Water change theory

[ffeschultz]

I have a 4 year mixed reef tank with corals that I've grown from frags and have even fragged out many times. Lately I've neglected to do a water change for a couple months partially because of laziness and also because my nitrates and phosphates are kept in check by refugium/bio filtration. My corals have slowly faded, lost color, and slowed growth. I recently did a 20% water change and added GAC. Colors of sps corals are coming back within days. My question: did my trace elements get low or did toxins get high?

ATO with kalk reactor
Two part dosing pump
Nitrates- 0-.2
Phosphates - 0
Alk - 8.5
Cal - 420
Ph - 8.2
Temp- 79

Thoughts??????

 

[ffeschultz]

Pic of tank for reference

 

[rburns24]

-
Not a pro at this by a long shot, but I would say it's no contest-your trace elements became depleted. That's
the main reason I do water changes.
-

 

[mcfa2403]

Highly likely it was your trace elements, another option to test this theory would be to dose trace elements my preference is Tropic Marin K+ and A-

 

[Chris Lakies]

How do u replace cal/alk?

 

[downbeach]

Some reading:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/4/short
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/aaeditorial

 

[Chibils]

How do u replace cal/alk?

Assuming his parameters posted were before water change (doesn't make sense to post after unless he was giving us a reference), then it would appear he does.

 

[Chris Lakies]

Well the main reason i do water changes is to remove the left over ions from my 2 part dosing as it increases salinity.

 

[ffeschultz]

Thanks for all the great information. I dose brs two part with a dosing pump. It's not absolutely necessary as I run kalk in my ATO also. Those parameters were prior to the water change. Maybe I'll start dosing trace elements and see if that helps. Guess I just dislike water changes so much I'm trying to figure out how to avoid them.

 

[Tweaked]

I haven't changed my water in over 8 months and my SPS are thriving. I dose ALK/CA/MG and Fauna-Marin Color elements. I have a tank thread which shows the growth.

Works for some, but not everyone. Time will tell and a buddy of mine lost everything doing this for a year. Unsure if it was a build up of contaminants, or the lack of trace elements, either way he lost all of his sps. His tank was amazing too btw.

 

[tmc1313]

Works for some, but not everyone. Time will tell and a buddy of mine lost everything doing this for a year. Unsure if it was a build up of contaminants, or the lack of trace elements, either way he lost all of his sps. His tank was amazing too btw.

Please don't say it was Franky's tank. I know that he almost never does water changes and his tank looks great.

 

[Tweaked]

Please don't say it was Franky's tank. I know that he almost never does water changes and his tank looks great.

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