Hi - First off, sorry in advance for the lengthy message, I don’t really have a simple problem here and I want to try to provide as much information as possible but I'll do as succinct as I can. I’m looking for any suggestions to what else could be wrong in my setup.
I setup my 180G peninsula style tank I setup a year ago (May 2020). I used the zeovit method to cycle the tank with a negative space aquascape (NSA) with new marco rocks. I moved about 40-50 lbs of the rock from my other tank in as well around mid-May. New sand and let cycle a until July before moving my corals and fish. I continue the zeovit method and have been religious the entire time about dosing regimen and ensuring the right water volume through the reactor. Filtration using bubble king skimmer and zeovit. Lighint 5x radion G5 pros, set with AB+ setup @ 80% intensity. Flow produced through two mp60s (40-60%) and two icecap gyre 4K (80-100%). Return vetra m2 @ 80%.
In July, I moved all the fish/corals (mixed reef but mostly SPS) and went through a small mini-cycle which I didn't notice ammonia in daily testing but did get algae breakouts that I already went through at the setup. I got that under control after tweaking a couple things and after some time, probably 3-4 weeks.
My tank has been incredibly stable for everything I could test and I'm using a trident to test MG/CA/Alk but I continue to see little/no growth and high die off of any corals I put in (some STN/some RTN). Its incredibly perplexing and frustrating.
I do have a sergeant major fish that kicks sand around the tank daily. While he does this, it does get a little cloudy but its usually not significant and never had an issue in my old tank.
I’ve checked for stray voltage.
My ICP results are (I took out any expected zeros where it tested zero):
That's all I can think of right now. Let me know if anyone can think of any ideas. I’m running out of patience as I just lost several long time corals I’ve had that do well in my biocube (and in the previous tank).
Let me know if anyone can think of any ideas. I’m running out of patience as I just lost several long time corals I’ve had that do well in my biocube (and in the previous tank).
I setup my 180G peninsula style tank I setup a year ago (May 2020). I used the zeovit method to cycle the tank with a negative space aquascape (NSA) with new marco rocks. I moved about 40-50 lbs of the rock from my other tank in as well around mid-May. New sand and let cycle a until July before moving my corals and fish. I continue the zeovit method and have been religious the entire time about dosing regimen and ensuring the right water volume through the reactor. Filtration using bubble king skimmer and zeovit. Lighint 5x radion G5 pros, set with AB+ setup @ 80% intensity. Flow produced through two mp60s (40-60%) and two icecap gyre 4K (80-100%). Return vetra m2 @ 80%.
In July, I moved all the fish/corals (mixed reef but mostly SPS) and went through a small mini-cycle which I didn't notice ammonia in daily testing but did get algae breakouts that I already went through at the setup. I got that under control after tweaking a couple things and after some time, probably 3-4 weeks.
My tank has been incredibly stable for everything I could test and I'm using a trident to test MG/CA/Alk but I continue to see little/no growth and high die off of any corals I put in (some STN/some RTN). Its incredibly perplexing and frustrating.
- Alkalinity has barely moved more than between 7.6-7.9. I had a half a day I wasn't dosing that dropped alk to 7.1 2 months ago, but I slowly got it back up after a week or so through the extra dosing trident does automatically.
- Magnesium1330-1370 for MG
- Calcium 435-465
- Nitrates are dosed and I maintain 2.5 ppm (tested twice a week to ensure I'm not causing imbalance with dosing).
- Phosphates range a little high at .05-.08 (tested at least weekly but twice a week when at .08).
- 34ppt salinity (was nearer 33-33.5ppt when I did the ICP test and have been slowly getting this up by using 35.5ppt new water).
- Phosphate tested regularly and found between 400-420 (one drop is ~20ppm) Also tested with ICP test, results below.
- I’ve also tested nitrites/ammonia randomly when I see something bad happening but always register 0.
- pH 8-8.25
- Temp 78-79
I do have a sergeant major fish that kicks sand around the tank daily. While he does this, it does get a little cloudy but its usually not significant and never had an issue in my old tank.
I’ve checked for stray voltage.
My ICP results are (I took out any expected zeros where it tested zero):
That's all I can think of right now. Let me know if anyone can think of any ideas. I’m running out of patience as I just lost several long time corals I’ve had that do well in my biocube (and in the previous tank).
Let me know if anyone can think of any ideas. I’m running out of patience as I just lost several long time corals I’ve had that do well in my biocube (and in the previous tank).
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