Help with sps please!

Here are the parameters as of today
Specific gravity: 1.023
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: undetectable
Nitrite: undetectable
Nitrate: undetectable
Phosphate: undetectable
Calcium: 380
DKH: 7

We don't seem far off, this is 4 days after wc. Still working on getting salinity up, calcium and kh a bit low. Ordering 2part from BRS tonight.
 
Yes, salinity is too low still, last time my salinity rose too fast I lost everything in the tank so I'm doing it throughout the week instead. I heard a drop in salinity is easier to take than a spike so I'd rather do it slowly.
As for PO4, I cannot afford 60$ for a Hanna right now, will need to wait til next pay.
 
I really just don't know where the PO4 would come from I'm using bottled RODI Culligan water, brand new gfo so it can't possibly be leaching back out of it.
 
Fish food contains lots of phosphates unfortunatly. You might also have some phopshates leaching from your live rocks.
 
Increasing your flow might not be a bad idea either... looks as though it might be a little low to get through those colonies and getting them good flow under the bases. Everyone here has talked about alk and calc but also get on the Mag level too.. Ususally things like cyno can be solved by increasing flow and cutting back on the bioload, most algaes can be nuked by bumpping mag levels up to 1400 to 1500 (where they should be maintained)
 
P1010178.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I would use an rodi unit and the gfo reactor with water changes should get it done how many hours are you running the lights?
 
What is your mag? I would be more concerned with low mag than higher PO4. Shoot for 1300-1400 (I suggest more on the high side)

I think you can raise sg .03 in a few days not 10. Ive done it plenty of times with little to no ill effects. The longer you allow your tank to stay in low sg the more damage. I wouldnt tell you to adjust in 1 water change but youre not going from 1.019 to 1.026...youre only jumping up .03-.04- 2 Water changes would be fine.

Calcium if concerning also...should be atleast 400ppm. I dont advise chasing numbers but you need to be in an acceptable range.
 
also have you recently replaced your GFO? could you have shocked your corals with stripping out the PO4 too quickly? with the other problems and deficiencies this could have pushed it over the edge.
 
BTW I would get some snails to eat up that algea. A good amount of various (throchus, mexi turbos, nerites, ect.) snails should help along with some scarlet hermits. Even a yellow tang would help. my yellow eats valonia too!
 
stevedola said:
What is your mag? I would be more concerned with low mag than higher PO4. Shoot for 1300-1400 (I suggest more on the high side)

I think you can raise sg .03 in a few days not 10. Ive done it plenty of times with little to no ill effects. The longer you allow your tank to stay in low sg the more damage. I wouldnt tell you to adjust in 1 water change but youre not going from 1.019 to 1.026...youre only jumping up .03-.04- 2 Water changes would be fine.

Calcium if concerning also...should be atleast 400ppm. I dont advise chasing numbers but you need to be in an acceptable range.
Click to expand...

Mag is being tested tonight, sg is just about there. Like I said last time it wasn't that much of a jump either and had horrible results so I do everything slowly now. My calcium is being depleted by the clam apparently and I've been trying to find someone to take it. Once the mag is tested I'll be starting dosing.
 
stevedola said:
also have you recently replaced your GFO? could you have shocked your corals with stripping out the PO4 too quickly? with the other problems and deficiencies this could have pushed it over the edge.
Click to expand...

Yes I did replace the GFO but after the corals essentially started melting...
 
stevedola said:
BTW I would get some snails to eat up that algea. A good amount of various (throchus, mexi turbos, nerites, ect.) snails should help along with some scarlet hermits. Even a yellow tang would help. my yellow eats valonia too!
Click to expand...

I do need more nassarius snails for the sandbed I haven't been seeing any... I thought I had a good quantity of the others but I might top them up. Looking for a Desjardini tang for the Vallonia. FYI since my last "scrape" the stuff seems to have slowed down! :) I'll be scraping more off next WC.
 
nassarius snails wont eat hair algea though...trochus, mexican turbo, cerith, nerites, and a few others are a good choice. I stay away from astrea snails and like a variety of snails to mow down...but if I had to choose 1 it would be those big *** mexican turbos(they eat like champs). Oh and scarletts do a good job at picking the rocks and keeping them clean.

check out RK mag for some good info on snails

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Help: SPS peeling strangely.
Replies
5
Views
560
griss
griss
A
Please help reef tank
Replies
2
Views
376
SantaMonica
S
A
Please help reef tank
Replies
9
Views
400
wvned
wvned
P
5G ADA Pico Reef with Cherub Angel
Replies
3
Views
296
Dustin07
D
K
Carbon Dosing causes STN/RTN?
Replies
13
Views
917
Timfish
Timfish
Back
Top