SPS Corals Losing Color and Dying

[ScottB]

Which Icp testing brand do you use?

I send out samples for two separate systems each time. The first three were icp-analysis.com and last was Triton. The spread is fairly consistent. My LFS has a checker I am going to test against next.

 

[ryshark]

I just posted a thread in the Reef Chemistry forum about measuring PO4. My Hanna ULR measures about .1 higher than any of my 8 ICP results.

My Hanna consistently comes in around .13 to .15 while ICP always shows .03 to .04.

So while I believe I am running a dirty system, in fact, I am not. Have you run an ICP?

I experienced the same thing with my Hanna vs Triton.

 

[Thales]

I would bet money on the fast phosphate drop being the cause

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I would bet money on the fast phosphate drop being the cause

Maybe you can answer this for me
When did all the alk swing and no more than 0.05 po4 paranoia start?

 

[Thales]

Maybe you can answer this for me
When did all the alk swing and no more than 0.05 po4 paranoia start?

I think when we were able to test and then impact the levels. PO4 terror started when ROWA was first introduced in like 2003. What is the current alk swing worry stuff?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I think when we were able to test and then impact the levels. PO4 terror started when ROWA was first introduced in like 2003. What is the current alk swing worry stuff?

Every sps death starts with
“Have you had any alk swings?”
“Could be that 0.5 dKh swing you had 3 weeks ago.”

I just read a reply on another thread that said
“Your 0.10 po4 will slow growth IMO”

I killed thousands of $ worth of acros when I got back into sps with steady as a rock alk and “recommended no3/po4” using nopox and gfo.

 

[Thales]

Every sps death starts with
“Have you had any alk swings?”
“Could be that 0.5 dKh swing you had 3 weeks ago.”

I just read a reply on another thread that said
“Your 0.10 po4 will slow growth IMO”

I killed thousands of $ worth of acros when I got back into sps with steady as a rock alk and “recommended no3/po4” using nopox and gfo.

Gotcha. I think most of that is looking for simple/easy reasons/explanations for complex issues. People want there to be recipes to follow and there really aren't. You need to develop a blue thumb

 

[Lovefish77]

I just posted a thread in the Reef Chemistry forum about measuring PO4. My Hanna ULR measures about .1 higher than any of my 8 ICP results.

My Hanna consistently comes in around .13 to .15 while ICP always shows .03 to .04.

So while I believe I am running a dirty system, in fact, I am not. Have you run an ICP?

0.1 higher? Even with the ultra low range phosphorous?

 

[Lovefish77]

Good luck with your tank, been struggling myself with what is right to keep acros happy and dont seem to get it. With ultra low nutrients they hardly grow and when I raise nutrients they die.
So at 0.46 phosphates your acros were happy? And what was your nitrates then?

Sorry if this was covered already. But perplexed as my acros pooped when I raised nitrates by like 3 ppm and phosphate went up from 0.05 to 0.12 or something!!!

 

[Lovefish77]

Maybe you can answer this for me
When did all the alk swing and no more than 0.05 po4 paranoia start?

When decent test kits came lol. When I started reefing I kept acropora growing with api test kits for N and P, not only that but also with a crappy orbit marine led
Maybe in this hobby more is less in a way

 

[ScottB]

0.1 higher? Even with the ultra low range phosphorous?

Correct. Apparently, it is a thing.

Current thinking is that while in transit for 5-6 days, some amount of phosphorus either clings to the vial walls or is consumed/converted by the bacteria in the sample.

Measuring PO4: Hanna ULR versus Triton ICP

Wasn't sure where this post should go, but I will start here. Just curious if anyone else is seeing a consistent discrepancy between their Hanna values and those from ICP for PO4. I use the Hanna for phosphorus and convert that value. According to Hanna, my PO4 stays around .13 +-. Each time I...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Lovefish77]

Correct. Apparently, it is a thing.

Current thinking is that while in transit for 5-6 days, some amount of phosphorus either clings to the vial walls or is consumed/converted by the bacteria in the sample.

Measuring PO4: Hanna ULR versus Triton ICP

Wasn't sure where this post should go, but I will start here. Just curious if anyone else is seeing a consistent discrepancy between their Hanna values and those from ICP for PO4. I use the Hanna for phosphorus and convert that value. According to Hanna, my PO4 stays around .13 +-. Each time I...

www.reef2reef.com

That makes sense thanks. The sample spends like several days in transit so I would question anything that is dependent on any live form in that sample. It is like ph in a way has to be tested on the spot.

 

[aquaticlog]

Thank you all for your help and advice. The tank is doing much better now, my Powder Blue Tang though - not so much.

 

[ScottB]

Thank you all for your help and advice. The tank is doing much better now, my Powder Blue Tang though - not so much.

Who built your new frag tank? Looks very nice.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Thank you all for your help and advice. The tank is doing much better now, my Powder Blue Tang though - not so much.

How are you liking the AI 64s vs the 52s. I have 2-52 HD’s, 2-26 hds and a new prime 16. My eyes see better color with the older models but wondering if you have noticed the same?