Can I ask for some assistance on next steps??

[2FunKids]

Hi,

So my Tank is almost a year old and I think it is doing pretty well but not excellent. I am hoping someone can offer up some suggestions for me so I can take this hobby to the next step. I am going to write my thoughts down so maybe you guys/gals can help guide me in the right direction in case what I think is happening could be happening for a different reason.

I have a mixed reef, approx. 130-140 total gallons, 110 display with a 40g sump with a large deep sand bed, Vertex 200 skimmer, Chaeto macro, LED lights (Tao tt-al12 x 2), Apex (can view at reeftronics website (2funkids)). I dose vodka/vinegar and 2 part. Flow via Tunze 6105 and two Hydor Koralia power heads. I top off with ATO via Apex and always use RO/DI water via BRS unit. I also run Carbon and GFO.
I feed pellets 4x day with auto, I feed Mysis, and reef nutrition oyster feast and Phyto every few days.

Alk around 9
Ca 430
MG 1500
Nitrate, mostly 0 (red sea) but this is one thing I am working on
P04, steady .04 -.06, I think it's stalled here due to no nitrate
PH 7.75-8.1 depending on how closed up my house is.

So the symptoms are basically a sterile looking tank without much growth. My Bubble tips are stressed and Polyps are not spreading. Otherwise everything is looking ok. My cleanup crew is dwindling and I am contributing that to the lack of macro/nutrients in the tank or the Pistol shrimp I should never have put in there. All the existing Bubble Algae had died out along with the 10-15 visible Aspasia. Some SPS are thriving, some just seem to be staying the same or growing quite slowly. I recently switched from HO t5 to the led lights and am seeing a good increase In growth (1/2" of growth on my Birds nest SPS in 3 months with the new lighting and addition of Aspartic"¦more on that below.)

I test weekly using Red Sea kits and do 25-30g water changes each month using Reef crystals.

My assumed problem is that something is missing in the water, presumably Nitrate but I am not totally sure.

So far, to experiment and upon a recommendation, I started a small dose of Aspartic Acid at a rate of 1/8tsp/week via 100ml solution with some positive results including a small increase in coral growth, color, some increased algae in the tank and I am seeing some bubble algae showing up again. My Bubble RTBA's look a little better. I have done this for a month now but I am still testing at 0 Nitrate and P04 went from a steady .03-.04 to more like .06. I am considering this one month of Aspartic Acid use a good test and I am stopping that and going to try to dose Calcium Nitrate to get the Nitrate up and evaluate the results of that.

Two days ago I stopped the Aspartic Acid and I added 1/8 TSP of the Calcium Nitrate via a diluted solution of tank water and it raised my Nitrate to .35 tested yesterday. I am planning to test daily for Nitrate to see how long it takes to dissipate before I add more. I think for now I am planning on targeting about 1ppm Nitrate to see how the tank reacts?

So that is it, but, I am still thinking about a few other additives that I am not testing for"¦Mainly Iron, Potassium or any other trace elements that could be lacking. Should I be purchasing other test kits to see if any of these elements are depleted or would that be unlikely because I do water changes?

Lastly, I keep thinking of a Calcium Reactor. Does the media in a calcium reactor release trace elements that I might me missing and does anyone that has added a calcium reactor have testimony of the improvements?

Thanks, I know this is a lot of information but I figured someone has the experience out there to let me know what else I should try or get me on a better track to success.

With Kind Regards

Ray

 

[Reef Frog]

From your description it sounds like you have a pretty successful tank.

The CUC is probably disappearing because they have little to eat since your low nutrients are holding back algae growth, a good problem to have IMO.

You're just looking for faster growth, right? Be careful with the additives as you don't want see-sawing parameters. A more holistic method of raising Nitrates a pinch (if you really want to do that) might be to feed your corals/fish a little more (especially LPS), or in raising dissolved organics just a tad by:

- Turning the PS off for a short time on a regular basis, -backing off a little on the GAC or - water change quantity or intervals.

It sounds like your parameters are very good so make changes slowly, if at all. Remember there might be lag time between increasing dissolved organics and an increase in NO4 so go slow as to not over shoot your mark.

Your additive strategy will require regular, precise tests with good technique & good test kits & astute observation over a considerable period of time without angering the algae gods. Just my 2 cents. Good luck & avoid the algae!

 

[blanden.adam]

I don't think it's going to be a trace element problem, water changes almost always take care of them. You might try backing of a bit on the organic carbon. That should help increase your dissolved nutrients slightly. I've certainly seen tanks where the organic carbon was overdone and it can slow growth significantly.

Good luck!

 

[bertoni]

I think the numbers posted are fine, except for the phosphate level, and I agree that water changes seem to do a good job of adding any trace elements that might be needed.

The phosphate level is a bit high, in theory, but our testing kits generally are very imprecise, so the actual level might be fine.

By "bubble tips," I think you mean anemones? What are they being fed?

 

[2FunKids]

Yes, anemones, occasionally I add reef chili along with the foods posted on my first post. Should I be target feeding them?

 

[bertoni]

I target fed mine. Chunks of whole prey animals, like shrimp or marine silversides, are best. I don't think target feeding always is necessary, maybe never necessary, but since the anemones seem to be complaining, I'd give it a shot.

 

[2FunKids]

I am happy to report that dosing .25 tsp sodium nitrate every third day has brought up my nitrates to 1 and my RTBA's are much improved. In general all my corals are looking better. Zero nitrates seem to be a problem in my tank.

This brings me to the next question. Why do I have a deep sand bed in my refugium if I am having to add nitrate? Also isn't it a detritus trap because my other sump sections have power heads to keep them clean? Wouldn't I be better off by removing the sand and replacing it with rubble so I can set up a couple power heads in that section so I can grow pods and macro but still create a detritus flush cycle to feed pods and and reduce phosphate buildup?

I am thinking about a tray made from eggcrate with legs that I can just slosh around or pull out so I can vac detritus if needed. Maybe I could add a powerhead under it and do a detritus flush on the entire system at feeding time.

Best regards and thanks for reading my posts! Any opinions on my thaughts is greatly appreciated.

______________
RAY

 

[bertoni]

That's interesting. I'm glad to hear the nitrate appears to be helping.

I don't know how big the refugium is, but I suspect the DSB is too small to do much, given the size of most refugia. I'd probably replace it with some pieces of live rock or rubble and macro, as you suggest, but it's a personal choice. I agree that making sure the detritus doesn't pile up is a worthwhile effort.

 

[2FunKids]

That's interesting. I'm glad to hear the nitrate appears to be helping.

I don't know how big the refugium is, but I suspect the DSB is too small to do much, given the size of most refugia. I'd probably replace it with some pieces of live rock or rubble and macro, as you suggest, but it's a personal choice. I agree that making sure the detritus doesn't pile up is a worthwhile effort.

The Sand bed is 12" front to back and 18" long, 4" deep. When you say it's probably too small to do much, do you mean in terms of de-nitrification? I am just curious if I am off base by thinking my DSB is what is making my nitrates drop but now that you mention it, I can see why not, I think..LOL? I think perhaps you are saying go ahead with omitting the DSB but don't expect much uptick in nitrate as a result? So, If yes, the Nitrate being so low is more likely to be caused from exporting bacteria with the Redfield Ratio VS my deep sand bed? I am carbon Dosing about 2-3ml/day vodka/vinegar mix.

Sorry, I hope my quest to understand all this isn't getting annoying. So far though corresponding with fellow reefers like this is, to me anyway, is a great part of the hobby. Thanks for your continued support.


Thanks Again

__________________
Ray

 

[bertoni]

I suspect that the DSB doesn't do much denitrification. I never saw much evidence that mine did. I liked them for the animals in them, but I am not sure how much filtration they actually provide, and mine were all in the main tank.

The Redfield Ratio itself doesn't apply here, but the same idea with different numbers might hold. The low nitrate could be due to a nutrient consumption ratio.