7.5 with just 0.05 swing.

That's a pretty small alk swing IMO. I'd lean much more heavily to the zero nitrates being the issue.

Red Sea makes an Algae Control test kit that measures phos and nitrates. I don't use the phos part as I have a Hanna Checker, but the nitrate test goes up to 4 ppm and is pretty accurate and easy to read.

 

[North Borders]

Also, don't be surprised if your phos drops too once you start dosing nitrate as the corals will start using it again.

 

[sil40sx]

Wasn't able to pick up a test kit, they didn't have it on my LFS.

So far I haven't made any adjustments/changes yet. I'll probably;y order online since I'm busy at my day job and home business.

 

[dragon99]

Definitely get a better NO3 test kit. Salifert or RedSea would good choices. When I was using just the API test I thought my nitrates were 0-1ppm. But when I tested with RedSea I was getting 8-10ppm. API just isn't accurate enough.

You stated at the beginning that you are dosing for calcium, but it doesn't appear that you were doing anything to dose ALK. Is that right? Did you try bringing up your ALK from 7.5? The swing you mentioned from 7.45-7.5 wouldn't cause an issue, but if you are dosing Ca and not ALK I'd be surprised if it's not actually changing more than that.

 

[sil40sx]

You stated at the beginning that you are dosing for calcium, but it doesn't appear that you were doing anything to dose ALK. Is that right? Did you try bringing up your ALK from 7.5? The swing you mentioned from 7.45-7.5 wouldn't cause an issue, but if you are dosing Ca and not ALK I'd be surprised if it's not actually changing more than that.

Yup, just a tad bit. I add 0.50ml of liquid calcium per 1 gallon of top off water. That keeps my calcium around 440-450ish every time I test. And didn't thought about alk dosing because its really consistent.

I'm planning on dosing kalkwasser instead though, that way I don't have to worry about dosing separate for each.