38 Gallon Mixed Reef Cube Newbie

[Frogger]

It could be a combination of things, higher nitrate and Kalkwasser. Zero phosphate is not good. I lost half of my corals a few months ago when I let my phosphate get to 0. I was dosing KNO3 at the time and as the KNO3 increased the corals, the algae, the coralline algae all starting using up the phosphate and it crashed. I was running GFO at the time which made it worse.

I need to add nitrate to colour up my corals. So I am now adding KPO4 to keep my phosphate at a readable level and adding KNO3 to keep my corals colourful.

[Tigweldpro]

Originally Posted by Frogger

It could be a combination of things, higher nitrate and Kalkwasser. Zero phosphate is not good. I lost half of my corals a few months ago when I let my phosphate get to 0. I was dosing KNO3 at the time and as the KNO3 increased the corals, the algae, the coralline algae all starting using up the phosphate and it crashed. I was running GFO at the time which made it worse.

I need to add nitrate to colour up my corals. So I am now adding KPO4 to keep my phosphate at a readable level and adding KNO3 to keep my corals colourful.

What is your source for KPO4? Potassium phosphate correct?
I think I need to get some phosphate in my tank asap.I have shut down my skimmer and added 50ml of tumbling bio pellets I am also going to feed a full mysis cube until I get a phosphate reading. I have never ran bio pellets without a skimmer...... I wonder how this will turn out 2 garbage cans full of fresh SW ready to go if something goes bad....

[Frogger]

I purchased my bulk potassium phosphate from a local fresh water fish supply company.

You can also buy Seachem Flourish Phosphorus additive available from most fish stores. Be very careful with KPO4 a little goes a long way.

[philg3]

Man just remember to take it slow. Don't shut off the Skimmer, that wasn't a great suggestion. I'd decrease the kalk dosage back to where you had it originally and then see if the bio pellets help bring down your nitrates.

[Frogger]

Before you add phosphates stop using Kalk and see what happens.

Try to balance the nitrates and phosphates with the foods you add. What type of foods are you feeding? Frozen foods (like mysis) tend to have a better nitrogen to phosphorus ratio than other prepared foods or flake or pellets ie foods that didn't come from the ocean or a lake.

In my case I have to add phosphates because I have to add nitrates. You don't need to add nitrates.

[Tigweldpro]

I am feeding frozen mysis, reef roids, raw deli prawn(dendro).

I did a huge 50% water change and things have perked up except the 2 RBTA.I found some shitty saltwater fish pellets with lots of phosphate at petsmart so I am now feeding that junk to try and get some phosphates in there. I really don't want to stop the kalk as I just found the magic number to keep things balanced and I really like the PH+ properties of kalk.

I am currently building a 90 gallon display/30 gallon sump setup so hopefully I can keep everything alive until it is setup and cycled for 3 months. At that point I will probably switch to 2 part as I will be near a window that I can run my skimmer/air pump intakes through to keep the PH up.

I also just switched from hakari mysis to PE, I never realized the protein % difference was so major between brands. from 11% to 70% wow maybe everything is just hungry and nutrient deprived.

Thanks for your replies Frogger & Phil

[Tigweldpro]

Well I think the bio pellets and huge water change have done the trick. everything is looking good again and water perams are rock solid.

Also added a skunk cleaner shrimp. he just hides behind a rock at the back and as weird as it sounds the 4 perc clowns are hosting the shrimp. wierd