I used to think that, until I had problems with my tank that would be considered "old tank syndrome", for me it turned out to not have anything to do with phosphates, it was trace elements.
Sps high nutrients myth?
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I used to think that, until I had problems with my tank that would be considered "old tank syndrome", for me it turned out to not have anything to do with phosphates, it was trace elements.
Interestingly, as the systems have matured, I cant get the cyano to come back in general, despite increases and decreases in both nutrints over time, small changes in bio load, cal alk dosing etc.and feeding schedules and amounts. Im actually feeding a surprising amount to "the tank" and not the fish just keep the numbers up. That's always a bit scary IMO. When I just fed the fish both numbers plummeted.
Fish poo make corals grow well. But feed top quality foods like LRSfoods
and ARID C30 reactor, I just counted 58 fish sorry,
(2) Clown fish false percula (Amphiprion ocellaris)
(1) Coral Beauty (Centropyge bispinosus)
(1) Flameback Angelfish (Centropyge aurantonotus)
(4) Flame Angles (Centropyge loricula)
(1) Regal Hippo tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
(5) Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
(1) Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) Lost wrasse on 10/08/2015
(1) One spot foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)
(1) Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
(8) Yellow Assessor (Assessor flavissimus)
(1) Cleaner Wrasse
(5) Blue Star Leopard Wrasse
(1) Chalk Bass
(1) Hoeven's Wrasse
(2) Wheeler's Shrimp Goby
(13) Tukas Anthias
(10) Blue Chromis
here is a vid of me feeding the tank over the summer
So when you feed your fish, your nitrates and phosphate levels plummeted?
Sorry to keep probing but now I'm curious as to what trace elements you were missing? And how did you know they were deficient? Triton test?
Also, how did you rectify it?
I also employ no water changes, been about 3 years now so I'm curious what you felt like was the smoking gun so I can avoid it myself.
Oh man, I remember your video! That's awesome! I honestly wish I took your approach to fish stocking instead of my own. I like the numerous smaller fishes instead of a lesser amount of medium to larger fishes approach, especially to an SPS-dominant tank.
when Im cautious and feed "appropriately" yes. Trying to lower nutrints to kill algae, I experimented over time. No the algae did not die, but the zoas and shrooms almost croaked.
Fwiw, in my 55 the Po4 is higher than it has been for a while(momma got a black sun coral to rescue), and the bryopsis colonies are now crashing. Ive been in the .2 range for a few weeks now.
So while I am pretty sure it was trace elements, it is only my best guess. I have an RC thread that I documented everything when trying to get the tank back on track, I kept very good maintenance records records of my tank. For over a year I had both N and P rock solid, N at 5ppm and P at 0.02 and I was still struggling to keep SPS. With no real apparent pattern acros would get burnt tips, bleach, RTN. Growth was almost nonexistent for acros in the tank for even as long as a year. I did finally start to see a pattern that everything would perk up and do better after a series of water changes (anywhere from 100 gallons to 400 gallons worth) but would steadily decline after that. Multiple Triton ICP tests showed nothing out of the ordinary. So after speaking to A LOT of people, it was suggested that maybe the tank was consuming trace elements that were needed by the acros. I played with some Brightwell Trace element solution and had some success for a while but ultimately started to have the exact same SPS issues. So I pulled my Ca reactor, switched to Triton Dosing (specifically because it was supposed to have added TE in their mix) and ALL my SPS problem stopped. That was the only change I made.
I have since looked into it more and feel that it was zinc and manganese that were deficient. I now dose my own mixture of Zinc, Manganese and Iodine in addition to dosing.
For the fish, yeah when I redid my tank years ago I specifically wanted to have lots of small fish rather than just a few large ones. Visually it is really cool, people come over and can look at the tank and keep seeing new things that they missed earlier as there are so many fish hiding in the rocks.
Acroporaaddict
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After reading this thread I feel I need to get more No3 in my system. My acros are a little on the pale side. I feed heavy (2-4 cubes daily), dose 10ml acropower daily and have a high fish load (16 fish in a 60g) but my No3 is at .5ppm. I run my refugium light 24/7. Would I be better running my fuge light for less time or putting liquid no3 on my dosing pump?
I would start by running the fuge opposite the DT.
the world according to Randy any way.http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-10/rhf/index.php
Acroporaaddict
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I think I'll start with that. My fuge is roughly 7g it's stuffed full of cheato. I remove 50% of it weekly. The fuge has completely shut down my skimmer. I have no idea when I last emptied the cup. I basically use it for gas exchange now lol
Robthorn
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I might look for something else that is depleted. You already have higher no3 than I do and my corals are not pale. Maybe higher no3 will mask a different issue. Who can say without trying?
haha. me too. Check that article out, yea you'll be getting more chato crowth, soory. but the DT will benefit by the fuge at night. Rather fascinating if you're into carbon exchange
he may (ok IS) limiting carbon in the form of co2 to the display, because of the fuge running.
najer
Valuable Member
I am so tempted to get my nitrates and phos tested again now (not), great input everyone, I designed my current tank around maximum natural nutrient export, I run a refugium.
I watch my tank and intervene when I really need to, when the corals tell me.
I did do a 5% waterchange last April, might try a 10% water change this year!
I watch my tank and intervene when I really need to, when the corals tell me.
I did do a 5% waterchange last April, might try a 10% water change this year!
Thales
Valuable Member
Hi ya Joe! Might the CaRx be the point problematic point for your system? Was it doing something goofy? It might be interesting to put it back on just to see if things go south again. </runs away>
Robthorn
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Haha Thales, good idea to run away. When things are working you surely don't want to try something you think failed. Good try though.
I am a doser at the moment. 300ml's a day today and climbing crazy fast may change my mind.
I am a doser at the moment. 300ml's a day today and climbing crazy fast may change my mind.
