30 Gallon SPS Reef Build
- Thread starter lubeck
- Start date
sweatervest13
Active Member
lubeck
Active Member
I think my corals like dirty water! Well its been a little over a week since I stopped carbon dosing My trates have gone up to 5 and phosphates to .03. I've noticed very subtle color change on my strawberry shortcake frag and a few others. I am at a point where I think my tank is/was too clean!!?!? I have cut back my water changes tO 7 gal instead of 15 gal. I still think its too early to really tell but I think my water was lacking the food/waste/bacteria the corals needed. What has me somewhat perplexed is that I found a new fish store today and couldn't help myself in buying the new aqua vitro salt and a vibrant green acro. I tested their water for phosphate and it was 3.00. I crapped my pants and couldn't believe it. I didn't test for trates because I knew they would be high. I didn't ask how long the frags were in the frag tank but I could tell it wasnt recently put in.
I finally found a test kit for iodine/potassium and should get it in a few days. My guess is my water is too clean and will give it another two weeks to see if the corals color up after doing smaller wc and increased feedings to keep my trates and phos at a low level but not zero.
Any thoughts?
I finally found a test kit for iodine/potassium and should get it in a few days. My guess is my water is too clean and will give it another two weeks to see if the corals color up after doing smaller wc and increased feedings to keep my trates and phos at a low level but not zero.
Any thoughts?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lubeck http:///t/387844/30-gallon-sps-reef-build/200#post_3483858
I think my corals like dirty water! Well its been a little over a week since I stopped carbon dosing My trates have gone up to 5 and phosphates to .03. I've noticed very subtle color change on my strawberry shortcake frag and a few others. I am at a point where I think my tank is/was too clean!!?!? I have cut back my water changes tO 7 gal instead of 15 gal. I still think its too early to really tell but I think my water was lacking the food/waste/bacteria the corals needed. What has me somewhat perplexed is that I found a new fish store today and couldn't help myself in buying the new aqua vitro salt and a vibrant green acro. I tested their water for phosphate and it was 3.00. I crapped my pants and couldn't believe it. I didn't test for trates because I knew they would be high. I didn't ask how long the frags were in the frag tank but I could tell it wasnt recently put in.
I finally found a test kit for iodine/potassium and should get it in a few days. My guess is my water is too clean and will give it another two weeks to see if the corals color up after doing smaller wc and increased feedings to keep my trates and phos at a low level but not zero.
Any thoughts?
The SPS need really pristine water while Kenya trees, and Xenia for example love nitrates. When I had my reef tank, certain coral would thrive and some had no chance...I had a Pogoda cup, it needed cooler water, it was doomed in my 84 degree tank. Once I figured out what was happiest in my system and where to place the coral to keep it even happier...I was happier. There is no way to keep every type of coral in the same tank...So I picked a favorite type, and kept that.
Originally Posted by Lubeck http:///t/387844/30-gallon-sps-reef-build/200#post_3483858
I think my corals like dirty water! Well its been a little over a week since I stopped carbon dosing My trates have gone up to 5 and phosphates to .03. I've noticed very subtle color change on my strawberry shortcake frag and a few others. I am at a point where I think my tank is/was too clean!!?!? I have cut back my water changes tO 7 gal instead of 15 gal. I still think its too early to really tell but I think my water was lacking the food/waste/bacteria the corals needed. What has me somewhat perplexed is that I found a new fish store today and couldn't help myself in buying the new aqua vitro salt and a vibrant green acro. I tested their water for phosphate and it was 3.00. I crapped my pants and couldn't believe it. I didn't test for trates because I knew they would be high. I didn't ask how long the frags were in the frag tank but I could tell it wasnt recently put in.
I finally found a test kit for iodine/potassium and should get it in a few days. My guess is my water is too clean and will give it another two weeks to see if the corals color up after doing smaller wc and increased feedings to keep my trates and phos at a low level but not zero.
Any thoughts?
The SPS need really pristine water while Kenya trees, and Xenia for example love nitrates. When I had my reef tank, certain coral would thrive and some had no chance...I had a Pogoda cup, it needed cooler water, it was doomed in my 84 degree tank. Once I figured out what was happiest in my system and where to place the coral to keep it even happier...I was happier. There is no way to keep every type of coral in the same tank...So I picked a favorite type, and kept that.
lubeck
Active Member
The goal here is still to find out what is causing the corals colors to " wash out". I don't know and have not ruled out that it's from carbon dosing. That is still my first step and will see. Next will be if I'm lacking certain color enhancing nutrients like potassium iron and iodine then I will look at the lighting.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Alright, ,.....
What are you using to dose ca, alk and mg? How much and what method are you using? Where are you dosing? Do you know if your alk and pH are swinging on a daily basis or they remain pretty constant?
What is your temp set at? Does it swing?
Is any of your sand clumping up?
Have you added any live sand from someone elses tank?
Have you ever sent your water off to be tested by a lab?
Do you have any brass fittings anywhere in your system or anywhere that touches saltwater or fresh water?
Have you ran any poly pads to determine if it is heavy metals in the system?
What are you using to dose ca, alk and mg? How much and what method are you using? Where are you dosing? Do you know if your alk and pH are swinging on a daily basis or they remain pretty constant?
What is your temp set at? Does it swing?
Is any of your sand clumping up?
Have you added any live sand from someone elses tank?
Have you ever sent your water off to be tested by a lab?
Do you have any brass fittings anywhere in your system or anywhere that touches saltwater or fresh water?
Have you ran any poly pads to determine if it is heavy metals in the system?
lubeck
Active Member
Alright, ,.....
What are you using to dose ca, alk and mg? Bionic.
How much and what method are you using? 30 in the morning 30 ml at night mag is 30ml in morning
Where are you dosing? Mag and calcium in sump. Alk in dt by mp10.
Do you know if your alk and pH are swinging on a daily basis or they remain pretty constant? Constant
What is your temp set at? Does it swing? 80.4-81.3 but steady
Is any of your sand clumping up? no
Have you added any live sand from someone elses tank? no
Have you ever sent your water off to be tested by a lab? No. Who would do that?
Do you have any brass fittings anywhere in your system or anywhere that touches saltwater or fresh water? No brass to my knowledge
Have you ran any poly pads to determine if it is heavy metals in the system? what is a poly pad exactly? Is that different than a sock? How do you indicate whether there are heavy metals
What are you using to dose ca, alk and mg? Bionic.
How much and what method are you using? 30 in the morning 30 ml at night mag is 30ml in morning
Where are you dosing? Mag and calcium in sump. Alk in dt by mp10.
Do you know if your alk and pH are swinging on a daily basis or they remain pretty constant? Constant
What is your temp set at? Does it swing? 80.4-81.3 but steady
Is any of your sand clumping up? no
Have you added any live sand from someone elses tank? no
Have you ever sent your water off to be tested by a lab? No. Who would do that?
Do you have any brass fittings anywhere in your system or anywhere that touches saltwater or fresh water? No brass to my knowledge
Have you ran any poly pads to determine if it is heavy metals in the system? what is a poly pad exactly? Is that different than a sock? How do you indicate whether there are heavy metals
S
smallreef
Guest
a poly pad is a specialized pad that will change color when water with heavy metals is run over it....
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
delete this post.