Input on my new setup

Grayhead · 10/26/2016, 10:08 AM

OK, so my tank has been in service since mid October. Here is a link to my build http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2590990

I have been adding stock items to the tank a couple of weeks after the TBS rock went in. THe rock has been maintaining well. I have dosed sponge power for the sponges that came with that order. I also have been dosing Korallen coral system with all 4 components weekly. I havent dosed quiet the recommended dosage since most of my corals are frags. My LPS corals are thriving under the lighting. I have several SPS that are doing well also. Some that are stalled.
Parameters are as follows
My average Alk is 8.44 (still dialing in the two part
My average Calc is 468
My average Mag is 1500
Nitrates are undectectable with Salifert
My phosphates are bouncing all over the place. Before my large bi weekly water change, it was 91PPM or 30 PPB on the hanna phosphorus reader
Today it was 6ppb or 18 ppm
To me, its still high. My feeding is cube of Mysis and a cube of cyclopeeze every 3 days, 1 feeding of omega one mini pellets per day, 1/4 sheet of seaweed every 2 days, and reef chili every 3 days after lights out.
Currently residing in tank is
2- midnight clowns
1- yellow tang
1- Matted file fish
1- ornate leopard wrasse
1- Magnificent Foxface
1- royal gramma
1- Misc small wrasse (MIA for 1 week. The ornate did the same thing recently)
Multiple urchins and brittle stars
1- minimaxi anemone resident from my previous tank
30 plus various corals

I keep a decent amount of flow using 2 WAV pumps as well as 2- Gyres ( one removed currently for repair)

My lighting schedule is 4- t5 starting at 2 pm thru 9:30 pm and 3- Kessil 360 WE from 2;30pm to 10:30 pm
Kessilis ramp 180 minutes to 70% color with a max intensity of 62%

My fuge has a Mars Hydro 300 running from 6am to 11 pm. Grom Chaeto like a weed. Quits spinning in my fuge after a week and a half. Just harvested a 5 gallon bucket with 3 weeks growth and filled the bucket. Around 10-12 lbs with no water in bucket. That left my a volley ball size head to start over which doubled in size in 2 days.
I run GFO and carbon. I dose 2 part and MAg . I carbon dose white vinegar. I had a small outbreak of white bacteria till I dialed the carbon back some.

I wipe glass every 2 days, have a 2GPD water change using regular Instant Ocean salt and 0TDS water ran thru BRS RODI with dual DI chambers. I also do a 35 gallon water change every 2 weeks.

So based on what you see, am I pointed in the right direction?
Some of my SPS are not coloring like I would like. They seem to be growing, but with a brown hue to them. A couple of the acros are coming along, but not how I want them. A said above, the LPS are booming.

mcgyvr · 10/26/2016, 10:20 AM

From what I see/think..
Your phosphates are way too high due to you way..way overfeeding..

All else seems fine..

Grayhead · 10/26/2016, 10:54 AM

I would tend to agree, except they dont seem to change even if i cut back to feeding every other day and once a week on the frozen items. I have a massive cleanup crew with my tank, so nothing really gets "wasted" But this was a major issue with the old tank as well. I attributed it to the rock I had. I used some of the rock in this new build, but not after cleaning it. I will cut back some on the feeding to see if it helps. Forgot to add my magnificent foxface as well.

Grayhead · 10/28/2016, 10:12 AM

I am beginning to think the main source of my phosphate issue stems from my original rock from my last build. Been running GFO steady as well as AWC. No food for 24 hours and boom, 20 ppb on Hanna. Think I am tearing down my rocks this weekend and pulling the old rock

Grayhead · 11/10/2016, 11:47 AM

Ok, so I tore the old pukani out of the display. I've done 2 30 gallon water changes as well as my 2 gallon per day change. Checked last night and the phosphates were 0.02 ppm. Considerable difference. I also changed to red Sea testing for the phosphates. I checked the Hanna several times in a row and always came up with a different reading. So, if all is good after this weekend, I'll be working hard to keep the tank stable.

Mark9 · 11/10/2016, 02:06 PM

Why not just bump your build thread rather than create a new one linking to it?
It's in the same forum.

Grayhead · 11/10/2016, 07:15 PM

Because I was asking for specific input. My build thread seemed to not gain traction with questions I had.

10/26/2016, 10:08 AM	#1
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	Input on my new setup OK, so my tank has been in service since mid October. Here is a link to my build http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2590990 I have been adding stock items to the tank a couple of weeks after the TBS rock went in. THe rock has been maintaining well. I have dosed sponge power for the sponges that came with that order. I also have been dosing Korallen coral system with all 4 components weekly. I havent dosed quiet the recommended dosage since most of my corals are frags. My LPS corals are thriving under the lighting. I have several SPS that are doing well also. Some that are stalled. Parameters are as follows My average Alk is 8.44 (still dialing in the two part My average Calc is 468 My average Mag is 1500 Nitrates are undectectable with Salifert My phosphates are bouncing all over the place. Before my large bi weekly water change, it was 91PPM or 30 PPB on the hanna phosphorus reader Today it was 6ppb or 18 ppm To me, its still high. My feeding is cube of Mysis and a cube of cyclopeeze every 3 days, 1 feeding of omega one mini pellets per day, 1/4 sheet of seaweed every 2 days, and reef chili every 3 days after lights out. Currently residing in tank is 2- midnight clowns 1- yellow tang 1- Matted file fish 1- ornate leopard wrasse 1- Magnificent Foxface 1- royal gramma 1- Misc small wrasse (MIA for 1 week. The ornate did the same thing recently) Multiple urchins and brittle stars 1- minimaxi anemone resident from my previous tank 30 plus various corals I keep a decent amount of flow using 2 WAV pumps as well as 2- Gyres ( one removed currently for repair) My lighting schedule is 4- t5 starting at 2 pm thru 9:30 pm and 3- Kessil 360 WE from 2;30pm to 10:30 pm Kessilis ramp 180 minutes to 70% color with a max intensity of 62% My fuge has a Mars Hydro 300 running from 6am to 11 pm. Grom Chaeto like a weed. Quits spinning in my fuge after a week and a half. Just harvested a 5 gallon bucket with 3 weeks growth and filled the bucket. Around 10-12 lbs with no water in bucket. That left my a volley ball size head to start over which doubled in size in 2 days. I run GFO and carbon. I dose 2 part and MAg . I carbon dose white vinegar. I had a small outbreak of white bacteria till I dialed the carbon back some. I wipe glass every 2 days, have a 2GPD water change using regular Instant Ocean salt and 0TDS water ran thru BRS RODI with dual DI chambers. I also do a 35 gallon water change every 2 weeks. So based on what you see, am I pointed in the right direction? Some of my SPS are not coloring like I would like. They seem to be growing, but with a brown hue to them. A couple of the acros are coming along, but not how I want them. A said above, the LPS are booming. __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http: Last edited by Grayhead; 10/26/2016 at 10:53 AM.

10/26/2016, 10:20 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	From what I see/think.. Your phosphates are way too high due to you way..way overfeeding.. All else seems fine.. __________________ Who me?

10/26/2016, 10:54 AM	#3
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	I would tend to agree, except they dont seem to change even if i cut back to feeding every other day and once a week on the frozen items. I have a massive cleanup crew with my tank, so nothing really gets "wasted" But this was a major issue with the old tank as well. I attributed it to the rock I had. I used some of the rock in this new build, but not after cleaning it. I will cut back some on the feeding to see if it helps. Forgot to add my magnificent foxface as well. __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http:

10/28/2016, 10:12 AM	#4
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	I am beginning to think the main source of my phosphate issue stems from my original rock from my last build. Been running GFO steady as well as AWC. No food for 24 hours and boom, 20 ppb on Hanna. Think I am tearing down my rocks this weekend and pulling the old rock __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http:

11/10/2016, 11:47 AM	#5
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	Ok, so I tore the old pukani out of the display. I've done 2 30 gallon water changes as well as my 2 gallon per day change. Checked last night and the phosphates were 0.02 ppm. Considerable difference. I also changed to red Sea testing for the phosphates. I checked the Hanna several times in a row and always came up with a different reading. So, if all is good after this weekend, I'll be working hard to keep the tank stable. __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http:

11/10/2016, 02:06 PM	#6
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Why not just bump your build thread rather than create a new one linking to it? It's in the same forum.

11/10/2016, 07:15 PM	#7
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	Because I was asking for specific input. My build thread seemed to not gain traction with questions I had. __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http: