3yr old Tank Crashing

[wesley6610]

Not sure if this has been mentioned or asked yet, but what's your skimmate looking like with nutrient levels so high? Also, how often do you have to clean the cup? What's your flow like in the tank (pumps rated at)? Do you have any dead spots that might be trapping decaying matter that isn't getting suspended in the water column for removal? You tank looks pretty well stocked, so it's possible that flow could be suffering behind some of the rock work. Just a thought.

[frnkynlop]

Originally Posted by wesley6610

Not sure if this has been mentioned or asked yet, but what's your skimmate looking like with nutrient levels so high? Also, how often do you have to clean the cup? What's your flow like in the tank (pumps rated at)? Do you have any dead spots that might be trapping decaying matter that isn't getting suspended in the water column for removal? You tank looks pretty well stocked, so it's possible that flow could be suffering behind some of the rock work. Just a thought.

The skimmer is producing a dark brown watery skimmate. I'm running it a little more weter because of the nutrients. I'm cleaning the cup every 4 to 5days. I have 2 hydro 3 which I think are rated for 1350 gph. I'll check behind the rock and see if I see any debries.

Thanks
Wesley

[wesley6610]

Okay, sounds like the skimmer is doing it's job well enough. I would caution that perhaps you need either more flow or better directed flow. Even though you have a good deal of SPS, perhaps a rock-re-work that maximizes the PH's you currently have would aide in nutrient suspension in the water column a bit better. I recently pulled all my rocks away from the back wall and near my built in overflow in attempts to eliminate known dead spots. If you decide to add carbon and/or GFO, please go extra slow...like, start off with a quarter cup of each in a reactor for a week or two and observe your corals to make sure they are being burned by the light. As your water quality improves, more penetration will happen and possible stress could ensue. I have done it a few times before realizing what I was doing. I currently run a half cup of each in reactors on my 75 gallon and until I add more fish and corals, I think that's the appropriate amounts for my current bio-load.

Anytime and write any changes, good or bad, down in a journal and take pictures at least once a week so you can compare changes from week to week for better monitoring.