Shane’s Reef
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- Joined
- Oct 8, 2019
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Around 1 year ago I decided to try and convert/ move my 150 gallon mixed reef tank to an ultra low nutrient system. I slowly removed the sand bed without ill effects. I had been using chemipure/ or brs gfo with carbon and continued to do so. I used ESV for alk mg ca. I also added an aquamaxx oversized skimmer. But this didn’t help lower my moderate high level of nitrates or phosphates. Which my LPS, Softies and Montiporas tolerated but SPS frags did not.
So I began the Red Sea Program using there calc, alk and mg as well as NOPOX. This quickly reduced my nitrates and phosphate to 0/0 respectively. And I began dosing Red Sea Nutrition program. My corals look great and I am growing acro and other SPS frags successfully.
But, I have had recurrent problems with gha. When I treat the gha according to instructions, GHA goes away and I then have dinoflagellate breakouts, followed by GHA regrowth. This has repeated several times over last 5 months. It’s like my tank is in a repetitive cycling process. But ammonia, nitrite are 0, phosphates and nitrate are managed with NOPOX . At least that what my test kits say.
My concern has turned to my live rock. It beautiful rock with yellow and lavender sponge and small feather dusters. So I am reluctant to replace but I am really tired of battling gha and dinoflagellates.
To avoid ?s my chemistry is well managed , my lights are AI Hydras blues 100%, UV and violet 70% cool white 18%, BRS RODi water with Red Sea Coral Pro salt. 3 Jaebo wave makers moving water. 2 clowns 3 damsels 1 sail fin tang 2 mandarin dragonets.
*Is it possible my old rock (in tank 10plus years) is full of nutrients and being used by algae despite NOPOX dosing?
* Is live rock even needed could I do more with types of biological filter - zeolites/ biopellet reactor, bricks etc?
* Considering putting my “old pretty rock” in a system with just LPS and softies , and restarting this tank up with fresh or artificial rock. Suggestions?
* is starting an ULNS best started from scratch? (I’m thinking yes)
Thanks in advance for your suggestions,
Shane
So I began the Red Sea Program using there calc, alk and mg as well as NOPOX. This quickly reduced my nitrates and phosphate to 0/0 respectively. And I began dosing Red Sea Nutrition program. My corals look great and I am growing acro and other SPS frags successfully.
But, I have had recurrent problems with gha. When I treat the gha according to instructions, GHA goes away and I then have dinoflagellate breakouts, followed by GHA regrowth. This has repeated several times over last 5 months. It’s like my tank is in a repetitive cycling process. But ammonia, nitrite are 0, phosphates and nitrate are managed with NOPOX . At least that what my test kits say.
My concern has turned to my live rock. It beautiful rock with yellow and lavender sponge and small feather dusters. So I am reluctant to replace but I am really tired of battling gha and dinoflagellates.
To avoid ?s my chemistry is well managed , my lights are AI Hydras blues 100%, UV and violet 70% cool white 18%, BRS RODi water with Red Sea Coral Pro salt. 3 Jaebo wave makers moving water. 2 clowns 3 damsels 1 sail fin tang 2 mandarin dragonets.
*Is it possible my old rock (in tank 10plus years) is full of nutrients and being used by algae despite NOPOX dosing?
* Is live rock even needed could I do more with types of biological filter - zeolites/ biopellet reactor, bricks etc?
* Considering putting my “old pretty rock” in a system with just LPS and softies , and restarting this tank up with fresh or artificial rock. Suggestions?
* is starting an ULNS best started from scratch? (I’m thinking yes)
Thanks in advance for your suggestions,
Shane
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