Hi everyone,
I'm hoping you all can help me bring my tank back. I'm losing interest in the hobby due to an ongoing issue (1 year) of corals not growing. I am considering selling my livestock and taking a break if I can't turn the tank around. I figured I'd post here to help with one last shot.
Tank has been running for 3 years
Tank info:
30g rimless (24x24x12) with 20g sump
Tunze Osmo ATO
SC-65 skimmer
2 MP10 (on short pulse at about 30% each)
RODI with 0 TDS
IO salt
Reef Breeders LED hung 18 inches off water surface
Water Parameters
1.025
9.2 dkh ALK
420 ppm CA
1480 ppm MG
0 Phosphate
Nitrates - Looks like 50 on Salifert
All dosing done via Kamoer dosing pump and B-Ionic 2 part
Livestock
2 oscellaris clowns
1 canary wrasse
Hermit crabs for CUC
Feeding - NLS pellets every day, 2x a month BRS reef chili, sometimes mix in some PE Mysis
As a result of the high nitrates, I removed my filter sock
No visible algae, other than chaeto growing in sump
Water changes have dropped to about 1x a month - I'm trying to get back to 5g a week
Issue: Corals won't grow
LPS for the most part maintain current size and coloration
SPS slowly bleach
Zoas - no growth - just maintain same size - most polyps stay closed
War coral - 3 out of 4 heads have bleached, one hanging on
Things I've tried:
Changed light settings - previously had ramp up/ramp down with a 10 hour photoperiod and a max of 60 blue and 35 white. Now I am running 55 blue and 40 white for 8 hours a day - no change thus far
Removed filter socks - As I've become more frustrated with the tank, my maintenace has reduced as well. As a result of the nitrate test, and my lack of maintenance, I pulled the filter socks. Previously, I was changing them every 4-6 days (they never clogged)
Removed GAC - no change
I know I need to up my water changes, but this has been going on for a year or so, whether I did water changes or not.
What else can I try to do? Part of me thinks it is something with my light settings, but I am not sure.
I'm hoping you all can help me bring my tank back. I'm losing interest in the hobby due to an ongoing issue (1 year) of corals not growing. I am considering selling my livestock and taking a break if I can't turn the tank around. I figured I'd post here to help with one last shot.
Tank has been running for 3 years
Tank info:
30g rimless (24x24x12) with 20g sump
Tunze Osmo ATO
SC-65 skimmer
2 MP10 (on short pulse at about 30% each)
RODI with 0 TDS
IO salt
Reef Breeders LED hung 18 inches off water surface
Water Parameters
1.025
9.2 dkh ALK
420 ppm CA
1480 ppm MG
0 Phosphate
Nitrates - Looks like 50 on Salifert
All dosing done via Kamoer dosing pump and B-Ionic 2 part
Livestock
2 oscellaris clowns
1 canary wrasse
Hermit crabs for CUC
Feeding - NLS pellets every day, 2x a month BRS reef chili, sometimes mix in some PE Mysis
As a result of the high nitrates, I removed my filter sock
No visible algae, other than chaeto growing in sump
Water changes have dropped to about 1x a month - I'm trying to get back to 5g a week
Issue: Corals won't grow
LPS for the most part maintain current size and coloration
SPS slowly bleach
Zoas - no growth - just maintain same size - most polyps stay closed
War coral - 3 out of 4 heads have bleached, one hanging on
Things I've tried:
Changed light settings - previously had ramp up/ramp down with a 10 hour photoperiod and a max of 60 blue and 35 white. Now I am running 55 blue and 40 white for 8 hours a day - no change thus far
Removed filter socks - As I've become more frustrated with the tank, my maintenace has reduced as well. As a result of the nitrate test, and my lack of maintenance, I pulled the filter socks. Previously, I was changing them every 4-6 days (they never clogged)
Removed GAC - no change
I know I need to up my water changes, but this has been going on for a year or so, whether I did water changes or not.
What else can I try to do? Part of me thinks it is something with my light settings, but I am not sure.
