Need some help from a seasoned reefer

[steventaylor702]

I have had some issues with my tank over the last 3 months.

Some back story first
Started the tank about 2 years ago in a nuvo 16 and about 6 months ago I set up a new tank with a sump and better filtration about double the total volume of the 16 the tank its self is about the same size as the 16 though

Over the last couple of months I have had a few issues:

About 3 months ago:
First the tank was running to clean I fixed the by holding off on my water changes and reducing my chemi-pure size down.
My parameters where
nitrates undetectable
Phosphates undetectable
PH 8.1
Cal 400
Alk 7
Temp 77

About 2 weeks ago:
Then I had a cyano out break that I fix with some chemi-clean but not be for trying to clean it out by by siphoning it
And keeping parameters in check
My parameters where
nitrates 10
Phosphates > 1 ppm
PH 8.2
Cal 420
Alk 8
Temp 77


Now I have some brownish red slime the is getting on certain corals particularly my zoas cause the to not want to open it blows right off with a baster and they start to open but it keeps coming back every day
My parameters where
nitrates 5 ppm
Phosphates > 1 ppm
PH 8.3
Cal 380
Alk 9
Temp 77

I am currently doing another dose of chemi-clean to see if the cures it
But any suggestions and info you could give me to help me out would be great I really want to get this under control before I lose anything. All my other corals except one are doing great but just one that I put up to high and it burnt the tips and the zoas that are not opening. If you live in the Vegas area you could come and take a look and I can post pics if needed.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Phosphates that high is not good.

 

[steventaylor702]

Phosphates that high is not good.

I made an error when writing this I meant less than 1 ppm my friend has a Hannah checker for phosphates and it came up as .2 ppm

 

[Reefing Madness]

.2 is still way to high. You want them at .05 or below.

 

[steventaylor702]

.2 is still way to high. You want them at .05 or below.

I think I got it mixed up then because my friend said it was where it needed to be. He checked it about 2 months ago so I don't remember exactly what he said I'm going to have it tested again today when I go to pick up my water

 

[steventaylor702]

Yes I maid a mistake I just looked at my ATI test kits and every time I check this with it it shows up undetectable and it so its below .2 my apologies he might of said .02.
I tested my phosphates yesterday day but wrote it in wrong when I put it down on my paper

 

[steventaylor702]

This is the chart I try and keep my parameters to

 

[Reefing Madness]

Good chart to go by, your numbers are good then.

 

[steventaylor702]

So can you think of anything that it might be. I have been at this for 4 years now but have always had aio tanks and the only two times I have switched to a tank with sumps I have had issues like this coming up I really want to go bigger but affriad of this happening. I planning on upgrading to a cadlights 70 artisan II but want to nip this in the butt before I do because I want everything to go smoothly and its gonna be a ton of money around 3000 grand with tank, light, rock, and sand

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ive had the brown slime grow on my softies before and I wave it off best I can, it eventually went away on its own. I dont know what it is or how to really get rid of it.

 

[Robthorn]

Silicates?

 

[steventaylor702]

Ive had the brown slime grow on my softies before and I wave it off best I can, it eventually went away on its own. I dont know what it is or how to really get rid of it.

Ya this is a first for me hope it goes away

Silicates?

If it is I don't know how they got in there

 

[Robthorn]

Food, Salt, additives, make up water. It can come from many places.

 

[steventaylor702]

Yes I understand but I take precautions to make sure stuff like that doesn't get in my tank

 

[jeremyjdennis]

Can someone help me please. ... anyone know what this white flouty stuff is growing off my live rock ? I clean it off and it grows right back. .... it's starting to get out of hand.

 

[steventaylor702]

Could be a type a sponge

 

[steventaylor702]

Can someone help me please. ... anyone know what this white flouty stuff is growing off my live rock ? I clean it off and it grows right back. .... it's starting to get out of hand.

Could be a type of sponge

 

[steventaylor702]

What does it feel like

 

[jeremyjdennis]

It's just like white hair hanging off the rock. ...

 

[steventaylor702]

If its soft it could be a type of sponge if it's hard it could be a number of different things bike tube worms or coralline algae of some sort