Desperate plea for help.

[dolpator]

I would reduce your percentages across the board. You have 3 powerful fixtures and 4 led light bars so you're likely blasting things. If coral isn't growing for some reason, all that light is going to make the problem worse. I'd venture to say that aside from certain sps, you could keep most of your coral alive and slowly growing with the 2 radions alone. That's why I think you should just go much lower with light and cut out all the variables. You can run a tank with just water changes until stuff starts to take hold and grow. Flow, light, fish poop and replacing calcium and alkalinity will grow coral, so start there and work your way up.

Understood. I have turned the light bars off. When we did PAR readings they were so low, we thought adding these would help bring the par up some. At least 50 points or better. When the par measured 225-250 under the radions was told that was not enough for SPS.

 

[dolpator]

What about your flow? It seems very low to none from the video; also, the water doesn't look crystal clear. It seems a bit cloudy and this could indicate a bacteria bloom. Are you running carbon?

I suggest drop a bag of "Blue Life Clear FX Pro" in high flow area of your sump.

Watch out to Hanna MG, it's total trash. Always reading 150-200pm higher;
Hanna CA you must use deionized water. RODI it's not the same and it will read higher number.

I will do an ICP test asap to make sure the water is not contaminated in any way and that you do not have any critical deficiencies.

Besides that I must admin your tank it's truly amazing!!!

 

[Devisissy]

So lights down, Nitrates and Phosphates to balance. Buy some overpriced carbon. I am taking notes, how am I doing?

 

[dolpator]

I have ordered some Blue Life Clear FX Pro. I have a media basket in one of my sock spots that I can put this and see if it helps clear up the water

 

[Gabbone]

You do realize that the “DI” in RO/DI stands for “deionized”?

Sorry I haven't explain correctly;

I meant Distilled/Pure water from the supermarket rather than your homemade rodi which will always contains a tiny amount of CA.

min: 3.00

 

[Gabbone]

I have ordered some Blue Life Clear FX Pro. I have a media basket in one of my sock spots that I can put this and see if it helps clear up the water

Good job! It's a nice po4/si/heavy metal/toxic substances binder and does an amazing job in making your water crystal clear and free from odors. Surface agitation is perfect!

 

[dolpator]

Good job! It's a nice po4/si/ binder and does an amazing job in making your water crystal clear and free from odors. Surface agitation is perfect!

I was running carbon for about 2 weeks. I ran out and had to order some more. I typically do not run carbon. Maybe someone on here could clear up the SPS/Carbon issue that came out a long time ago. I have a small media reactor and do not mind running carbon when necessary. I think I just came across a lot of bad information and I think for the most part I am agreeing with the reefers on this feed that I just need to get back to basics and start again..

 

[Gabbone]

I think you already know what to do then! :-D

My only recommendation is to start on the minimum-middle level side on parameters and increase on real compsumption

 

[Beefyreefy]

So lights down, Nitrates and Phosphates to balance. Buy some overpriced carbon. I am taking notes, how am I doing?

If you dm me or make a new thread with your set up, dosing and nutrient levels I can give you personalized suggestion. I don’t care if you put them here but sometimes people don’t like that, lol.

 

[dolpator]

If you dm me or make a new thread with your set up, dosing and nutrient levels I can give you personalized suggestion. I don’t care if you put them here but sometimes people don’t like that, lol.

I do not mind. I am filtering between what I need. There seems to be a concern and if it helps him I do not care. We are all here to learn, from others, our mistakes, and I am ok with that. I need the help it is obvious. If he is in the same boat I am, please by all means help him, whether it is here or on his own thread.

 

[dolpator]

I think you already know what to do then! :-D

My only recommendation is to start on the minimum-middle level side on parameters and increase on real compsumption

Might take some heavy losses in the process

 

[Gabbone]

Might take some heavy losses in the process

I believe it's part of the learning journey. But again, your tank is AMAZING, really!

Here's a shot of mine, today.

 

[dolpator]

I believe it's part of the learning journey. But again, your tank is AMAZING, really!

Here's a shot of mine, today.

I really try hard. I really do. But man I told myself not to get into SPS. You can have an amazing LPS tank with out all the hassle. Then Bam get that stupid bug and then this happens.

 

[Devisissy]

If you dm me or make a new thread with your set up, dosing and nutrient levels I can give you personalized suggestion. I don’t care if you put them here but sometimes people don’t like that, lol.

Oh please do. Some of us need to lurk and learn.

 

[dolpator]

So as we are still in discussion. Are the Gen6's adequate for the system I have? Is there a certain schedule I should be looking at. Are there certain numbers that I should be striving for? How much is to much? Can you have to much UV? Can I run an all blue schedule like the old days? Is 250 Par good enough for SPS? I am being told no, no, no.... What is the consciences in today's reefs?

 

[Beefyreefy]

So as we are still in discussion. Are the Gen6's adequate for the system I have? Is there a certain schedule I should be looking at. Are there certain numbers that I should be striving for? How much is to much? Can you have to much UV? Can I run an all blue schedule like the old days? Is 250 Par good enough for SPS? I am being told no, no, no.... What is the consciences in today's reefs?

The 2 gen6 (xr15’s?) are probably fine for most corals on a 80 gallon tank. Youre current multi light set up would be good for a thriving sps tank but it sounds like that’s not where your at right now. All blue is fine as is a blend, it doesn’t really matter all that much. People have success with all blue or a much whiter spectrum. 250 par is adequate for sps. My biggest concern is that if something is amiss, blasting everything with high PAR will not help, and will hurt. You can keep sps at least alive with lower par numbers and definitely grow most other corals with much lower par. My logic is that sps is tricky regardless, so optimize and get things living and happy and then slowly ramp up and add light as things begin to thrive. I can assure you with your description of how hard it is for you to grow any coral, not enough light is not your problem.

 

[Devisissy]

So as we are still in discussion. Are the Gen6's adequate for the system I have? Is there a certain schedule I should be looking at. Are there certain numbers that I should be striving for? How much is to much? Can you have to much UV? Can I run an all blue schedule like the old days? Is 250 Par good enough for SPS? I am being told no, no, no.... What is the consciences in today's reefs?

UV is a gimmick unless you can afford an appropriately sized unit. Time water is exposed to the UV is key. Most units as far as I can tell are under powered for the tanks they are in.

Everything is a balance. So if you have a ton of PAR you also need the nutrients. If you have less nutrients then less par. A balance. That's my take on it. When stuff is not balanced, and you start buying crap you don't need like carbon, but never iron in the balance, you never succeed. I am so guilty of this.

 

[twentyleagues]

So as we are still in discussion. Are the Gen6's adequate for the system I have? Is there a certain schedule I should be looking at. Are there certain numbers that I should be striving for? How much is to much? Can you have to much UV? Can I run an all blue schedule like the old days? Is 250 Par good enough for SPS? I am being told no, no, no.... What is the consciences in today's reefs?

You are going to get so many answers to this. I would say 250 is low fine maybe not as fast growth. I would not do all blue most sps look better under full spectrum. I dont think any current led emits too much uv light. I would think the gen 6 should be fine if thats the way you want to go.

 

[Sump Crab]

After not reading your post, and watching your video (lol) - your tank looks great! I guess I don't understand the problem?? Congratulations on a beautiful reef aquarium. Keep up the good work!

 

[Devisissy]

You are going to get so many answers to this. I would say 250 is low fine maybe not as fast growth. I would not do all blue most sps look better under full spectrum. I dont think any current led emits too much uv light. I would think the gen 6 should be fine if thats the way you want to go.

Oh we are talking about UV in lights! Naw. Who cares, I have seen amazing under UV and no UV. Besides UV in leds are sort of weak sauce say compared to a Geismann 48inch T5 of pure UV.