Hello,
Yes, you can thank my lfs for causing me chaos. They originally told me that most people prefer a mixed reef, it was harder but ideal. Now they say it’s not a good thing to have a mixed reef like I have. (Could they have made their mind up any later?)
I have noticed that some of my acros do really really well, and others great for awhile then just crash and burn. Figuring out why or what seems to be the issue. Specially when other acros are not even affected, or just some acans or some softies or who knows what (pick one on any given day). 90% of the time the tank does fine, other times it drives me where I lose the plot. Then after I have lost the plot I end up being labeled a daft cow).
So from what I have gathered acros love tons of flow which I have, but do not like it to be direct flow. I ask this because again in two spots, everything around them grows, great, but always those two spots. One again is in front of my left return pump nozzle, and other is the top wave maker. Since moving them, I have seen better polyp extension from those ones that look rough.
However also, I don’t really feed my acros or corals. Yes I feed pretty good to my fish, but they gobble it all up. My nitrates are close to 2-5ppm now all the time and phosphates pretty much undetectable and I average 7-8 on my alk, and cal is at 440-450, and Mag is 1450, and salt is 1.025. So I have had a few times where for example my nephew topped off with salt instead of ro and wow that was painful. The other was when I had a small alk swing from 7-8 to 6. But, what’s odd is the only corals that died were the ones in that flow section. In addition I also (when I dose) i pour it directly into the return pump section. So maybe them getting blasted by the return pumps (with the dosage in is causing it). I can’t say it’s lights simple because my Maximus clam that takes way more light is doing amazing. Plus other higher light sps corals are doing just fine.
But for another example my pc rainbow, was doing amazing, it then started to go south, the tissue looked ripped off. I fragged a piece before it was too bad. That piece is doing great but it’s in the same spot but not directly in the flow, and no issues. The other one however is struggling still, and I have moved the wave maker.
In terms of my 425 it’s Being shipped to me at the end of this month it’s finally competed yay. However, I have been so busy with work that I can’t even comb my hair. I’m not certain what I’ll do to be honest. I was going to have two tanks and the 425 be sps only. With my schedule it’s hard because I come home on my food breaks to dose and top my tank off now. The money per say isn’t such an issue it’s the time deduction. Plus if I move my 240, I have a whole set of other problems. I don’t want stress my system now, the corals or fish. I can’t use any of my live rock now or sand because that new tank will need to cycle. So even if I have one tank how am I gonna move my corals? It’s not like they are still confined to a plug, then have taken over their rocks as a whole. What use to be four rocks is now well one lol.
So more than likely I will pause on my 425 just until I have somewhat of a life again.
