The next level! 65g SPS

[ClownReef®]

I really think it's an alk issue. Im going through the same. Alkalinity is a killer if it swings too much. Im thinking about adding a calcium reactor to get rid of the dosing/dialing issue.

All other parameters check out? Keep a log of your dosing/tests..

 

[Greentree]

Other params are all stable. So frustrating! I did pick up and install a doser, hopefully things will stay in check. The acro looks worse, but everything else seems happy.

 

[Greentree]

Things are still looking good with the exception of that one coral. I picked up that piece of strawberry shortcake - it's beautiful!

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

Tank is looking pretty good. Any reason you turned down the light? I mean did you see any bleaching or burnt corals. Back when I ran LEDS in a similar size tank I could never get the lights above 60% on blue channels and 35% on whites. If I did , I would see my sps getting really light and bleach. So I learned really quick that lowers, was always better for me. Even when it looked like tank as dim to the eye, tank was getting plenty of light.
For your pics, get and app called photodirector. It makes editing so easy. It has Auto WB, so you phone pics come out way better. good luck

 

[Greentree]

I did bleach one acro. I moved it to lower light, and it still started STN'ing on the areas with the most bleaching. I had a bit of a alk swing too and it seems like the combination of the two things was just too much. :'(

I still might turn them down even more - it seems that most reefers don't see a benefit to that intensity with radions, but there are many instances where it causes damage.

 

[Greentree]

I'm also struggling to bring up nitrates and phosphates. I see a bit of tip damage and I worry that I'm running my alk too high with the low nutrients. I think I've been feeding too little because I used to have a high phosphate issue, so I'm going to feed a lot more, and if that doesn't do it I'll supplement them.

 

[Greentree]

Oh, and MEET EVE

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

I'm also struggling to bring up nitrates and phosphates. I see a bit of tip damage and I worry that I'm running my alk too high with the low nutrients. I think I've been feeding too little because I used to have a high phosphate issue, so I'm going to feed a lot more, and if that doesn't do it I'll supplement them.

What is your alk and calc now? Did you start dosing nitrates already?

 

[Greentree]

I was keeping it at 10 and decided do slowly drop it to 9.5, however it dropped faster than I expected and within about a week went from 10 to 8.9ish. I brought it back up to 9.5 over another week and it's been fluctuating between 9.5 and 10 as I try to get the hang of my new dosing system. Ca fluctuates between 400 and 420 as well, really trying to get things completely stable is my highest priority at the moment.

I might decide to slowly lower it to 8.5 or 9 again until I can get some nitrates and phosphates on the chart. I have not started dosing nitrates, I'm going to start feeding more to see if that'll do it (because I should be feeding more anyway), then dose if it still seems necessary.

 

[reefmutt]

Hey greentree,welcome to the sps roller coaster.
Eve and the coral she resides in are beautiful.
You have a really nice set up and some good looking corals.
I wonder why you are trying to push parameters. Why not aim for natural seawater parameters?
You can't go wrong with what Mother Nature intended,imo.
I think if you raised your lights a bit, you'd get better spread and less bleaching..
If I were you, I'd add another small fish or two to raise nutrients a bit. And some more snails. As nutrients go up a bit, so will algea growth. It would be good to have the snails in there and on the ready.
More fish, more algea and more snails will translate into some good nutrients for the corals.
And that foster you mentioned makes good sense. Easier to maintain stable levels and keeps you from getting so crazy about testing and dosing manually. Once you have your doser dialed in relatively well, you can rest less frequently and make small adjustments to dosing.
Looking forward to your progress!

 

[Greentree]

Hi Matt, thank you for the kind words. I absolutely adore Eve, what a special surprise. I'm going to try to target feed her some little treats.

You're probably right, I'm not sure why I'm trying to push things - I was reading some articles with experiments and I thought that it was probably the best thing to do. I've changed my mind. I do think I'll raise my lights tonight, that's a good idea.

I've been looking for an excuse to pick up another fish or two. I was trying an experiment where I added 5 anthias, each one a different variety, to see if it would confuse them enough to reduce aggression. It has been a huge success so far! I might choose another two.

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

Hey greentree,welcome to the sps roller coaster.
Eve and the coral she resides in are beautiful.
You have a really nice set up and some good looking corals.
I wonder why you are trying to push parameters. Why not aim for natural seawater parameters?
You can't go wrong with what Mother Nature intended,imo.
I think if you raised your lights a bit, you'd get better spread and less bleaching..
If I were you, I'd add another small fish or two to raise nutrients a bit. And some more snails. As nutrients go up a bit, so will algea growth. It would be good to have the snails in there and on the ready.
More fish, more algea and more snails will translate into some good nutrients for the corals.
And that foster you mentioned makes good sense. Easier to maintain stable levels and keeps you from getting so crazy about testing and dosing manually. Once you have your doser dialed in relatively well, you can rest less frequently and make small adjustments to dosing.
Looking forward to your progress!

I second Matts opinion. Listen to him, he has tons of experience and a gorgeous tank. Im so afraid of those high alk numbers, i just have no luck with them. I would slowly bring everything down to natural salt levels alk 7-8 calcium 390-420 mag 1280-1300s. I promise you your tank will look way better. Also add another fish , just as Matt said. Good luck
Jorge

 

[Greentree]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the advice. I raised my lights 4 more inches. Would you do more?

 

[Greentree]

I also noticed that the base of my red dragon is quite pale. I really hope it's not going to STN The only corals I've lost within the last few months were on that side of the tank. The only thing that could be different in that area is poor flow, so I also added another small power head.

 

[Greentree]

All righty - I picked up two new friends to help with my nutrients.

Naoko wrasse - I've always loved this fish!


Red saddled anthias (this is not my pic, but you get the idea ) I'll take some more pics when the lights are on tomorrow!

 

[Greentree]

Red dragon looks no worse or better, fingers still crossed!

 

[Flexin5]

that's a really nice looking anthias. if the red dragon starts to STN up you can cut off the branches or dead part and hopefully save the frag.

 

[Greentree]

that's a really nice looking anthias. if the red dragon starts to STN up you can cut off the branches or dead part and hopefully save the frag.

Thanks Flexin, I might have to do that :/ ugh!

 

[bashment]

I also noticed that the base of my red dragon is quite pale. I really hope it's not going to STN The only corals I've lost within the last few months were on that side of the tank. The only thing that could be different in that area is poor flow, so I also added another small power head.

Is it the same rock that caused the prior STN of other sps? If so, how old is that rock? I've had a similar issue one time where I dropped in a fairly new dead rock in my established tank that was apparently leeching phosphorus onto the frags I was attaching to it. It caused base up stn/rtn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[h3dgehog]

It could be from a pest snail or crab that inhabits that particular rock?