Need some input on lighting.

aquapod_noob · 08/29/2009, 08:10 AM

Ok i have had my 20gal high tank up for a little over a year now and things were going good now lately it seems like the tank is going downhill. most of the zoas that i have in there are not doing good and over the last few weeks i have been losing most of my sps but not all i have some monti's and millis that are doing fine all my softies and lps and maxima clam are doing fine. I have 4 fish in the tank, few inverts. the lighting is 250w 20k xm light is about 9" off the water surface as for flow i have a mj1200, 2 korilia 1's and my rena xp1 canister filter which is about 300gph. all parameters are within reason.
temp - 78-80
cal - 480
alk - 9
mag - 1280
trates - 2.5-5
PO4 - .04

I am wondering if my lighting could be the issue is 250watts too much for a 20gal the tank is 16" deep. also i seem to be infested with those little white stars, i keep sucking as many as i can out at water changes. it like 50 or so at a time but they keep coming back coraline growing on the glass like crazy have to scrape it atleast one a week. as for a skimmer i have a DIY airstone skimmer that works pretty good. Way better than the biocube skimmer. Sorry for the long post i just wanted to make sure i covered everything. Thanks in advance for any advice

Bill14 · 08/29/2009, 08:48 AM

Was everything doing fine under that lighting before? How old is the bulb? Since you have a 20K bulb, I wouldn't think the lighting is too much, especially if the corals were doing well under it before.

Your PO4 is a little high. Are you running any GFO? Any algae problems?

jlemoine2 · 08/29/2009, 09:03 AM

I also think the phosphates are too high.

I've been running a 20 gal high for many years. Given your's is about a year old, I'm betting that your organics are starting to build up. I never really had high nitrates in the tank either, but it would still seem to go downhill. There was a period where I could not keep corals in it at all. Once I finally put a decent skimmer on it, things turned around.

Could you provide more information on your DIY skimmer? Your canister filter may also be contributing nitrates if you are not keeping it cleaned out on a regular basis.

Pics of the tank?

Bill14 · 08/29/2009, 11:07 AM

That's a good point about nutrient build up. That would explain your asterina explosion. They have to have something to feed on to reproduce like that. What's your husbandry like? Do you ever blast your rock to free detritus? Do you have a SSB or DSB?

aquapod_noob · 08/29/2009, 06:39 PM

i blast the rock off every WC and normally do 5gal every other week used to be 5 gal every week but i didnt see the need being that i clean the canister out regularly. went to the LFS today and found my trates were at 40 not the 5 that my test was reading and found out that the swings in my ph will cause issues.

08/29/2009, 08:10 AM	#1
aquapod_noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 724	Need some input on lighting. Ok i have had my 20gal high tank up for a little over a year now and things were going good now lately it seems like the tank is going downhill. most of the zoas that i have in there are not doing good and over the last few weeks i have been losing most of my sps but not all i have some monti's and millis that are doing fine all my softies and lps and maxima clam are doing fine. I have 4 fish in the tank, few inverts. the lighting is 250w 20k xm light is about 9" off the water surface as for flow i have a mj1200, 2 korilia 1's and my rena xp1 canister filter which is about 300gph. all parameters are within reason. temp - 78-80 cal - 480 alk - 9 mag - 1280 trates - 2.5-5 PO4 - .04 I am wondering if my lighting could be the issue is 250watts too much for a 20gal the tank is 16" deep. also i seem to be infested with those little white stars, i keep sucking as many as i can out at water changes. it like 50 or so at a time but they keep coming back coraline growing on the glass like crazy have to scrape it atleast one a week. as for a skimmer i have a DIY airstone skimmer that works pretty good. Way better than the biocube skimmer. Sorry for the long post i just wanted to make sure i covered everything. Thanks in advance for any advice

08/29/2009, 09:03 AM	#3
jlemoine2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 200	I also think the phosphates are too high. I've been running a 20 gal high for many years. Given your's is about a year old, I'm betting that your organics are starting to build up. I never really had high nitrates in the tank either, but it would still seem to go downhill. There was a period where I could not keep corals in it at all. Once I finally put a decent skimmer on it, things turned around. Could you provide more information on your DIY skimmer? Your canister filter may also be contributing nitrates if you are not keeping it cleaned out on a regular basis. Pics of the tank? __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef w/ 40 gallon frag tank.

08/29/2009, 06:39 PM	#5
aquapod_noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 724	i blast the rock off every WC and normally do 5gal every other week used to be 5 gal every week but i didnt see the need being that i clean the canister out regularly. went to the LFS today and found my trates were at 40 not the 5 that my test was reading and found out that the swings in my ph will cause issues. __________________ 28 gal JBJ intermediate LED cube 10 gal DIY AIO Current Tank Info: 28 gal JBJ intermediate LED cube, 10 gal DIY AIO

08/29/2009, 08:48 AM	#2
Bill14 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 234	Was everything doing fine under that lighting before? How old is the bulb? Since you have a 20K bulb, I wouldn't think the lighting is too much, especially if the corals were doing well under it before. Your PO4 is a little high. Are you running any GFO? Any algae problems?

08/29/2009, 11:07 AM	#4
Bill14 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 234	That's a good point about nutrient build up. That would explain your asterina explosion. They have to have something to feed on to reproduce like that. What's your husbandry like? Do you ever blast your rock to free detritus? Do you have a SSB or DSB?