Upgrade time !

[Craigdillman]

Well all the new fish are in and looking happy and healthy ( the goby while a cool fish is a *censored* and sand storm maker) and that paired with the blue side wrasse flipping my frags and zoas over things were a bit hectic. I added the new gyre and that with the goby sand storm caused the tank to be pretty cloudy and sandy and detritus for a week or so, had to do three 15-20g wc that week and too many filter socks to count and finally brang it all back in check. Only thing that seemed to take it the worst was monti stenosa still looks pale idk if it was lack of light from the particles or the fact all the sand constantly being on it and particles having to be blown off anyway its slowly coming back.

Anyway enough of that more pics

[Craigdillman]

Well that should bring you guys up to speed

Here is where im at and asking for some HELP/advise

Over the last month after the new addition of the goby and new pump (gyre) and maybe even new bio load I've noticed SPS not happy some colonies STN and losing tissue others less polyp extension and just not looking like the pics from few months ago

After testing retesting and looking back at my log book I narrowed it down to a few things

1) flow got crazy high with the new3 pump I changed from 2 mp10s on wave mode to 2mp10s plus gyre and I changed from a lot of wave flow to direct flow resulting in tissue loss on sps in the direct flow

2) sand goby while nice kicked up insane amount on sand in the first few weeks releasing stuff into my water that's hasn't been stirred in over a year that paired with flow probably made the sand storm sand blast that didn't help with tissue loss
3) tho ive done water changes same 2weeks seems tho im not catching up with p04 anymore and probably not changing my GFO fast enough for the new nutrient released from the sand bed

4) I did a full water test after my 2 week 25G WC yesterday and also I pulled out my old nitrate test that hasn't needed to be used for years and Found the problem

Calc-450
Alk-7.5
Mag-1325
Phos-0.20 Hanna (usually 0.10 after 2 weeks ) so this has been slowly rising last month
Nitrate- 30 !!! omg this has been zero for years I stopped testing it now since add of new fish this is 30 bingo

So .. Aside from anther WC on Thursday whats my plan of attack? I slowed the pumps and my next plan is to start carbon dosing with vodka maybe as my current 2 week wc plus GFo and Carbon isn't cutting it


Your help is needed thanks
Craig Dillman

[Craigdillman]

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[Craigdillman]

Go back one page idk what happened there lol

[Craigdillman]

Well that should bring you guys up to speed

Here is where im at and asking for some HELP/advise

Over the last month after the new addition of the goby and new pump (gyre) and maybe even new bio load I've noticed SPS not happy some colonies STN and losing tissue others less polyp extension and just not looking like the pics from few months ago

After testing retesting and looking back at my log book I narrowed it down to a few things

1) flow got crazy high with the new3 pump I changed from 2 mp10s on wave mode to 2mp10s plus gyre and I changed from a lot of wave flow to direct flow resulting in tissue loss on sps in the direct flow

2) sand goby while nice kicked up insane amount on sand in the first few weeks releasing stuff into my water that's hasn't been stirred in over a year that paired with flow probably made the sand storm sand blast that didn't help with tissue loss
3) tho ive done water changes same 2weeks seems tho im not catching up with p04 anymore and probably not changing my GFO fast enough for the new nutrient released from the sand bed

4) I did a full water test after my 2 week 25G WC yesterday and also I pulled out my old nitrate test that hasn't needed to be used for years and Found the problem

Calc-450
Alk-7.5
Mag-1325
Phos-0.20 Hanna (usually 0.10 after 2 weeks ) so this has been slowly rising last month
Nitrate- 30 !!! omg this has been zero for years I stopped testing it now since add of new fish this is 30 bingo

So .. Aside from anther WC on Thursday whats my plan of attack? I slowed the pumps and my next plan is to start carbon dosing with vodka maybe as my current 2 week wc plus GFo and Carbon isn't cutting it


Your help is needed thanks
Craig Dillman

[Craigdillman]

Any ideas

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Craigdillman

Any ideas

Well, as I think you know, should get phosphates and nitrates down. For serious P04 challenges, Fozdown works well, but do it slowly so you don't get too big a drop at once.

You need low P04 (< 0.10) if you want your SPS to do well.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Craigdillman

Any ideas

i had an idea a couple days ago, but forgot to post it ...

You're dealing with a new sand-sifting fish who is stirring up all these PO4 and NO3 readings ...
What if you were to remove the top layer of your sand ? Isn't this where the readings are coming from due to your new sifter fish ?
Siphon out 1/2 to 3/4 of your top layer, but leave a bit for the new fish to 'feed on' ?
I don't mean to remove 1/2 - 3/4 deep, but rather remove the top layer of 1/2 to 3/4 of your whole tank's footprint.
Replace the top layer with new sand and the new dude can live off the part you haven't removed.

Then, in a week or two, you can remove the rest and replace it again with new sand.

Just a thought ...