SPS not as bright as once was
- Thread starter Scubajoe1
- Start date
Scubajoe1
New member
Day 3 without the bio-pellet reactor. Nitrates still undetectable but an equilibrium between nitrates in and nitrates used by SPS and bacteria on rocks must be starting to be achieved. Maybe it's my imagination but I think color is coming back in my SPS corals. Still would like to get a measurable reading for nitrates on my Red Sea nitrate pro kit measuring between 0.25 and 4 ppm. Definitely more nutrients in the water as my leather coral is very happy compared to a week ago. I have been feeding the tank fish a lot and also feeding the SPS corals twice a day with reef energy A & B.
jjoos99
New member
fully agree with the too clean theory. My pearlberry was a wonderful light blue and when I started running a denitrator and within several weeks the blue had paled out to white. Took the reactor off line and within a month or so the color came back. Here is a good read from one of the guys in our local club.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2470497
Jeff
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2470497
Jeff
Scubajoe1
New member
Sun Polyps are still looking good.
http://s87.photobucket.com/user/Scuba_joe/media/Sun_PolypsApril10_zpsaapj2p6n.png.html?filters[user]=142462438&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0
http://s87.photobucket.com/user/Scuba_joe/media/Sun_PolypsApril10_zpsaapj2p6n.png.html?filters[user]=142462438&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0
Scubajoe1
New member
Jeff,
Thanks for posting the article. Kinda gathered the same think from trial and error. It makes sense that no nutrient tanks will not support coral growth. There has to be that equilibrium going on. My issue now is to get the nitrates up. I will first try to do it naturally by feeding lots and then may have to try dosing if that does not work.
Joe
Thanks for posting the article. Kinda gathered the same think from trial and error. It makes sense that no nutrient tanks will not support coral growth. There has to be that equilibrium going on. My issue now is to get the nitrates up. I will first try to do it naturally by feeding lots and then may have to try dosing if that does not work.
Joe
Scubajoe1
New member
Dosed the tank today with sodium nitrate. Tank is now at maybe 2.5 ppm. Hard to tell the exact point between 2 and 4 but looks closer to 2 then to 4. 2 grams in a 180 gallon tank plus about 30 gallons in the sump minutes about 30 gallons volume wise of live rock I am guessing. So 1460 added to 681 liters= 2.14 ppm. I am assuming about 30 gallons of live rock but could be 50 so that looks about right. 50 gallon of rock would put me at 605 liters or 2.4 ppm. Closer to where I think the test is reading. Have pictures from 5 o'clock today before adding any nitrate. Will take pictures each day and also measure again tomorrow to see how much nitrate my tank consumes each day. Stay tuned!
lonzoencho
New member
Had a similar issue in a tank I maintain. I thought it was "too clean" as well. Brought up N&P. No change and I did some research and found it was caused by AEFW. Have you checked for AEFW bite marks? I hope it's not something you're dealing with but it is a possibility unless all Acro's were dipped/qt'd.
Scubajoe1
New member
Yes I looked at all the corals an no flat worms present. Mostly just lighting of the color a lot from when I got them. No bite marks present. LPS are looking a lot better but they like it pretty dirty. Super reputable store that I get my corals from so I usually don't worry about flat worms from that shop. Definitely something to keep an eye out for though. Thanks for mentioning it.
