Hey everyone, I know this is a noobish question, but an answer would help heaps.
Regarding my 240L Aquarium with a top filter (spray bar), running activated carbon (now expired), heater, 2 Aquael pumps each 2500L/hr. The tank is about 6 weeks old, has about 21kg of live rock, two Ocellaris, and two damsels. I have a mantis a couple of snails, a couple of hermits, a mollusc and some other inverts too. I should add that I don't use a protein skimmer (Gasp!), I enjoy water changes, and no sump either!
I aim to create a beautiful reef tank with Soft and LPS corals, with LPS being my absolute favorites! Now I'm aware that LPS requires a mature, established tank, so I plan to start with softies. Last week upon visiting my LFS, my nutrients were as follows:
Nitrate 25ppm
Phosphates: 0.5mg
Alkalinity: 8.4dkh
Calcium: 330ppm
Magnesium: 960ppm
Salt: 1.022
Let's get to the crux of this post. My tank is currently going through a diatom bloom, and it seems to have been getting better with big reduction in lighting, frequent water changes (NSW), and my hardy trochus team
HOWEVER...
These numbers clearly don't amount to a very successful coral reef do they? I have already begun dosing Red Sea Calcium and Magnesium to reach required levels. My phosphate and nitrates are clearly too high for a sustainable coral reef. What should I do?! I do water changes, about 40L at a time at most, I don't think I overfeed.. I will be slowly upgrading clean up crew as well. Have thought of using Poly-Filter or GFO in a filter bag and chucking it in the top filter but that wont address the root of the problem. Any advice would be appreciated cause I really would love to see these gross algae disappear and be able to sustain a coral reef!
Regards, GY
Regarding my 240L Aquarium with a top filter (spray bar), running activated carbon (now expired), heater, 2 Aquael pumps each 2500L/hr. The tank is about 6 weeks old, has about 21kg of live rock, two Ocellaris, and two damsels. I have a mantis a couple of snails, a couple of hermits, a mollusc and some other inverts too. I should add that I don't use a protein skimmer (Gasp!), I enjoy water changes, and no sump either!
I aim to create a beautiful reef tank with Soft and LPS corals, with LPS being my absolute favorites! Now I'm aware that LPS requires a mature, established tank, so I plan to start with softies. Last week upon visiting my LFS, my nutrients were as follows:
Nitrate 25ppm
Phosphates: 0.5mg
Alkalinity: 8.4dkh
Calcium: 330ppm
Magnesium: 960ppm
Salt: 1.022
Let's get to the crux of this post. My tank is currently going through a diatom bloom, and it seems to have been getting better with big reduction in lighting, frequent water changes (NSW), and my hardy trochus team
These numbers clearly don't amount to a very successful coral reef do they? I have already begun dosing Red Sea Calcium and Magnesium to reach required levels. My phosphate and nitrates are clearly too high for a sustainable coral reef. What should I do?! I do water changes, about 40L at a time at most, I don't think I overfeed.. I will be slowly upgrading clean up crew as well. Have thought of using Poly-Filter or GFO in a filter bag and chucking it in the top filter but that wont address the root of the problem. Any advice would be appreciated cause I really would love to see these gross algae disappear and be able to sustain a coral reef!
Regards, GY