What am I doing wrong? What should I change

[Newbie1]

Hi, I have been in this hobby for approx two years. I have a 70 gal MD, 20 gal sump and a 10 gal refugium. Water flows down into a sock, goes to the other chamber into the algae scrubber then into the other chamber where it’s going through two media reactors (gfo & carbon). Then gets pumped back into the md & the new refug. I had culerpa and it went sexual and at the time (yesterday I learned that is bad). I pulled it out and now placed chateo inside it. Over it is a fluval marine sea led light. I want to change it to a HD kinda of light and put it on a timer so it kicks on when my Kessill turns off at night. Please let me know what you think I can change or what I’m doing wrong that you would do differently.... These numbers aren’t very good and since I have pulled out all culerpa did a 20% year Water change.
Parameters

• Dkh - 7.8 showed .56 left out of 1.00) Red Sea
• Calcium - 400 (showed 2 left out of 1.00) Red Sea
• Salinity -1.026 (Apex says 41.9) (Hydrometer )
• Phosphate - .46 (Hanna)
• Magnesium - 1480 (showed .25 left out of 1.00) Red Sea
• Nitrate - 20 PPM (API Marine) (Impossible to read color)
• Orp- 354
• PH - 8.04
• Temperature - 79.7

Reading taking 11/12/20 2335hours

 

[InvaderJim]

What are you looking to improve specifically? I think your display tank looks good.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Your tank looks good, what's the problem?

 

[Newbie1]

So two things specifically, what should be the flow rate in the refugium that is suppose to tumble the chateo? Bc right now it’s just setting against the wall. Also am I suppose to run gfo and the refugium? And what kind of light are you using for your fug? And I’m ultimately trying to bring my phosphate down. But it seems like it’s impossible.

 

[George81]

Did I unlock all the phosphate from 100#s of live rock?

Hi, @Randy Holmes-Farley Several months ago I did a tank clean up. I pulled all the rocks one by one, soaked them in straight vinegar for at least 15-20 minutes, washed, rinsed, and put back into the reef. My question, is it possible that at 2.5ph, the vinegar has unbound phosphate from my...

www.reef2reef.com

read that thread. Lanthanum chloride will help bring phosphates down. I use phosphate e.

I use an amazon grow led grow light that was 40$ish
i run gfo with my fuge.
my macro doesn’t tumble either.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Did I unlock all the phosphate from 100#s of live rock?

Hi, @Randy Holmes-Farley Several months ago I did a tank clean up. I pulled all the rocks one by one, soaked them in straight vinegar for at least 15-20 minutes, washed, rinsed, and put back into the reef. My question, is it possible that at 2.5ph, the vinegar has unbound phosphate from my...

www.reef2reef.com

read that thread. Lanthanum chloride will help bring phosphates down. I use phosphate e.

I use an amazon grow led grow light that was 40$ish
i run gfo with my fuge.
my macro doesn’t tumble either.

^exactly my thoughts. But be careful with bringing the Po4 down. Going too fast will hurt your corals. How come you want to bring it down? Algae issues?

 

[MarshallB]

So two things specifically, what should be the flow rate in the refugium that is suppose to tumble the chateo? Bc right now it’s just setting against the wall. Also am I suppose to run gfo and the refugium? And what kind of light are you using for your fug? And I’m ultimately trying to bring my phosphate down. But it seems like it’s impossible.

It doesn't need to. If it's not tumbling you will just have to turn it every few days to make sure it doesn't develop dead spots.

 

[Twoddler]

My chaeto dos nt tumble either, and I use a Amazon £30 grow light, get good growth

 

[ThePurple12]

Plus 1, chaeto doesn't need to tumble at all.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If its running good as it appears to be- why change it.
My car is running great. I have no reason to tune it up

 

[Newbie1]

Ok, soooooo maybe I have allowed my head to “WANT” to chase the numbers. It’s just I want to ensure I’m growing everything to its maximum potential.

 

[GaryE]

I did that. It's more trouble than it's worth. Frankly, I haven't checked my parameters in 3 months. I dose 15ml of All For Reef every morning and keep my temperature and water level steady and everything seems happy and growing.

I have an unhappy torch, but I believe it's due to flow..

 

[masna]

Did you say phosphate? Some people let it ride (managing it is of course important, but stability is king hence why you've gotta be careful with lanthanum chloride!).

Check out this MACNA video RE: the topic of phosphates from Richard Ross

What’s up with phosphate? by Richard Ross

What's up with phosphate? by Richard Ross

macna.org

 

[MarshallB]

Ok, soooooo maybe I have allowed my head to “WANT” to chase the numbers. It’s just I want to ensure I’m growing everything to its maximum potential.

Yeah I don't see chasing numbers as an inherently bad thing. However, give yourself a range instead of a bullseye.

 

[Uncle99]

A .46 phosphate would certainly be on the higher end and may lead to slow stoney growth.
I would think 0.03 - .1 would be a better level

 

[Newbie1]

A .46 phosphate would certainly be on the higher end and may lead to slow stoney growth.
I would think 0.03 - .1 would be a better level

Yes, I agree.... I’m saying it almost doubled and I’m asking how I can drop it. You see what I’m running.... what would you suggest?

 

[MarshallB]

Yes, I agree.... I’m saying it almost doubled and I’m asking how I can drop it. You see what I’m running.... what would you suggest?

The chaeto will consume it, granted it will take some time. Once it takes off you most likely will never need to worry about it. Are you leaving the refug light on 24/7?

 

[Newbie1]

I was not, was running on same schedule as my MD. But I’m going to flip flop the time to maintainPH. But what light can I get on Amazon that will make my chateo grow like weeds. (Don’t want to spend hundred, but want one people get from hd & Lowe’s.

 

[Anubisxii]

I got this one. Thing is a beast.

 

[Newbie1]

Ok this is what I got going on. Please be brutally honest about what’s going on here. So what’s over the tank is a fluval marine sea with red,purple on 100% everything else 0%. And the. I have that bring plant growing light on top. Is the a huge bad idea? Could work? Or what would you change? I currently have it going from 7p to 7a. This is the first night of this trial run. Get rid of one? Both? And just get what you guys suggested?