LPS corals receding

[gmann]

Hey all, does this make sense given my situation

plan of action:

#1 - dose chemiclean, I know someone said not to, but cyano is creeping up on my corals.

#2 - water change to remove chemi clean stuff

#3 - stop dosing fozdown & zeobak

#4 - remove filter socks, and up the feeding in hopes of raising nitrates. should I remove the hydroton too?

#5 - once I see nitrates, start dosing nopox and try and maintain a reading of 1 for nitrates.

Did I miss anything? Should I lower the amount of my monthly water changes?

[warriorcookie]

i would use chemiclean as a last resort.

if you do, suck out all the cyano first and make sure to use an airstone.

as you start increasing nitrates slowly reduce the other phosphate removal you're doing. you're looking for a balance. things are going to seesaw back and forth for a couple weeks until the bacteria catches up.

One thing at a time though. and make changes slowly.

[tang daddy]

Don't use chemiclean, it's only a band aid for an infection...not the cure.

We know why you are getting cyano, the simple answer is your tank is off balance. Kessils are strong so be aware that LEDs can burn Lps.

A few things you can do.

Remove filter socks, skim wetter, suck out as much cyano during water changes, do more frequent but smaller water changes and siphon cyano. For WC turn off return and gyre. Blast corals with a maxijet or hydro koralia to get cyano off when the cyano settles on the sand bed siphon it out. Keep repeating these steps. It's better to do. 10g wc every day than a 90g one day.

Corals like Lps need to be fed, I feed mine every other day when the lights are out. Especially scollies and other meaty corals like symphyllia, Tracy, fungia and donuts.

You can get a head mounted led and go in when lights are off to feed the Lps, just get some krill or larger mysis, shut off flow if you have to and feed 2-3 times per week. If you are feeding krill cut them into smaller pieces. Your corals will love you and after they regurgitate the food the shrimps and maybe even fish will have some food. Just make sure the Lps coral consume the food and expel before you feed more. When I fed my scollies by hand before sometimes they would keep it for a day and a half before spitting it out. Make sure they have empty stomach before feeding more as they can gut rot themselves to death. Whatever you do just take your time and do it slow. This hobby can be rewarding and sometimes a chore... after all we are trying to replicate god creation but we are not immortals more like slaves to our tanks. Anyhow try feeding and blowing the cyano and smaller wc. I bet in a months time the tank will perk back up. Also try to run your lights bluer with less white from the kessils. This will give your corals a chance to open up more and not fuel the cyano as much.

Keep us updated on how it goes!

[gmann]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

We know why you are getting cyano, the simple answer is your tank is off balance. Kessils are strong so be aware that LEDs can burn Lps.

Also try to run your lights bluer with less white from the kessils. This will give your corals a chance to open up more and not fuel the cyano as much.

Keep us updated on how it goes!

Thank you for the tips. for my lights, I run max color at 60%, and max intensity at 85 for a couple of hours only. I guess i'll drop intensity down to 70-75 or so.

[iamfrontosa]

Reducing your light level is the right step, IMO.
How deep is your sand bed? If cyno keeps coming back, maybe you want to remove some sands, go bare bottom or just keep a very thin layer of it for decorative.

You don't really need to dose all those chemicals. Turn off the light for a few days while cyno is making a come back is better.

Once that's under control, hopefully LPS receding will stop.

My two cents.

[gmann]

Originally Posted by iamfrontosa

Reducing your light level is the right step, IMO.
How deep is your sand bed? If cyno keeps coming back, maybe you want to remove some sands, go bare bottom or just keep a very thin layer of it for decorative.

You don't really need to dose all those chemicals. Turn off the light for a few days while cyno is making a come back is better.

Once that's under control, hopefully LPS receding will stop.

My two cents.

I believe my sand was at an inch to 1.5 tops. I have been removing some during water changes.

as for the lights, I did try that for 3 days, but after the water change the cyano came back.

[iamfrontosa]

I used to have cyno. Whenever i got it, my sandbed was the first to go. It was only 0.5" deep. Now that I only keep just barely enough to cover the bottom, I no longer get cyno. And I didn't have to dose anything.

Just my experience.