Algae is Gone, Nutrients are Low, Now What?

[Patrick Cox]

I started my 75G primarily SPS reef a little over 2 years ago and I have now come full circle with this tank and believe I am now in a position to move forward with a successful tank. However I am not sure what to do now. I started this tank with Dry Pukani rock and ran really too much ROX carbon and GFO to keep nutrients down and I basically starved my corals. Here is an early picture that shows how clean the tank was. Most of the corals in this picture have gone to Coral heaven.

Tank about 6 months in:

Here are some of my early starving corals:

With the help of many on this board, I realized what was going on and decided to stop running GFO and Carbon. I also added more fish. I started feeding my corals and feeding my fish more. And over maybe 6-9 months or so, my corals started to darken up and started to look better. Then, the algae came. I have been through green film algae and green hair algae and now the algae is finally gone and my tank and corals look pretty good.

Also during this time I changed salts and my corals seem much happier with the new salt (Reefer.) I was using Tropic Marin and it seems like the parameters were very inconsistent through the bucket. Also the Alk and Mag were very low.

So, here are current tank parameters and my current program:

75G - 36x24x20
Temp - 78
Salinity - 35 ppt
PH - 8.05
Alk - 8.6 (now pretty steady.)
CA - 440
Mag - 1280
Nitrate - 0.0
PO4 - 0.0

Equipment
ATI 4x39w T5 + 2x75W LED fixture. PAR values for SPS are currently in the range of 200-275 but I am gradually increasing my LED %. About 1% every other day.

2 MP40s running at about 50%.

Reef Octopus Skimmer for 80-130 Gallon Aquarium

I run Filter Socks on and off. Mostly after cleaning the tank and then I remove.

No GFO currently since PO4 is 0.0 but would run again if needed.

Fish
2 clowns
1 Cardinal
3 Flasher Wrasse
1 Yellow Assessor
1 Possum Wrasse

I do also have some small crabs and snails.

I feed fish once per day. I feed about 1/4-1/3 of a cube of Frozen Brine or Mysis shrimp.

Other
I dose ESV 2-part in dosing pumps.

I am dosing Bioptim and BioDigest every other week per instructions. I have been dosing this since January 4th.

I started Reefbooster (1 vial) every other week 3 weeks ago and have dosed twice (supposed to be every other week.)

I was dosing Algaefix Marine to get rid of Hair Algae but plan to stop now.

I perform a roughly 7 gallon water change weekly.

Current Pictures:

QUESTIONS:

So my main concern now is that I don't want to starve my corals again. I feel like I am really back where I started - low nutrient tank - only it is a more mature tank and I know enough to know that I need to take some measures to keep from starving my corals. So, how can/should I accomplish this?

Thanks!

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I'm in the same boat as you were. I started a new tank about 4 months ago with dry Pukani and ran GFO and Rox 0.8 at BRS recommended levels. My phosphates have been registering 0.00 (Hanna) since my tank started and my Nitrates run low, about 0.5. It took a lot of reading on this site, but I've come to the same conclusion that my SPS are starving. I'm getting ok growth in a few, but color on almost all of them is faded and look like your early pictures.

About 2 weeks ago I cut my GFO and Carbon in half and my last test this past weekend registered my first noticeable phosphates (0.02) and the same Nitrates. My next plan of action is to leave my 1/2 GFO and GAC in place and start dosing/feeding both AcroPower and Reef Chili.

My conclusion from my reading is that with new tanks, you need to feed the corals, especially those started with dry rock. Once the tank is fully established, a year or two down the road, fish poop is enough to sustain. I have 11 fish (albeit small) in my 80g and fish poop is not cutting it.

 

[ridetheducati]

Oyster feast.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Oyster feast.

How do I balance feeding corals vs feeding algae? I don't want to get back into that loop of too much nutrients creating algae growth. I have used Oyster Feast in the past along with more fish, more fish feeding, reef chili....etc. and that got me to algae taking over my tank.

Now at that time I was not dosing prodibio so maybe the extra bacteria in the tank will help with that but I am not sure.

Thanks.

 

[markalot]

Reef Roids is my favorite. You'll feed some algae, I say don't sweat it too much. Feed heavily, export frantically.

 

[lynchmob3000]

+1. Reef roids does the trick

 

[lynchmob3000]

I usually run a higher mag to combat algae growth. I like 1350+

 

[Oldude]

If it were me I'd just add some fish to increase the bioload a bit and skim dryer..

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

Maybe add a small tang or rabbitfish.

 

[trau_con]

what kind of salt u switch to?

 

[bogg]

I like to add pappone and some of
the Zeovit stuff
Coral vital
Pohls xtra
Sponge power

 

[Patrick Cox]

what kind of salt u switch to?

HW Marinemix Reefer salt...

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hw-marinemix-reefer-salt-mix.html

 

[Patrick Cox]

I usually run a higher mag to combat algae growth. I like 1350+

Does 1350 really work? I thought you needed much higher for holding back algae.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Maybe add a small tang or rabbitfish.

I will be upgrading to a 48" tank later in the year and once I do I will add one of these fish. I tried a small yellow tang last year and my clownfish pair about killed it. I had to return it to the LFS.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Reef Roids is my favorite. You'll feed some algae, I say don't sweat it too much. Feed heavily, export frantically.

+1. Reef roids does the trick

OK, I ordered some Reef Roids. How often do you feed and do you target feed or add to the water column? And if you target feed do you turn off all of your water circulation?

Thanks

 

[Cyberdude]

I cut out my gfo and carbon. Was in exactly the same boat as you. I now feed 2-3 times a day and start the day with a good heap of reef roids. On a 65 gallon. 9 fish and still no algae. I actually can't get it to grown anymore.

+1 on the higher mg levels. Keeps the algae away. It's squeaky clean. My poor turbos have nothing to eat.

About 8 months ago my tank was covered in 1 inch hair algae. I tried everything. A couple turbos, a fox face, an urchin, and mg around 1350. Took no time. You can't find algae even if you tried anymore lol. I now have to feed my clean up crew.

 

[Cyberdude]

Oh and my corals are starting to grow now that I removed the gfo.

 

[rovster]

Quit chasing your tail. Do nothing. Observe. Based on what you see tweak. If things are looking pale add more fish. If things get dark re-evaluate your feeding and maintenance. Quit messing with the tank. This is something I'm really starting to realize now. Also what is your cleanup crew? I think just enough algae to keep a modest sized clean up crew healthy is right where you want to be. My dos centavos....

 

[g0rilla]

is it just me or does the first bonsai valida look like it got bit by some aefw?

 

[rovster]

It sure does. Good eye!