Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron99
Tank has been running since last May, was set up with established and cycled rock from other tanks so there was no cycle to speak of. Lighting runs 10.5 hours each day. Some corals have been in there since last may much of the others have been in 5 or 6 months. Salinity is stable as I run an ATO. Other parameters seem a fairly stable as well although I don't check every day. But they are similar when I do test. Flow is about 300gph through the sump and I have an MP40 running about 2/3 full power which gives plenty of water movement. Test kits are a mix of Elos and API. I have also tried some hagen test kits too for phosphate and ammonia/nitrate/nitrite. But all read zero or very close to it when I test so I don't think I have a major nutrient issue as I can't see getting false negatives all the time. I'm also not seeing any algae blooms; just the normal dusting on the glass that needs to be cleaned every few days.
I didn't think a cup of skimate per week was that much. I see others pulling that much in a few days.
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How old was the rock? There could be a lot of nutrients bound up in the rockwork which is now being released? I don't believe any of the test kits any more
most are unable to accurately read low levels and the problem with nutrients is they are often absorbed by the corals and other elements very quickly... Your SPS & Cheato are feeding on the nutrients.
I fill my Skimmer cup every other day with a dark skimate.
Simon