:-(

:hug:

So, new month, but not posting a pic. Looks just like last month but without fish.

Started VSV dosing last weekend, overall impressed. However, while the NO3 was cut in half, PO4 went up. Skimmer took out tons of gunk, especially compared to what it did WITH fish. This last week gave twice as much skimmate.

This tells me the following.. excess bacteria were created via dosing. They used half the nitrate available, and a corresponding amount if PO4. Not sure what the ratio is, but P should have dropped over the week. It went up 20%.

So it appears that the rock is leaching faster than dosing can remove it. Not surprising.
I'm ordering a couple boxes of real rock and will rebuild once I get it and cure it. Maybe I can finally get some growth out of the corals.

It'll be fun! (riiight)

I think you just happened to discover another one of the many no-win situations in this hobby. Dead rock is awesome but dead rock sucks! Live rock is awesome, but live rock sucks! You just have to decide which is the lesser of the suck, I guess.

I'm not getting the part about live rock sucking?? Always been really happy with any I've bought.

Hopefully your luck hold! If not, aiptasiaX and flatworm exit works wonders !

Hopefully :) I've never actually had a red planaria in all my time in, and aiptasia have never been an issue for me. If I get a couple, easy enough to deal with for the benefit of real rock.

You're quite right. The downsides to live rock are quite easily managed (naturally). I had all manner of pests but all handled with the right fish to help combat. Plus I really like my blue clove polyps :-)

While its nice to sit back and watch/enjoy the fruits of your labors, we both know this hobby can get kind of boring if theres nothing to tinker with once in awhile. Ok ok, you've had it a bit rough this last go but you know what I mean :wink:

I'm sure I can find fun things to tinker with other than the current issues :)

Quick update progress. Carbon dosing is dropping NO3, but not PO4. Using fozdown is helping bring it down, but not a long term solution. Bit the bullet and ordered a couple boxes of Fiji rock, should be here end of the week.
Got my Ca reactor online finally, so no more messing with levels once I get it tweaked to a light load.
On the fish front, I'm going to try and trap the leopard wrasse and leave tank fishless. Not sure how that affects carbon dosing.
Damn, how do we tag someone here lol Denny, any advice on carbon dosing with adding all new rock and no fish?
Assume start from scratch?
Anyway, stay tuned for a new look and some SPS growth, I hope!