kolokele
Community Member
Tank specs - Biocube 16 was established in Jan 2021. Inhabitants: 2 tuxedo sea urchins, a few snails, clown fish, hermit crab, emerald crab, and mostly soft corals. I have some macro algae I was trying to grow but most are being eaten by the sea urchins. Salinity is at 35, pH 8.1, and 78 degrees. Last weekend these were my Hanna readings: Alkaline 7.1 (dosed to increase to 8), MG 1230 (dosed to increase this but typically it is much higher so that was surprising), CA 442, Phosphate .07, Nitrates1.7 so I dosed to increase to 2-3.
In October, I tried to feed my corals Reef Roids. I thought I was using the right amount and even did a water change afterward but despite all that, I think I poisoned my tank with a phosphate flurry. I tried hard to correct it slowly but in the process, I lost my beautiful hammer coral a month later despite my best efforts. I invested in Hannah testers to ensure I was recording correct #s and during the worst of it I had phosphates of .47 and nitrates of 0 - oddly enough there was no algae bloom or anything like that. Before Christmas, I lost my first inhabitant of nearly 2 years, my Chromis :-( I am not sure if this is related since he seemed fine but who knows? My clownfish seems fine.
In recent weeks, I was able to reduce my phosphate to less than .1 but I have had to supplement Neo Nitrates to get my nitrates up to a better level. This past week, every morning the tank has a thin film of what looks like algae (not on the sand). So I have been adding nitrates all week but this feels highly unbalanced and very frustrating! I dosed 2 days ago and yesterday the readings were .03 for phosphates and 7.1 for nitrates - I did not test today nor did I dose so I am guessing tomorrow the nitrates will have dropped to 1 or 2.
I have a simple setup - an inch or so of sand and live rock, no protein skimmer, no algae scrubber, no bio balls. Alkaline also seems challenging to keep up in my tank - it is consistently around 7. I have a bag of carbon and a phosphate remover in the filtration area for now with an additional airstone. The other corals seem ok and I have a lot of visible copepods, mini starfish, and other small invertebrates. I also do a weekly water change of 5 gallons - RODI water with Red Sea and use Seachem supplements. One side note, I have had a hard time keeping mushroom coral. I finally had one thriving with poor parameters but since the phosphates have improved, the shroom is nowhere to be seen (sigh). The others seem fine.
What am I doing wrong or is the tank getting to a new maturity level where I have to constantly watch parameters and dose? And are some of us not meant to have mushroom coral? I am unclear on what makes them happy!
Adding a pic of my tank from the past couple of weeks. Any advice or feedback is much appreciated!
Thank you!
In October, I tried to feed my corals Reef Roids. I thought I was using the right amount and even did a water change afterward but despite all that, I think I poisoned my tank with a phosphate flurry. I tried hard to correct it slowly but in the process, I lost my beautiful hammer coral a month later despite my best efforts. I invested in Hannah testers to ensure I was recording correct #s and during the worst of it I had phosphates of .47 and nitrates of 0 - oddly enough there was no algae bloom or anything like that. Before Christmas, I lost my first inhabitant of nearly 2 years, my Chromis :-( I am not sure if this is related since he seemed fine but who knows? My clownfish seems fine.
In recent weeks, I was able to reduce my phosphate to less than .1 but I have had to supplement Neo Nitrates to get my nitrates up to a better level. This past week, every morning the tank has a thin film of what looks like algae (not on the sand). So I have been adding nitrates all week but this feels highly unbalanced and very frustrating! I dosed 2 days ago and yesterday the readings were .03 for phosphates and 7.1 for nitrates - I did not test today nor did I dose so I am guessing tomorrow the nitrates will have dropped to 1 or 2.
I have a simple setup - an inch or so of sand and live rock, no protein skimmer, no algae scrubber, no bio balls. Alkaline also seems challenging to keep up in my tank - it is consistently around 7. I have a bag of carbon and a phosphate remover in the filtration area for now with an additional airstone. The other corals seem ok and I have a lot of visible copepods, mini starfish, and other small invertebrates. I also do a weekly water change of 5 gallons - RODI water with Red Sea and use Seachem supplements. One side note, I have had a hard time keeping mushroom coral. I finally had one thriving with poor parameters but since the phosphates have improved, the shroom is nowhere to be seen (sigh). The others seem fine.
What am I doing wrong or is the tank getting to a new maturity level where I have to constantly watch parameters and dose? And are some of us not meant to have mushroom coral? I am unclear on what makes them happy!
Adding a pic of my tank from the past couple of weeks. Any advice or feedback is much appreciated!
Thank you!
