Chronic STN on Base of SPS Corals

[rvareef]

posts some pics of the corals not an across the room tank shot with your feet in it lol
I would put another 3 (.5)'s in between the full radions and stop dosing/turn off the calcium reactor till you start seeing new growth

 

[AgentSPS]

posts some pics of the corals not an across the room tank shot with your feet in it lol
I would put another 3 (.5)'s in between the full radions and stop dosing/turn off the calcium reactor till you start seeing new growth

I got decent growth....fear turning off reactor will just result in steady decline in Alk and CA. My levels are in NSW range now....that's the goal

 

[AgentSPS]

Anyone have recommendation for decent low priced image hosting site? Photo bucket ripoff now.

 

[AgentSPS]

I do not use any media.

2-3 inches of sand for denitrification. Lots of real phosphate-free live rock from the pacific for phosphate swapping/buffering (along with the sand). Water changes, large skimmers and chaeto/dragon[flame/tongue] fuge for export. ...and about a year if patience for all of this to start working correctly. My tank handles this naturally, on it's own. I set up every tank this way and it just works. I just started one 4 months ago...and working through the ugly phases right now, but I will let the tank sort this out and I will not intervene with any media... the N needs to stay a bit high so that anoxic bacteria can grow to consume it...and the P needs to stay a bit high so that the fuge continues to grow as the snails and fish take care of the algae in the display. I just started to get coralline everywhere, so this is a good step.

Using dry rock will not make this possible for a long time (if ever) since it is bound full of phosphate already, is not always porous and usually bound with caked organics. Using media will inhibit the tank from doing this on it's own. Large, good skimmers in large sumps can really help too... but the current trend is on pre-made sumps with small chambers and small skimmers with pumps in them where even a 20 year old EuroReef will produce more than one of these.

Basic Berlin with good maintenance gives people all that they need to run a successful tank, but I do get that patience is hard to come by anymore and BRS cannot make a video about running a tank with stuff that they do not really sell.

Twenty years ago, the only high nutrient tanks were those that were neglected... and there plenty of them. Hobbyists who cared had great tanks, but most did not get cute and try and not change water or deviate from what works. High nutrient tanks that had caring owners only started to pop up when bare bottom got big, then GFO and then dry rock. This is a relatively new phenonomen in reef keeping.

I been at this for the better part of 25 years. I subscribe to much of what you prescribe but some stuff you present as fact or proven, I take issue with. I have run both true Berlin with less long term success than bare bottom with minimal samdbed. I'm not saying it can't be done with great success and not disputing yours but I worry about this folks who are searching for answers and employ methods because someone posts strong authoritative views on their method.

But that said, I agree with the spirit of what you articulate...simplicity, patience, and and time tested methods (efficient skimming and generous algae nutrient export ).

 

[fishguy597]

I watch the YouTube videos with Mike paletta when ever they come out. In one of his videos I remember him talking about base recession of mature colonies. One of the things he talks about is adding iodine to his tank one to two times a week. He believes it helps prevent this from happening. He does go on to mention that a lot of old school refers do this as well. Then he also states that he doesn't know if it does anything but that his corals are strong and healthy. So he just keeps doing it. I just find it interesting seeing how he doesn't add much as far as additives.
Thoughts?

 

[AgentSPS]

I watch the YouTube videos with Mike paletta when ever they come out. In one of his videos I remember him talking about base recession of mature colonies. One of the things he talks about is adding iodine to his tank one to two times a week. He believes it helps prevent this from happening. He does go on to mention that a lot of old school refers do this as well. Then he also states that he doesn't know if it does anything but that his corals are strong and healthy. So he just keeps doing it. I just find it interesting seeing how he doesn't add much as far as additives.
Thoughts?

Doesn’t sound like Mike has tried to understand much of the science behind it. I don’t claim to know the science either but I do know Iodine is highly toxic at elevated levels. It used to be a total PITA to test but now with ICP, no excuse. With exception of Alk, my mantra these days has been to mimic as closely as possible NSW. Doing that rules out a huge amount of variables.

I will say that, for many years, I dosed potassium iodide weekly along with strontium and had really good results. I had continued that method on this recent tank until I performed ICP and saw my levels were highly elevated! Stopped altogether and now my levels are well within range with no supplement.

 

[Piper27]

Yes so the rock work runs mostly along the rear of the tank with the ends sweeping towards the front. Think crescent shape if viewed from the top. Lots of open swim room in the front of the tank. There is good overlap of the lighting at the height I run the lights. Very little shading and none where it matters.

Wow that's pretty cool I like it when I see people do this, just because I would have to light it and put coral there.

 

[THEUNION1]

I watch the YouTube videos with Mike paletta when ever they come out. In one of his videos I remember him talking about base recession of mature colonies. One of the things he talks about is adding iodine to his tank one to two times a week. He believes it helps prevent this from happening. He does go on to mention that a lot of old school refers do this as well. Then he also states that he doesn't know if it does anything but that his corals are strong and healthy. So he just keeps doing it. I just find it interesting seeing how he doesn't add much as far as additives.
Thoughts?

He just throws everything at it and watches. Thats what happens when you have more money than brains. Trial and error but not knowing exactly what you did to get to this point. I wouldn't pay any attention to that guy.

 

[THEUNION1]

Sorry to butt in OP. I have nothing positive to add to the discussion. I can repair it but don't know exactly how to avoid it. I will be following along.