New tank syndrome in an addition?

[Myka]

I'm not sure how sensitive the Hanna Checker is compared to the D-D Merck kit, but even people using Zeovit rarely get down to 0.00 ppm phosphate using the Merck kit. Getting to 0.08 ppm is doing quite well. Keep in mind that if you have any algae growing in the tank the true phosphate level will be higher as the algae are sucking it out of the water column as it grows. Sometimes, but not always you can get a higher phosphate reading if you test in the morning before the lights come on. You're doing everything right regarding phosphate.

As far as Zeovit goes, have you joined the Zeovit forums yet? Which Zeovit products are you using? I would suggest you just use the Zeolites, Bak, Food, and Start to begin with. Don't start using any of the other additives until you have removed your tank of every little bit of algae. Absolutely do not follow the directions on the bottles when it come to the other additives. I was using 1/4 what the bottles said and got the best results that way. I was not able to dose Iron or B-Balance without getting algae blooms. If you get diatoms or cyano when you start the additives you're dosing too many additives.

[reefermadness]

All I know is I bought a hanna checker and got 0.00 and tested 3 times. It was a while ago though.....and I know I must have some...but its low.

The hanna p04 checker is +/- .04ppm accuracy. Really not that good considering most people recommend PO4 to be less than .03ppm.

[StirCrazy]

plus remember the test kits we can afford only measure inorganic phosphate not organic phosphate. so it is quite possible to get 0 phosphate readings but still have phosphate.

as for the rest I agree with Myka 100%

Steve

[reefermadness]

Are you guys saying I have a nutrient problem?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

Are you guys saying I have a nutrient problem?

haha, mexican turbo snails will mow down the cotton candy in no time. I had it in plague proportions and they took care of it with in a week.

Steve

[Myka]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

Are you guys saying I have a nutrient problem?

Yup. If your tank has nuisance algae anywhere...then ya. If you can grow chaeto like no tomorrow...then ya.

Diatoms are essentially the warning flag of problems that are going to arise if something isn't done. If you see diatoms, replace GFO and look at nitrate/phosphate levels and sources. You know the saying, "Fart is [poop]'s warning call."

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Myka

Yup. If your tank has nuisance algae anywhere...then ya. If you can grow chaeto like no tomorrow...then ya.

Diatoms are essentially the warning flag of problems that are going to arise if something isn't done. If you see diatoms, replace GFO and look at nitrate/phosphate levels and sources. You know the saying, "Fart is [poop]'s warning call."

But if I didnt add the frag tank....I would have no algae to speak of. Hanna didnt register a thing and my NO3 is .2ppm. I run GFO and biopellets....what more can I do besides stop feeding the tank and my corals are all doing so well that I don't think I want to try that. I think I will just wait it out and I have a feeling that everything is going to be fine in the frag tank with-in a month or two.

[doch]

Originally Posted by Myka

I'm not sure how sensitive the Hanna Checker is compared to the D-D Merck kit, but even people using Zeovit rarely get down to 0.00 ppm phosphate using the Merck kit. Getting to 0.08 ppm is doing quite well. Keep in mind that if you have any algae growing in the tank the true phosphate level will be higher as the algae are sucking it out of the water column as it grows. Sometimes, but not always you can get a higher phosphate reading if you test in the morning before the lights come on. You're doing everything right regarding phosphate.

As far as Zeovit goes, have you joined the Zeovit forums yet? Which Zeovit products are you using? I would suggest you just use the Zeolites, Bak, Food, and Start to begin with. Don't start using any of the other additives until you have removed your tank of every little bit of algae. Absolutely do not follow the directions on the bottles when it come to the other additives. I was using 1/4 what the bottles said and got the best results that way. I was not able to dose Iron or B-Balance without getting algae blooms. If you get diatoms or cyano when you start the additives you're dosing too many additives.

Sorry... I meant to say that I'm dosing about 1/3 of the recommended dosage of all of the products I use. I've been using the supplements (k,b, phols, coral vit, eisen, kalimidofluor, coral snow, amino acids, and maybe a couple others) for quite some time with no ill effects, but since the upgrade I started with full zeo (zeolites, bak, food, and start) . I'm not on the zeo forums, but I have lurked around there for a while and done some reading. This is what has taought me that I've done the start up wrong. The replies to questions that I've read have been suggesting to dose bak and food daily, directly into the reactor pump. I didn't do this. I dosed about 1/3 of the suggested dose twice a week for the whole time. Also, I didn't run my reactor on a 3 hours on, 3 hours off schedule... full time. Like I say, I'll be switching the sump semi soon, and at that time I'll follow the proper set up protocol. For now, GFO, and time.

Thanks for all the replies guys/gals.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by doch

Sorry... I meant to say that I'm dosing about 1/3 of the recommended dosage of all of the products I use. I've been using the supplements (k,b, phols, coral vit, eisen, kalimidofluor, coral snow, amino acids, and maybe a couple others) for quite some time with no ill effects, but since the upgrade I started with full zeo (zeolites, bak, food, and start) . I'm not on the zeo forums, but I have lurked around there for a while and done some reading. This is what has taought me that I've done the start up wrong. The replies to questions that I've read have been suggesting to dose bak and food daily, directly into the reactor pump. I didn't do this. I dosed about 1/3 of the suggested dose twice a week for the whole time. Also, I didn't run my reactor on a 3 hours on, 3 hours off schedule... full time. Like I say, I'll be switching the sump semi soon, and at that time I'll follow the proper set up protocol. For now, GFO, and time.

Thanks for all the replies guys/gals.

Oh, I see. I'm surprised you haven't run into any algae troubles yet using all those additives without the full system. It took me a good year to figure out the Zeovit system...it is not easy to do imo. Albeit I never had the reactor working proper either. Once I finally got a reactor ready for it I gave up on the system because I was working out of province and the tank maintenance company didn't know enough about the Zeovit to adjust dosing when it needed it.

That reminds me...I should hook up that reactor again. I found it preferred to dose the basic 4 at full dose.

[doch]

Originally Posted by Myka

Oh, I see. I'm surprised you haven't run into any algae troubles yet using all those additives without the full system. It took me a good year to figure out the Zeovit system...it is not easy to do imo. Albeit I never had the reactor working proper either. Once I finally got a reactor ready for it I gave up on the system because I was working out of province and the tank maintenance company didn't know enough about the Zeovit to adjust dosing when it needed it.

That reminds me...I should hook up that reactor again. I found it preferred to dose the basic 4 at full dose.

I've actually stopped dosing everything right now. Since I didn't set it up properly in the first place, I stopped everything. I've still got flow going through the reactor though... should I shut it down? I'm thinking of firing up the bio pellets for the time being until I have time to go pick up my sump and return pump... after shutdown (I'm working 75hours/week right now).

So you're saying that I should run the bak/start/food at full recommended dose? What's the 4th? Zeolites?