ZERO water changes and skimming!

[Saltwater gardens]

For the past two years I've been running my system without any water changes nor skimming the water. The reason I decided to try this "method" is because I want to keep it as natural as posible, with the goal of growing corals at the lowest cost. It has no been easy, much less in the beginning (dealing with Bryopsis sp., and bubble algae), but two years from now I have sucesfully remove Bryopsis sp. and the bubble algae is almost gone. I think this was due to I never tested for NO3 and PO4 until march of 2016, and the tank was setup on june 2014. Because my knowledge was very little on how important NO3 are for corals, without them they cant photosynthesize. And since then I have only lost two species of coral, Clavularia sp. (Green) and one type of Zoanthus sp. (Orange one), and every new SPS I introuced it pales within two weeks, until now, that they are getting back the colors because of all the little adjustments I made after I tested for NO3 and PO3.


I would like to hear your views on how I could increase growth and coloration of my corals, thanks!

Tank specifications
-Dimension 180 cm x 60 cm x 30 cm
-Volume: 420 l (Tank + sump)
-Water movement: return pump of 2500 L/H with flow eductor and one powehead of 1500 L/H
-Lighting: Radion Pro and 150 watt M.H.
-Fish: Yellow tang

Tank parameters (last checked May 21/2016)
-KH 7.2
-Ca 440 ppm
-Mg 1400 ppm
-NO3 0 ppm
-PO4 0 ppm
-SG 1.025
-Temperature 27 - 25.5

Dosing (starting in march 2016)
-Seachem Phytoplankton = 50 ml per month
-Seachem Zooplankton = 50 ml per month
-Seachem Reefplus = 200 ml per month

Filtration system (current)
-500 g of Seachem Matrix
-4 mangroves (Rhizophora mangle)
-Sock (That I clean every 20 days)
-32 pounds of live rock

Filtration system (old)
-8 mangroves(Rhizophora mangle)
-Sock (That I clean every 7 days)
-32 pounds of live rock
-Remove all the sediment during the week

 

[glb]

I would change the filter sock a little more often. Any reason you don't do water changes or skim? And I'm very impressed that your no3 and po4 are 0. How did you do it?

 

[ZoaReefer]

Your stony coral will grow faster if you bump your KH up a little.

 

[CodyRVA]

I dig the minimalistic approach. That being said, there's nothing unnatural about the function of a skimmer. I would not change your socks more frequently if you're already at 0 NO3 & PO4, you'll just drive your nutrients down further. You would likely get more growth if you had a higher bio load, but you're in a very delicate situation; your filtration is minimal so you'd have to up your bio load very slowly to avoid algae issues, possibly with increased feeding vs more fish. I think a major factor to you're success is only having one fish in 100+ gallons of water. +1 on raising the ALK.

 

[twilliard]

As stated no3 is needed
I would bring that up to detectable levels and use triton ICP to watch your po4

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

1. Get rid of the seachem foods (get nutricell and other planktonics)
2. Get dosers
3. Setup red sea reef care system
4. Get rid of filter socks


I'm a big believer anymore in supporting the lowest lifeforms with food their size, then the critters feed the bigger critters mostly. Once this is going you can add a lot of food without issue. And I would definitely get up off of zero no3/po4. That's why they're paling.

 

[Tahoe61]

And here comes the dreaded question: May we please see an image of the tank if able?

 

[Saltwater gardens]

I would change the filter sock a little more often. Any reason you don't do water changes or skim? And I'm very impressed that your no3 and po4 are 0. How did you do it?

The reason that currently I'am not changing the filter sock more often is because I want to bring up my NO3. I dont skim, beacuse you can also remove the aminoacids and other carbohydrates that you are adding. And with water changes, I simply dont have the time because I dont live in the same city where my tank is, I live in Cancun but study in Merida.

 

[Saltwater gardens]

I dig the minimalistic approach. That being said, there's nothing unnatural about the function of a skimmer. I would not change your socks more frequently if you're already at 0 NO3 & PO4, you'll just drive your nutrients down further. You would likely get more growth if you had a higher bio load, but you're in a very delicate situation; your filtration is minimal so you'd have to up your bio load very slowly to avoid algae issues, possibly with increased feeding vs more fish. I think a major factor to you're success is only having one fish in 100+ gallons of water. +1 on raising the ALK.

But when you skim the water you can also remove aminoacids and carbohydrates, right? The skimmer doesnt tell the difference in what to take out and what not. As my summer holidays start this weekend I'll start putting more fish, and watch how my NO3 and PO4 react.

And what ALK do you recommend?

 

[KorL]

any fish in the system?

 

[Saltwater gardens]

1. Get rid of the seachem foods (get nutricell and other planktonics)
2. Get dosers
3. Setup red sea reef care system
4. Get rid of filter socks


I'm a big believer anymore in supporting the lowest lifeforms with food their size, then the critters feed the bigger critters mostly. Once this is going you can add a lot of food without issue. And I would definitely get up off of zero no3/po4. That's why they're paling.

In your opinion what are the pros of getting rid of filter socks? Since they are my only mechanic filtration to remove sediments or food waste.

I have a Jebao dosing pump to add Ca, ALK, and both of seachem plankton aditives. This is my first time using these products, then Iam not sure if they actually work. But I will try to get another type of food, like nutricell as you mentioned above.

 

[Saltwater gardens]

any fish in the system?

One yellow tang

 

[Saltwater gardens]

And here comes the dreaded question: May we please see an image of the tank if able?

Sure, these are some pics, on the week I'll try to upload some of the filtration system that have.

 

[Tahoe61]

Yes, they do look pale, I would look into increasing the nitrate levels just a tad. You could also try some Acorpower, Spongepower. With an N/P I would not bump up the alk though, you obviously currently have an ULNS (ultra low nutrient system).

You could also just add more fish and increase the feedings.