In late november my nitrate went down to 0, due to some silicate, organic iron and nopox dosing (it was my mistake, did not pay enough attention). Algae and bacteria growth consumed most of it (and some of it the corals). Corals started to pale (my red plating montipora is the first to show signs of starvation), so added some sodium-nitrate (I usually try to keep my nitrate around 2-3ppm), then few days later my phosphate also dropped to 0 (measured with Hanna), so dosed some creatine-phosphate. After corrections all was good, no losses. Got the NO3/PO4 levels back to where I like them to be. But since these events slowed my coral growth, my kH went up to 11+, so decided to stop my dosing pumps for a day, then turn them back on the next day (I prefer kH around 8-9). This was my second mistake in november (was not my best month), I forgot to turn them on. Only a few days later, in the weekend when I usually do my regular inspection, realized something is wrong. kH dropped to 5.3 (measured it twice). Never thought can drop this low. Slowly raised it (1pp/day), and luckily did not loose anything this time either. Glad most my corals are not sensitive ones, they fogive my mistakes. But cyano thought it’s his/her time. After those swings I think it is normal for cyano to show up. Can’t blame it. Also early december one of my clowns disappeared in the sump, not sure what happened to him. Guess it got eaten/dissolved.
Earlier I used to freak out when I saw red slime spots, but not anymore. Since I don’t change water and organics are buiding up, I get cyano 2-3 times a year. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to get rid of it. Not this time. This december it decided will stay for the holidays, did not want to go away. Next to the powerfilter and substrate stirring I started dosing some hydrogen-peroxide, hoping it will help. After dosing it for 2 weeks, I stopped, since nothing happened. Now, a few weeks later cyano is disappearing slowly, all I did in the past 2-3 weeks is to blow it off the rocks with a turkey blaster and stir the gravel once or twice a week. Despite the fact that my nitrate is around 15 (record high for me, never had it above 10 before) and phosphate as high as 0.1, everything is doing great.
Well, what is the reason I’m writing all this? Earlier I experienced some swings, but these were the most extremes for me (nitrate from 0 to 15+, phosphate from 0 to 0.1, kH from 11 to below 6). All these changes took place in 3-4 weeks, or maybe less. To my surprise, none of the corals died. I know I have some less sensitive SPS, but still, these are quite big changes in water parameters (I think). Reason (I’m guessing here, these are my theories) is that I try not to change these parameters suddenly, and that I keep corals well fed. At least try not to starve them. I do not target feed corals, but:
- I have lots of fish (21 in 100gallon), I feed them 2-3 times a day (they poop and pee a lot)
- always ensure there is enough bacterioplankton available (most of the time don’t let N&P drop to 0 and dose carbon constantly, so none of it becomes limiting factor)
- I also ensure I always have algae on my glass (dose silicate every week and extra iron if needed). I have to wipe my glass panels every 2-3 days which is a great phytoplankton feed for corals as well.
- Plus, I believe, that if there is enough nutrition for algae, then zooxanthellae are also getting what they need (I think).
The second reason I’m writing all this, is because of another event, for which I do not have a theory (in most cases we all have our own theories, don’t we?). In mid december (after I lost a clown and started dosing peroxide), also about that time when my nitrate jumped from 2 to 15 (but don't think this is the reason) my corals started „blooming”, it was like springtime for them. I could see a huge difference in their growth. It lasted maybe 2 weeks. Now after a month, nitrate is still 15 (as it was then) and phosphate still around 0.09-0.1, but growth is back to ’normal’, meaning it is still happening, but not at that rate. At that time something got into the water, some nutrition, some organic stuff from the dissolved fish and/or from the dissolved organics that was caused by peroxide dosing… I don’t know, but corals liked it and they were happier than they usually are. I have no clue why or what. Wish I did a Triton test then…
So, this is how the tank looks after all these events… You could not tell from the picture all these happened.
Earlier I used to freak out when I saw red slime spots, but not anymore. Since I don’t change water and organics are buiding up, I get cyano 2-3 times a year. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to get rid of it. Not this time. This december it decided will stay for the holidays, did not want to go away. Next to the powerfilter and substrate stirring I started dosing some hydrogen-peroxide, hoping it will help. After dosing it for 2 weeks, I stopped, since nothing happened. Now, a few weeks later cyano is disappearing slowly, all I did in the past 2-3 weeks is to blow it off the rocks with a turkey blaster and stir the gravel once or twice a week. Despite the fact that my nitrate is around 15 (record high for me, never had it above 10 before) and phosphate as high as 0.1, everything is doing great.
Well, what is the reason I’m writing all this? Earlier I experienced some swings, but these were the most extremes for me (nitrate from 0 to 15+, phosphate from 0 to 0.1, kH from 11 to below 6). All these changes took place in 3-4 weeks, or maybe less. To my surprise, none of the corals died. I know I have some less sensitive SPS, but still, these are quite big changes in water parameters (I think). Reason (I’m guessing here, these are my theories) is that I try not to change these parameters suddenly, and that I keep corals well fed. At least try not to starve them. I do not target feed corals, but:
- I have lots of fish (21 in 100gallon), I feed them 2-3 times a day (they poop and pee a lot)
- always ensure there is enough bacterioplankton available (most of the time don’t let N&P drop to 0 and dose carbon constantly, so none of it becomes limiting factor)
- I also ensure I always have algae on my glass (dose silicate every week and extra iron if needed). I have to wipe my glass panels every 2-3 days which is a great phytoplankton feed for corals as well.
- Plus, I believe, that if there is enough nutrition for algae, then zooxanthellae are also getting what they need (I think).
The second reason I’m writing all this, is because of another event, for which I do not have a theory (in most cases we all have our own theories, don’t we?). In mid december (after I lost a clown and started dosing peroxide), also about that time when my nitrate jumped from 2 to 15 (but don't think this is the reason) my corals started „blooming”, it was like springtime for them. I could see a huge difference in their growth. It lasted maybe 2 weeks. Now after a month, nitrate is still 15 (as it was then) and phosphate still around 0.09-0.1, but growth is back to ’normal’, meaning it is still happening, but not at that rate. At that time something got into the water, some nutrition, some organic stuff from the dissolved fish and/or from the dissolved organics that was caused by peroxide dosing… I don’t know, but corals liked it and they were happier than they usually are. I have no clue why or what. Wish I did a Triton test then…
So, this is how the tank looks after all these events… You could not tell from the picture all these happened.