stuff growing

[Gandolfe]

can anyone explain to me why my polyps,zoas, xenia, hairy mushrooms,Green star Polyps,etc... are still splitting and multiplying even though my nitrates are almost 100. My phosphates are still at .08 too but the yano is minimal now thanks to bio-pellets. I just bought a new pump for my skimmer but it still isn't putting out any skimmate. I have GFO and i change out filter socks every 3 days. I also do a 45 gallon water change every 2 weeks in a 125 with a 40 gallon sump and 10 gallon fuge

 

[worm5406]

What test kit are you using?

 

[Gandolfe]

brand new API and A red sea both show about same results.....My lights are 8 54 watt T5HO's and a 96 watts PC(10,000 k) The 4 T5 daylights are 14000k and I have 2 blue plus, an actinic and a coral pink I'm thinking about taking my rocks out and re-arranging them against the back wall to open up more sand space. I just put a sponge in on Monday as well...Just so you know...my stock list is this....1 engineer goby(16"), 2 maroon clowns, 1 Pajama Cardinal,1 cleaner wrasse,1 yellow tang, a 6" foxface, a coral beauty, 3 cleaner skunk shrimp, left handed hermits( for cyano) blue legged hermits, red legged hermits, Mexican turbo snails( 5) and some astrea snails and 4 snails that stay buriied in the sand. Somewhere in there is a sea slug too but haven't seen it in months

 

[Gandolfe]

here are some pics

here are some pics

left side and right side of tank and a few polyps

 

[thebkramer]

those kinds of corals actually like (even prefer) "dirty" water.. and can thrive in it!!!

and I'm sure you know that some have no problem taking over everything!!! (buttons, xenia, gsp, etc)

 

[Gandolfe]

Yeah that is what the guy at the LFS keeps saying too
I have tried everything to lower my nitrates so I can get another bubble tip for my clowns

 

[worm5406]

hahaha... How about a rittertri instead?

 

[ACBlinky]

What's in the refugium, and how much light is over the 'fuge? A good sized ball of chaeto lit 24/7 should do wonders for the nitrate levels. I have phosphate issues in my tank (my fault, I feed heavily) but my nitrates stay at zero; the chaeto in my 'fuge is about the size of a soccer ball, and there's some caulerpa thrown in for good measure. I have two 15W spiral fluorescent bulbs over the macroalgae compartment that stay on 24/7 -- two little clip on desk lamps, nothing fancy.

There was a recent thread questioning whether or not the amount of water changes we do are actually necessary -- some people are finding that tanks seem to settle and thrive when left alone for longer periods. Not sure if that might work with your tank, or if it would raise nitrates, just a thought.

 

[Gandolfe]

I'm gonna try doing a bunch of small water changes over a few days to cycle all of water out! I have 2 25 watt cfl over my fuge with 7 mangroves anda cheato bal as well as some other macro..gonna get some calerpa as soon as i can find where around Tampa to get it! My fuge light are on from 7 am until 5 pm. I was under the thought that all plants needs some downtime away from lights..even algae, so 24/7 isn't a good idea! At least not for me!

 

[Gandolfe]

I added another diamond goby yesterday and think i got lucky and now i have a male and female pair