Can Your Tank Be Too Clean?

[Shep]

I want to starting running duel reactors on my tank for carbon and GFO but I have heard that some corals like their water a little dirty and I would be worry that on my 30g carbon and gfo would make it too clean. So is this a valid worry or am I ok running the reactors? Also my tank is mostly LPS (90% acans) but I do plan on adding a few SPS over time.

 

[candcreef]

Depends on what your levels are now....have you tested for phosphates and nitrates? No coral likes clean water...you have to have some nitrates and phosphates....there is a balance you have to achieve when it comes to this...too much of one and not the other will upset beneficial bacteria....it has been shown that when you increase nitrates from 0, it helps keep phosphates down naturally....google kno3 dosing...might give you a better understanding to nutrients in your water....

 

[candcreef]

Btw....carbon, I'm assuming you are talking about the carbon (black stuff), does not ridyour water f nitrates and phosphates....it just keeps your water from having a yellow tinge to it...if you are talking about vodka or vinegar dosing (carbon dosing) then yes that will drop you nutrient levels...for what it is worth, I always run carbon in a reactor just because I have alot of euphyllia and bubble tips (prolly alot of coral warfare going on)....I will be dosing kno3 real soon to bring up my nitrate levels to achieve 2 things....1. Is to bring my phosphates down and 2. To color my sps up....without nitrates bacteria won't eat the phosphates and without phosphates bacteria won't eat nitrates....does this make sense to ya?

 

[candcreef]

Oh...and to answer your question, your tank can be too clean, just ask all the people who have pale sps and who don't clean their glass but every 5-7 days....