Upgrade time !

[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.

[Craigdillman]

K do you suggest getting the p04 down to where it was then start carbon dosing or

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Craigdillman

K do you suggest getting the p04 down to where it was then start carbon dosing or

You can do both at the same time, but P04 is your bigger problem. I only tried carbon dosing for a very short time, and didn't like the work and attention involved. So have used only a bio pellet reactor for a long time. Keeps N03 at zero (or at least so low I can't measure any). And I go for a year+ without having to touch it. Once N03 is down to zero, pellet consumption slows down to almost nothing.

But with P04 that high, it will take some effort with Fozdown (carefully) to bring it down. Once it is down (all leached out of your sand and rocks), then it is easy to maintain with just GFO.

[Craigdillman]

Yea I run carbon and gfo about 1.75 cups of it p04 is usually 0.08-0.10 and my nitrates have never been above 1-2ppm in ny tank just over the last month it's creeped up with goby sifting the 2year old sand bed that hasn't been touched that with the new pump and I think caused this whole thing

[Reef Pilot]

Well, the goby is doing a good thing if he is stirring and cleaning up your sand bed. But your filter/sock should be catching the suspended material, and your skimmer doing its job as well. You might have a while of higher P04, but that's where the Fozdown can help, to get it back down.

[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 ...

[Craigdillman]

Ok thanks guys yea I run filter socks and lately having to change them about every 3 days, getting medium skimmate might go more wet now I threw in more gfo also and in going to do another 30g we tokorrow I did one on Thursday to and one on Monday to try to reduce stuff, I'm thinking of buying hay jebaco dosed and doing vinegar dosing but gonna try to get the levels back down to where they were before the new fish and pump

The sand looks clearer then it ever has like there is nothing in it now he did a crazy good job (maybe too good)

Gonna do the wc and retest stuff tomorrow see where I'm at and cut my cheeto is half again it also is growing like crazy too

[Reef Pilot]

Nothing beats a good sand sifter goby for keeping your sand nice and clean. Of course if it is dirty to start, you will go through a period of exporting nutrients including the DOCs. Just be diligent with your filter socks, skimmer and P04 removal. But once you are through that, your tank will shine, and your SPS will love you...