Effects light shift of old MH
- Thread starter zoafarm
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A. Grandis
Active member
What do you mean?
Please be more specific.
Grandis.
Please be more specific.
Grandis.
I put a used MH light on my frag tank about 2 1/2 months ago. The person said the bulbs had been used about 6 months. In the beginning, my zoa frags seemed to perk up and the colors seemed to be improving. Over the past couple weeks, my zoas / palys have shrunk up a little and overall not as healthy looking. My parameters (see below) haven't changed, and I thought I may need to change the bulbs.
Also, looked over everything...I didn't see any pests.
Calcium -- 410 ppm
Alk -- 8 dkh
Magnesium - 1260 ppm
PO4 - .10 ppm
Nitrates 10 ppm
Nitrites/Ammonia 0
temp - 79 - 80.5
salinity - 1.025
Thanks for the help.
Also, looked over everything...I didn't see any pests.
Calcium -- 410 ppm
Alk -- 8 dkh
Magnesium - 1260 ppm
PO4 - .10 ppm
Nitrates 10 ppm
Nitrites/Ammonia 0
temp - 79 - 80.5
salinity - 1.025
Thanks for the help.
A. Grandis
Active member
Assuming that the adaptation period was successful, and besides that:
Your phosphates are high.
You also could give a little boost to the Mg, but shouldn't get the salinity higher than that!
Actually I recommend S.G. of 1023 to most zoas, but 1.025 isn't too high, not a big issue, just make sure it's not going higher than that.
Try to do some water changes first. That should help with the chemistry and the zoas should open soon... Phosphates can be controlled with water changes and reducing foods high in phosphates. Forget GFO please. Just do water changes for now. Your problems with algae are there because of the PO4. Your nitrates will be lower too. ***water changes***
I don't think the problem comes from the light at all, specially MHs.
The combination of high PO4 and MHs aren't too good for the system.
Measure phosphates after each water change and continue to change the water every 2 days until the phosphate is around 0.1ppm. 10% water change is enough every 2 days or so...
I bet your problem will be solved.
Let me know...
Grandis.
Your phosphates are high.
You also could give a little boost to the Mg, but shouldn't get the salinity higher than that!
Actually I recommend S.G. of 1023 to most zoas, but 1.025 isn't too high, not a big issue, just make sure it's not going higher than that.
Try to do some water changes first. That should help with the chemistry and the zoas should open soon... Phosphates can be controlled with water changes and reducing foods high in phosphates. Forget GFO please. Just do water changes for now. Your problems with algae are there because of the PO4. Your nitrates will be lower too. ***water changes***
I don't think the problem comes from the light at all, specially MHs.
The combination of high PO4 and MHs aren't too good for the system.
Measure phosphates after each water change and continue to change the water every 2 days until the phosphate is around 0.1ppm. 10% water change is enough every 2 days or so...
I bet your problem will be solved.
Let me know...
Grandis.
Great advice!
I will look into the salinity and actually bring it down over the next few weeks. However, I do not have any algae at all (except for Cheato in the refugium). I agree with the PO4 level being high. I do a 10 to 15% water change weekly. So, you don't think my older lights could be the problem???
Thanks again for the help.
I will look into the salinity and actually bring it down over the next few weeks. However, I do not have any algae at all (except for Cheato in the refugium). I agree with the PO4 level being high. I do a 10 to 15% water change weekly. So, you don't think my older lights could be the problem???
Thanks again for the help.
A. Grandis
Active member
Your welcome! My pleasure!
If the older MH bulbs are really only 6 months old, as you've said, nope.
The problem shouldn't be the light bulbs themselves.
And, again, assuming that the adaptation to the bulb was done properly.
If you do 10 - 15% water changes weekly and you still have the PO4 problem like that could be because you're feeding the tank too much, or your test kit is expired, or you're not doing the test correctly. I would guess you're feeding too much.
Also, you should consider that the Chaetomorpha could be releasing PO4 back into the system. Do you remove some of the Chaeto once an a while? Another type of PO4 release is from deep sand beds, after many years. Those are things to keep in mind.
If you have one of those constant sources of PO4, the water changes won't help much.
Study the type of food you're giving to the fishes/coals/zoas and make sure the quantity is right, not exceeding the PO4 acceptable limits for your system.
Good luck!
Grandis.
If the older MH bulbs are really only 6 months old, as you've said, nope.
The problem shouldn't be the light bulbs themselves.
And, again, assuming that the adaptation to the bulb was done properly.
If you do 10 - 15% water changes weekly and you still have the PO4 problem like that could be because you're feeding the tank too much, or your test kit is expired, or you're not doing the test correctly. I would guess you're feeding too much.
Also, you should consider that the Chaetomorpha could be releasing PO4 back into the system. Do you remove some of the Chaeto once an a while? Another type of PO4 release is from deep sand beds, after many years. Those are things to keep in mind.
If you have one of those constant sources of PO4, the water changes won't help much.
Study the type of food you're giving to the fishes/coals/zoas and make sure the quantity is right, not exceeding the PO4 acceptable limits for your system.
Good luck!
Grandis.
Last edited:
A. Grandis
Active member
The point is that even an 8 1/2 month old MH bulb wouldn't make your zoanthids to shrink and not look healthy.
The spectrum will change a bit, but the zoas will be amazingly happy, still.
What bulb is that and what spectrum?
When I had my MHs I didn't have any problems with my zoas, even after a year of usage.
Question: Why would you buy an used MH?
He've should give it to you for free, I guess.
I still don't think the problem is with the MH bulb at all.
I would address the PO4 problem and hope to see the zoas opening healthier. :thumbsup:
Pics?
Grandis.
A. Grandis
Active member
You're very welcome!!
I really think that would be the first thing to do.
Try not to change too many things at once and make sure the maintenance is taken care of.
Good luck!!
Grandis.
I really think that would be the first thing to do.
Try not to change too many things at once and make sure the maintenance is taken care of.
Good luck!!
Grandis.
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