Sps turning white

[IslandLifeReef]

Definitely overfeeding due to the copperband. I've never had levels this high in all my fish keeping. We're fairly lightly stocked with this tank.

When I say rinsing the media, I meant in some tank water during water changes. The bags just look like they could use a rinse.

I got a big batch of water made and will be doing a larger than usual wc today.

In your first post you said you do weekly water changes of 20%-30%. What are you using for nutrient export other than Seachem Tidal filters? NO3 in the 80-160 range and PO4 in the 0.4 range is extremely high. I think it would be hard to overfeed a tank enough to get those levels while still changing that much water on a weekly basis.

A full rundown of all your parameters would be nice. You haven't given Alk, or Calc readings and unless your NO2 and ammonia readings are 0.00, they are not fine.

 

[Aparker2005]

In your first post you said you do weekly water changes of 20%-30%. What are you using for nutrient export other than Seachem Tidal filters? NO3 in the 80-160 range and PO4 in the 0.4 range is extremely high. I think it would be hard to overfeed a tank enough to get those levels while still changing that much water on a weekly basis.

A full rundown of all your parameters would be nice. You haven't given Alk, or Calc readings and unless your NO2 and ammonia readings are 0.00, they are not fine.

That's it. Each has the stock mechanical media, matrix, and chemi pure blue in each. We got these for their basic skimmer option since our tank isn't drilled and don't have a sump. We swapped everything over from our fresh tank setup, and moved all of our livestock from our 75 and 40 to this 125 8 months or so ago. Everything had been going well until we added this copperband.

Salinity has stayed roughly 1.024 to 1.025 each change. I'll measure the other levels today.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

That's it. Each has the stock mechanical media, matrix, and chemi pure blue in each. We got these for their basic skimmer option since our tank isn't drilled and don't have a sump. We swapped everything over from our fresh tank setup, and moved all of our livestock from our 75 and 40 to this 125 8 months or so ago. Everything had been going well until we added this copperband.

Salinity has stayed roughly 1.024 to 1.025 each change. I'll measure the other levels today.

So how much are you feeding each day?

Have you considered adding a sump or hang on back skimmer. Your tank doesn't have to be drilled to have a sump with other equipment in it.

 

[Aparker2005]

So how much are you feeding each day?

Have you considered adding a sump or hang on back skimmer. Your tank doesn't have to be drilled to have a sump with other equipment in it.

Since we got the copperband.....

Flakes/pellets for the community
1 or 3 cubes of angel/butterfly mix and bloodworms

Another cube of Hikari frozen

Evening flake/pellets
1 or 2 cubes of frozen bloodworms

This has mostly only been to try to get the copperband eating stuff other than bloodworms. He's not yet, so I add bloodworms so it won't starve. I'll pull back quite a bit.

My 20g has absolutely none of these issues and only gets fed a small amount twice per day.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Since we got the copperband.....

Flakes/pellets for the community
1 or 3 cubes of angel/butterfly mix and bloodworms

Another cube of Hikari frozen

Evening flake/pellets
1 or 2 cubes of frozen bloodworms

This has mostly only been to try to get the copperband eating stuff other than bloodworms. He's not yet, so I add bloodworms so it won't starve. I'll pull back quite a bit.

My 20g has absolutely none of these issues and only gets fed a small amount twice per day.

Yeah, it's a balancing act for sure. My preference is to go light on fish, therefore light on food. Some people go heavy in, heavy out. But that requires a sump, media rollers, refugium, etc. SPS do not like nitrate above 10 ppm, in my experience.

I suggest some big water changes until nitrate is under control. You will always have to do frequent water changes until you add a sump and refugium, to remove the nitrates.

 

[Rmckoy]

Not that I recall. Last alk test was 440 or so

What unit of measurement is 440 ?
If it’s ppm converted to dkh it’s over 24
Im
Assuming it’s not correct

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Totally agree with posts your nutrient levels are high. I can reply on many of the posts since I went thru similar situation(s) in my 75g with high Po3 & No3 causing coral bleaching.

1) Also only running HOB filters. Large one: Bonded/polishing pads, carbon and UV light. Smaller: Chem-Pure Blue, PhosGuard, and some bonded. Change HOB filter pads weekly at minimum. Rec. 2x week until parameters are under control. Without you have a nutrient trap if not changed enough.

2) Dump API test kits. Not accurate enough to understand parameters for corals.
Po3 API= 0 to < .25 vs Hanna .3
No3 API=10 vs NYOS 65. (Both high but been bringing down)

3) You’re doing many water changes to try and remove nutrients. Nobody noted you must also vacuum if you’re not. WC without vacuuming will not remove enough nutrients out of the water column.

4) Add a HOB protein skimmer. Night & day after adding one. You will be surprised the amount of crud you will pull out.