Browning coral problem and effectiveness of fauna Marin.

Zacktosterone

Zacktosterone

Active member
I have an Sp's dominated system that's about a year old. I've had some trouble with pink coral since day 1 and some of my greens.

I do regular 20% waterchanges and use kalk
My parameters are usually a stable ; 1450 mag
mag, 9.4 alk, and 440 calc.

I run 1 cup of gfo and 1 cup of carbon all month in 2 mr1 nextreef reactors.

I'm switching from kalk to 2-part this week and I'm wondering if I should try the balling method as well.

I'm not sure what my phosphates and nitrates are right now but I'll know by Friday and let you folks know so I can finally get things underway.
 
are they new wild colonies? pinks can be brought out with potassium, have you tested that? green can be brought out with iron supps. but before that you need to know no3 and po4 values
 
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The problem with fauna marin products is: It make it too easy to keep sps. Just kidding but seriously I think they make the best reef products on the market.
 
Spslvr said:
are they new wild colonies? pinks can be brought out with potassium, have you tested that? green can be brought out with iron supps. but before that you need to know no3 and po4 values
Click to expand...

I'll know by saturday

toothman said:
The problem with fauna marin products is: It make it too easy to keep sps. Just kidding but seriously I think they make the best reef products on the market.
Click to expand...

Well in that case, sign me up
 
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Zack, I think the GAC and GFO are pulling out too much...be it trace elements or organics or other stuff.

I would switch to running it passively or non at all; and only run GAC 3-4 days a month to clear yellowing in the water. With respect to GFO, I wouldnt even run it unless the PO4 level was higher an 0.1ppm.

Do that and carry out water changes regularly to balance the water chemistry. Up the feeding and keep an eye on the PO4, as long as it isnt going crazy, you will be fine.
I've posted in some of your threads; and it looks like you switched lighting technologies several times now...I think the issue is that you are running your system too clean and possibly striping out essential trace elements or other essential components.
 
sahin said:
Zack, I think the GAC and GFO are pulling out too much...be it trace elements or organics or other stuff.

I would switch to running it passively or non at all; and only run GAC 3-4 days a month to clear yellowing in the water. With respect to GFO, I wouldnt even run it unless the PO4 level was higher an 0.1ppm.

Do that and carry out water changes regularly to balance the water chemistry. Up the feeding and keep an eye on the PO4, as long as it isnt going crazy, you will be fine.
I've posted in some of your threads; and it looks like you switched lighting technologies several times now...I think the issue is that you are running your system too clean and possibly striping out essential trace elements or other essential components.
Click to expand...


Im staying with metal halide. And as soon as I get rid of gfo I have a spike in algae growth. Almost immediately. It isn't huge but it's there.I'll test my water fir NO3 nd p04 and go from there
 
Zacktosterone said:
Im staying with metal halide. And as soon as I get rid of gfo I have a spike in algae growth. Almost immediately. It isn't huge but it's there.I'll test my water fir NO3 nd p04 and go from there
Click to expand...

OK. Light selection is fine.

GFO. I believe as reefkeepers we have become too accustomed to using this stuff.

Which sort of algae do you get? Hair algae? Its because your system hasnt really matured biologically, and instead is relying on chemical use to sustain the filtration. Slowly, over months, wean off your system of off GFO. Boost up the CUC.

Feed tank well. Carry out weekly 15% w/c and see where things are after 2-3 months.
 
sahin said:
OK. Light selection is fine.

GFO. I believe as reefkeepers we have become too accustomed to using this stuff.

Which sort of algae do you get? Hair algae? Its because your system hasnt really matured biologically, and instead is relying on chemical use to sustain the filtration. Slowly, over months, wean off your system of off GFO. Boost up the CUC.

Feed tank well. Carry out weekly 15% w/c and see where things are after 2-3 months.
Click to expand...

Im using a cup of gfo now. I can probably go with half a cup next month and watch it.

As fir the algae, I get a small amount of hair on the powerheads and glass. Nothing on the rocks. There's a small amount of turf algae on the power heads as well.

How much carbon? I'm running a cup of rox
 
Zacktosterone said:
Im using a cup of gfo now. I can probably go with half a cup next month and watch it.

As fir the algae, I get a small amount of hair on the powerheads and glass. Nothing on the rocks. There's a small amount of turf algae on the power heads as well.

How much carbon? I'm running a cup of rox
Click to expand...

Cut both the GAC and GFO to 1/3 of a cup. Start carrying out larger water changes per week if at all possible. Eg if doing 10% do at least 15% or 20% if possible.

Get a powerheads out the tank and placed it in a 1/2 bucket of vinegar. Maybe scrub as much of the algae off as possible first, then leave soaking for a few hours. Then scrub them clean with a stiff brush. Rinse/wash properly under tap and return to tank.

Do the same on all of the pumps.

Eventually try and cut out GFO completely and to run GAc only 3-4 days per month to remove any yellowing in the water.

In the meantime, feed your fish at least 2-3 times a day with different foods.
 
Kaman8 said:
I'm using fauna Marin balling and have great result with it. You can check out my tank thread.
Click to expand...

I also use the Fauna Marin Balling as well as weekly trace element dosing with their FM Color Elements & seem to get ok results.
 
OK so the results are in.

Hanna phosphate. 04ppm
Salifert nitrate 25.0 ppm

So maybe it's nitrates? I'll do a large water change tomorrow and re-test on sunday
 
SUCCESS

So I've reduced the nitrates and 99% of my coral has coloured up. So good news! I'm still having trouble with pinks so I'm just going to play the waiting game for now. In the time I've posted last I've done 5 25% water changes and started dosing vinigar so my nitrates are now between 2-5 ppm
 
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