Wait out the wave or am I missing something?

[homer1475]

Sound plan, but why change salts?

 

[ErinD]

Sound plan, but why change salts?

I've read that the standard IO has high alkalinity - just trying to take out factors that may throw wrenches in.

 

[homer1475]

And RC is even higher.

 

[jurgenph]

Likely still in cycle (4 weeks old)
Dead rock and live sand to start with nitrifying bacteria

Ammonia: .5ppm
Nitrite: 2ppm

Dosing: 2ml NOPOX at beginning of brown algae bloom (day 5 of dosing).

Set up RO/DI last night. Did 10% water change (2 days early) with RO/DI water (4.5 gallons) dosed at that time.

why are you dosing nopox in a tank that is still cycling?

SLOW down, stop stocking corals and fish in a tank that's still cycling.
your started out with dry rock, this will need some time to find it's groove.

let things get ugly, there's no quick fix for this.

did you start the tank with tapwater? as you just installed your RODI?


J.

 

[W1ngz]

Sounds like you have this under control. The likely cause was too much livestock, too fast and too soon, in a barely (or not finished) cycled tank. I'd slow that down to never more than 1 fish every 2 weeks, but push yourself to quarantine them and then you'll be sure to have at least 30 days if not 45 between additions. Teach yourself to take it slow, and that results (and not always positive) can sometimes take a few weeks to be obvious.

Nopox isn't the worst thing you could have done, but also be wary that there's a magic bottle of fix-it stuff for any problem. It's easy to walk into a store and ask them to sell you stuff, but long term it's worthwhile to understand the what, why and how so you can manipulate the system gently, without pouring bottles of cure-all which often have other consequences.

Expect all manner of alages for a few months. Your best bet is manual removal and water changes along with regular testing. As things mature the stuff you want begins to outcompete the stuff you don't.

 

[ErinD]

why are you dosing nopox in a tank that is still cycling?

SLOW down, stop stocking corals and fish in a tank that's still cycling.
your started out with dry rock, this will need some time to find it's groove.

let things get ugly, there's no quick fix for this.

did you start the tank with tapwater? as you just installed your RODI?


J.

The accurate question is "Why WAS I dosing NOPOX" the answer is "because my LPS told me to." I've stopped dosing and, as you can see, haven't added anything since the levels went erratic.

 

[ErinD]

And RC is even higher.

Then, to be honest, I'm not sure.