Wheres the complaint department?

[Silverdot1211]

I had one acro like 6-8 months ago and it died right away and at the time didn't really care just chalked it upto newbie tank and user. The latest death floors me. The first picture was taken Feb 8 the day I put it in the tank. The second picture you can see good outward growth and that was taken March 17.

 

[ZoWhat]

You say phosphates measure near zero... how about nitrates?
if nitrates are also at 0.0, then there is your answer.

I'm 15yrs straight into my reef. Took awhile to figure out that to keep coral and grow them successfully.... one needs to master the import/export of your system by keeping phosphates and nitrates stable at under 0.05 and 5-10 respectively.

If you don't have a method of stabilizing po4 and no3, youre just making coral vendors rich in buying corals upon corals to keep your tank stocked.

Po4 and no3 are both necessary but deadly compounds that you must master a balance.

Read and research....

 

[gbroadbridge]

I'm 15yrs straight into my reef. Took awhile to figure out that to keep coral and grow them successfully.... one needs to master the import/export of your system by keeping phosphates and nitrates stable at under 0.05 and 5-10

If you don't have a method of stabilizing po4 and no3, your just making coral vendors rich in buying corals upon corals.

^^^^ Yes indeed. One little Phosphate or Nitrate twitch and you can see a problem 4-8 weeks down the track when you've forgotten all about the twitch. Keeping a detailed log helps solve those little mysteries.

 

[The Farmer]

For the test kits, I don’t think salifert test kits are that much more expensive then api. I might be wrong

 

[Silverdot1211]

@zoa what I totally agree and I will admit I struggled alot at first with import/export. I will admit I do struggle a little with cheato and I am tempted to switch to something slower growing that won't strip all nutrients so quickly but am afraid of the spike that may come.

 

[Unitylover]

@zoa what I totally agree and I will admit I struggled alot at first with import/export. I will admit I do struggle a little with cheato and I am tempted to switch to something slower growing that won't strip all nutrients so quickly but am afraid of the spike that may come.

maybe try to slowly take out cheato, every day, until its gone

 

[Silverdot1211]

So I just recieved all my tests today and just got done doing all these like 10 min ago.

Temp 77
Salinity 1.024
Nyos nitrate 0
Hanna alk 11.8 dKH
Hanna phosphate ULR 0.01
Salifert MG .14 1290ppm
Salifert calcium .06 470ppm
Red sea calcium pro 420ppm

So aside from the salinity being low it appears my water is to clean? Do I stop the skimmer or pull the cheato first? Instead of pulling the cheato can I reduce the time the refugium light is on or put the skimmer on a timer?

Open to opinions and options...

 

[elysics]

So I just recieved all my tests today and just got done doing all these like 10 min ago.

Temp 77
Salinity 1.024
Nyos nitrate 0
Hanna alk 11.8 dKH
Hanna phosphate ULR 0.01
Salifert MG .14 1290ppm
Salifert calcium .06 470ppm
Red sea calcium pro 420ppm

So aside from the salinity being low it appears my water is to clean? Do I stop the skimmer or pull the cheato first? Instead of pulling the cheato can I reduce the time the refugium light is on or put the skimmer on a timer?

Open to opinions and options...

You have got a combination there that is rather deadly to acros in particular.

Very high (at the very end of the range of what is considered acceptable) alk and very low phosphate, that may or may not have grazed actual zero at some point. You either keep both high or both low, if alk is high and phosphate is low you get "tip burn" or outright death with acropora.

Is your alk rising over time? In that case you need to dose less AFR and dose something that just raises calcium additionally.

Regarding nitrate and phosphate, yeah, maybe start with cutting refugium lighting in half and feed a bit more. Don't put the skimmer on a timer

 

[Silverdot1211]

@elysics since dosing AFR it has gone up but some what leveled off now. I can certainly cut back on the AFR slowly.. I was kinda hoping if I had to dose that it would be more of a one and done and not have to much to worry about when it came to PH swings. Looks like I am coming back to the BRS 2 part idea.... Thanks for input. I already knocked 4hrs off the refug light schedule.

 

[Shirak]

@elysics since dosing AFR it has gone up but some what leveled off now. I can certainly cut back on the AFR slowly.. I was kinda hoping if I had to dose that it would be more of a one and done and not have to much to worry about when it came to PH swings. Looks like I am coming back to the BRS 2 part idea.... Thanks for input. I already knocked 4hrs off the refug light schedule.

Once you get the AFR dialed in it is very good at keeping things stable. Not sure what you mean by pH swings. I don't worry about pH and most don't either unless they are in a unusual situation with very high ambient CO2 levels. I know there is talk about keeping pH 8.3 but as long as it's around 8 or above your good and I wouldn't worry about it.

Your Ca and Alk are on the high side for your salinity level so I would cut back a little on the AFR and get the salinity up to 1.026 sg and then see where Ca and Alk settle at. Give the AFR a few days at the new dosing to let the tank adjust.

And get your nutrients up..Dropping the timer on the Refugium will help, you might need to reduce the amount of chaeto too if it's really packed in there.
as Elysics mentions. Really high Alk and really low nutrients and your Acros are likely to fry.

 

[Silverdot1211]

Once you get the AFR dialed in it is very good at keeping things stable. Not sure what you mean by pH swings. I don't worry about pH and most don't either unless they are in a unusual situation with very high ambient CO2 levels. I know there is talk about keeping pH 8.3 but as long as it's around 8 or above your good and I wouldn't worry about it.

Your Ca and Alk are on the high side for your salinity level so I would cut back a little on the AFR and get the salinity up to 1.026 sg and then see where Ca and Alk settle at. Give the AFR a few days at the new dosing to let the tank adjust.

And get your nutrients up..Dropping the timer on the Refugium will help, you might need to reduce the amount of chaeto too if it's really packed in there.
as Elysics mentions. Really high Alk and really low nutrients and your Acros are likely to fry.

Just finished a 25% water change hoping this drops some levels. I was able to get the salinity to 1.026. As said earlier the time was cut by like 6 hours. My chaeto has been about this size for like 2 weeks (garbage days are my days to clear it) I try to keep it like this or a little more. Also cut back my AFR a little bit. I figured I am already pushing the limit with what I have already done.

 

[Shirak]

Just finished a 25% water change hoping this drops some levels. I was able to get the salinity to 1.026. As said earlier the time was cut by like 6 hours. My chaeto has been about this size for like 2 weeks (garbage days are my days to clear it) I try to keep it like this or a little more. Also cut back my AFR a little bit. I figured I am already pushing the limit with what I have already done.

Sounds like a plan!