SPS struggles

fkshiu · #1 09-20-2009, 10:40 PM

What's your flow?

mseepman · #2 09-20-2009, 10:52 PM

In the 70G (26" x 18" x 24"H) I am running a Quietone 4000 Return, 1 x 6025 Tunze nano, 1 x Vortec MP40W, 1 x Koralia3.

So I would figure lots of flow...in fact my softies aren't as thrilled with it as they could be.

The Vortech runs on random lagoon mode.

My lighting is 1 x 150W MH and 4 x 39W T5HO.

Growth is good, just suddenly the tips get algae

fencer · #3 09-21-2009, 12:54 AM

Something is burning the tips....too much nitrates / light ....try increasing your water changes and add some carbon

mseepman · #4 09-21-2009, 01:29 AM

hmm...I currently run my lighting like this:

T5HO - 8:00AM - 9:00PM
MH - 12:30PM - 7:00PM
Lunar LED 9:00PM - 7:30AM

As for nitrates...The tank is a 70G with 90lbs of rock plus(so about 50-55G) about 10G in the sump (after equipment). I change about 10G of water every 10 days in the form of two 5G water changes over that period.

I run two reactors, 1 with Carbon and 1 with GFO. Carbon is changed every 45 days and GFO is changed ever 60.

Myka · #5 09-21-2009, 01:52 AM

I don't think this will solve your troubles, but you could try using smaller amounts of carbon, and changing it out more often, like every 2-3 weeks. Your magnesium is a tad low too - should be 1350-1400 ppm.

Are there any maintenance things you do every 3 weeks or so since you're noticing the algae issues at that interval? Not necessarily immediately before the algae issue since it could take time for the corals to react.

plutoniumJoe · #6 09-21-2009, 02:23 AM

I had a similar problem. All parameters seemed OK but I was using a float style salintiy test. When I measured with a refractometer I found that I was up around 1028-1029. Once I brought it down everthing came back and the corals overgrew the algae tips.

Joe

mseepman · #7 09-21-2009, 02:40 AM

Hmm...interesting suggestions, thank you for the advice.

Myka, I will try to do the Carbon changes more often. I don't actually use that much in the reactor, maybe 3/4 cup of HC Carbon. As for things that co-incide with the issues...not really...the timing is just an approximation of how long it takes to go sour.

As for my salinity...I do have a hydrometer but I use a refractometer and have done so for about a year now. I will look into re-calibrating it just in case but I have a second tank (a nano) that doesn't have this problem with acros that I measure with the same refractometer.

Could my problems be somewhat related to having softies in the tank? Maybe more carbon, more often will take any possible toxins out better. I would think that if this was the issue, the other SPS would show the problem, but they don't.

I will try to up the Mag some and also do more water changes in case my Nitrates are the issue. Has anyone had good luck with the nitrate destroyer from Tailor aquatics?