After 6 years, still having problems. Desperately Need Help!

Jmunk · Aug 6, 2021

Also, I did try the chaeto again, actually got the pack from algaebarn, so it's got chaeto, sea lettuce, and one other macroalgae. Dumped that in the fuge yesterday so we'll see if that lives. Fuge light is set to run for 17 hours.

Frostblitz20 · Aug 6, 2021

ill mimic on the part that ill agree using a suction tube on the cayno wont hurt anything just dont use a overly large one otherwise your lose alot of water in the process plus sand.

Jmunk · Aug 6, 2021

Biokabe said:
So I'll echo the sentiments of everyone who is advocating for a larger CUC. They're a major benefit, and it's only really a problem if you massively overstock them, especially the larger-bodied CUC members. However, it needs to be said: In a situation like yours, the CUC will not likely be the solution to your problem; they will be what prevents your problem from recurring further down the road.

One thing that no one else has mentioned is lanthanum chloride, available in several different commercial formulations. It's probably the most effective means of quickly lowering phosphate (which I think pretty much everyone would agree is the root of your problems), but it does have some drawbacks to use. Notably, it can lower your alkalinity, and it can cause breathing problems for certain fish (I think Zebrasoma tangs primarily). Basically, what it does is react with the phosphate to form a salt, which then precipitates out of your water. Simply filtering the precipitate out of the water (done with a 5-micron filter sock) will then remove the phosphates from your water. It's this precipitate that can cause issues with fish, as the salt is fine enough that it can get caught in their gills.

If you decide to go that route, make sure you have the filter set up ahead of time, and be aware that socks that fine clog pretty quickly. Slow drips are best with it to minimize issues. Technically your skimmer can also remove the particulate from the water, but I'm not sure that I'd chance it without the filter sock.

There's a dosing calculator I use for lanthanum chloride, I'll dig up the link for you if you're interested when I get home tonight.

I actually have used lanthanum chloride before, used PhophateRX. I would have to dose about 6-8 drops everyday just to keep PO4 at around .20. As soon as I stopped dosing it, the PO4 would jump back up. It was never a thing where I dosed it to get it right and it stayed there, so other than dosing it everyday, I didn't really feel like that was a great fit.

Forty-Two · Aug 7, 2021

Jmunk said:
Don't have a probe, no way to know.

You can get Ph test kits - so no probe is required. Hanna checker PH exists as well - but not sure how good it is

attiland · Aug 7, 2021

Forty-Two said:
You can get Ph test kits - so no probe is required. Hanna checker PH exists as well - but not sure how good it is

Not very good, I find it a hassle compared to Red Sea test. Takes 10sec plus preparation I have results in about 30 sec

Forty-Two · Aug 8, 2021

attiland said:
Not very good, I find it a hassle compared to Red Sea test. Takes 10sec plus preparation I have results in about 30 sec

Good to know - thanks for sharing. Lots of options for PH test kits out there.

AussiePisces79 · Sep 15, 2023

CanuckReefer said:
As per your request @Jmunk ....it's no great shakes here, but it's my slice after a bunch of years.... it grounds me now. I know my wheelhouse, and try my best to keep it this way. Yellow Tang, Ocellaris, and Three Stripe are all 18 years +. My corals are various age, I'm always looking to try something new, some succeed and some fail. My inverts are some well over 20 years.

Wow, so impressive im struggling with the art of reef keeping my inverts die have a massive algae bloom but determined to get it right after 2 years of trying

AussiePisces79 · Sep 22, 2023

ggNoRe said:
problem

did a 50% wc and took out and scrubbed the rocks clean before giving the substrate a good syphoning I tested today and it's still 2.5mg/l I added a reactor with PhosGuard by Seachem hoping it continues to work...I detailed my sump today removing and washing media, added an inline heater.
Doing daily 5% wc approx, or should I do larger say 20% daily until it comes down to a respectable level, my kh is also high 19 so I'm looking into what I can do for that.