ReeferMadness80G’s Shallow SPS Reef

[drawman]

So are we saying that my recent algae growth is contributed to no Phosphate?

Also, my tank is only about 3 months old but I cycled with microbactr7 and had an initial diatom/ algae bloom but it cleared up.

What are your NO3/PO4 levels at? With most algae no. If we are talking diatoms or cyano then possibly. I would say as long as you don't let PO4 reach 0 you should be fine just work on that clean up crew. If acros still look good I doubt you've bottomed out on PO4 but it always worth a test.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

What are your NO3/PO4 levels at? With most algae no. If we are talking diatoms or cyano then possibly. I would say as long as you don't let PO4 reach 0 you should be fine just work on that clean up crew. If acros still look good I doubt you've bottomed out on PO4 but it always worth a test.

Salifert NO3- 2.5ppm
API PO4- 0
Acros don't look as good as they did coming from my other tank. I contributed it to going from LED to T5

Edit: was thinking about running carbon and gfo

 

[SashimiTurtle]

How can I add PO4?

Edit:Robin, don't you have a little experience in this?

Yep, Seachem flourish phosphorus. There's a formula in my build thread, but honestly I don't use it anymore. It did get my PO4 off the floor and didn't spike up like the KNO3 did. Actually, it went right where it was supposed to go. Right now I'm just feeding reef energy and oysterfeast every other day. I do 0.5ml/10g each reef energy A & B and I probably do 1-2ml/10g of the oysterfeast. Very minimal algae, the sand stays white and my corals are colorful.

 

[drawman]

Salifert NO3- 2.5ppm
API PO4- 0
Acros don't look as good as they did coming from my other tank. I contributed it to going from LED to T5

Edit: was thinking about running carbon and gfo

If your PO4 is zero I wouldn't run GFO. Either you are truly PO4 limited and the acros don't like it or the algae is consuming PO4 fast giving you the reading of PO4. With that level of nitrate I don't think it would hurt to get the PO4 back up to lets say .o1-.03ppm to see if acros respond. Could be the LEDs as well but fixing PO4 is easy especially with bottled PO4. Watch nitrate as it may come down a little. Acros can get very ticked off when PO4 bottoms out and they do tend to hold a grudge

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

If your PO4 is zero I wouldn't run GFO. Either you are truly PO4 limited and the acros don't like it or the algae is consuming PO4 fast giving you the reading of PO4. With that level of nitrate I don't think it would hurt to get the PO4 back up to lets say .o1-.03ppm to see if acros respond. Could be the LEDs as well but fixing PO4 is easy especially with bottled PO4. Watch nitrate as it may come down a little. Acros can get very ****** off when PO4 bottoms out and they do tend to hold a grudge

What's this bottled PO4 you speak of? Lol how can I acquire said product

 

[SashimiTurtle]

What's this bottled PO4 you speak of? Lol how can I acquire said product

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Bad news, I noticed some tissue necrosis on two of my sticks. I really hope that doing a water change and changing out the old bulbs and getting some PO4 in the water will help.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Bad news, I noticed some tissue necrosis on two of my sticks. I really hope that doing a water change and changing out the old bulbs and getting some PO4 in the water will help.

Where is your alk?

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Also what salt do you use?

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Alk is 8
The salt I use is a specially formulated salt that my coral farmer gets. Doesn't really have a name. I'm thinking about switching to something else when I get my RODI water going. Not that it's bad, bc he grows corals very successfully. It just never mixes up right for me.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

As long as it's not one of those turbo charged salts with 14000 alk it should be fine. 8 is good, I'd try and get your PO4 up. Bottled phosphorus is fine but aminos and carbs are better. Hopefully those sticks recover... the Orange Julius is ok, right? ;Nailbiting

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

As long as it's not one of those turbo charged salts with 14000 alk it should be fine. 8 is good, I'd try and get your PO4 up. Bottled phosphorus is fine but aminos and carbs are better. Hopefully those sticks recover... the Orange Julius is ok, right? ;Nailbiting

The acropower is taking care of amino acids.
So far the Orange Julius is ok, not as happy by any means but not showing signs of TN

 

[SashimiTurtle]

See if you can find some Oysterfeast near you. Put 1ml/10g(prob 8mls) in your tank and turn off the return and let the power heads blow that stuff around for 10 minutes or so. My corals have really colored up since adding it to my reef nutrition.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

See if you can find some Oysterfeast near you. Put 1ml/10g(prob 8mls) in your tank and turn off the return and let the power heads blow that stuff around for 10 minutes or so. My corals have really colored up since adding it to my reef nutrition.

You got it bud! I'll pick some up this weekend, I think I'm gonna hit the top three, WWC, Living Reef and Top Shelf Aquatics

 

[SashimiTurtle]

You got it bud! I'll pick some up this weekend, I think I'm gonna hit the top three, WWC, Living Reef and Top Shelf Aquatics

So jealous that you live close to WWC... I'm sure the others are just as nice. Meanwhile I'm stuck in SC, with a bunch of non aquarium people. Good news is im going to CMAC 2017 Saturday. Its like our only frag swap in Columbia.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

How are those corals doing? I picked up a few more last weekend.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

They are hanging in there, had another cycle after adding more of a bioload. Tank is covered in diatoms and hair algae. Very ugly. I bought a reefbrite strip so I'll be able to cut way down on my T5 light schedule soon.

 

[Katrina71]

Show the ugly.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Show the ugly.

Lol, I'll have to take a pic when I get home. It's bad

 

[Katrina71]

Please do. Makes me feel better about mine