Did I finally figure it out?

[Scubajoe1]

As someone who holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, it surprises me that your first response to sub-par Phosphate levels wasn't to dose a liquid potassium phosphate supplement such as Seachem Flourish Phosphorus. The fact that you have detectable nitrates and undetectable PO4 suggests that your system is heavily PO4 limited, which isn't common but will cause polyp abnormality and STN if untreated. I wouldn't go about trying to raise the level by feeding, without having measures to deal with the increase in dissolved organics (Ozone, aggressive carbon use etc)

Thought I mentioned it in this feed but I did dose to increase phosphate. It would be about 0.04 ppm after dosing then two days later it was 0.02ppm and then another day 0.00 ppb

 

[Scubajoe1]

Po4 is something that a reef usually accumulates so easily... Taking the gfo off line was a good first step.. Not so sure dosing po4 was necessary so soon..
Even getting a 0 reading on your checker- especially after removing the gfo- does not mean the corals are not getting enough po4...
You know, to me, those coral shots you posted don't look so bad...
Do you have new or more shots and maybe a fts?
Have you considered an amino supplement?
Or adding a couple more fish?
Or reducing your skimmer performance by either shutting it down for a few hours a day or reducing the air (if it's controllable that way..)
I just think adding po4 should be a last resort.... I do applaud your keeping track of your additions, but... I don't know, I just think you could get your po4 without adding actual po4..
Letting it occur or develop naturally will make the corals much happier, imo...

Hi Reefmutt...so I dose Reef energy A and B added another fox face that finally stopped getting attackd by the first one after a month and now they are buds. I also stop skimming a day or two at a time. Phosphate levels are pretty constant now at 0.04 ppm now just waiting to see what happens over time.

 

[reefmutt]

Cool..
.04 ain't bad..
Let us know how things look in a while.

 

[jpfishfan09]

I'm a little confused with your conversions. Wouldn't 5 ppb be 0.005 ppm, 15 ppb be 0.015 ppm and so on?

 

[reefmutt]

He is using the Hanna ulr phosphorus tester.
When converted to phosphate, you have multiplied the phosphorous reading by 3.066..

 

[Scorpius]

He is using the Hanna ulr phosphorus tester.
When converted to phosphate, you have multiplied the phosphorous reading by 3.066..

then divide by 1000 to get ppm.

 

[reefmutt]

Yes indeed....

D'oh

 

[Scubajoe1]

So last I checked things went a little further to the right than I hoped for. Nitrates were always up around 5 ppm which is a little on the high side for SPS....phosphates were always low and then added another fish, kept feeding lots and nitrates got to about 8 and phosphates went to 0.26. Anyway, tried NOPOX and in 4 days I went from 0.26 to 0.02 ppm. Need to make sure I cut way back and tune it in now. Nitrates had a huge decrease as well and skimmer is working like a horse.

The vials from left to right are day 4,3,2 and today for the red sea nitrate test kit.

My radions are at 55% at max for a few hours during high peak time and I have 4 T5s. I think one issue I see if that directly under the radions even though I have a wide angle reflector on them I still get a hot spot. What makes me think this? Well two SPS corals now in the same spot bleached out over the course of 2 weeks. They were fine for a few weeks and the first one was fine for longer and then complete bleaching. My lights are 8" from the surface because of the canopy and the par where that SPS is will get to 450 so way too high I am guessing.

Does anyone have a suggestion for making the light disperse more evenly?

Thanks

 

[Scubajoe1]

Hmmm...wonder how this would work for radion hot spots...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMm-bWrhg2Y