Coral growth lab results

[Terry Le]

Thanks for the pictures. Your Zoas are closed up that definitely from something nipping on them. Keep an eye out for the Queen. My thoughts is that new additions corals will be nipped to death before the can settle in. I know over the years people on here have Queen angel in their reef but of course the reef is already established so nip here and there is not a big thing. By the way Queen is my favorite I did have a Emporer since juvy and it was around 12” when it’s passed

 

[Aries360]

The emporer is relatively newer. Still has its juvenile colors. The queen is also one of my favs. She’s brilliant/bright coloring. Can’t wait for the emporer to change colors too. But yes that’s definitely a possibility. But they basically closed up as soon as they hit the water. Also you can see the Kenya trees and other leathers all shriveled up

 

[Aries360]

I don’t think lightning is your problem at all. Will you mind post a few pictures of full tank shots

Thoughts

 

[Terry Le]

My thoughts are the angels are reasons for your corals declining. But you know better than I do from have closer relationships with your tank

 

[Aries360]

So I understand most people are blaming the angels. However, they are recently new additions and I couldn’t grow coral before they were added. They do pick on certain corals but leave most alone.

 

[Aries360]

Welp, finally got the phosphates down to 0.4. Which is a new record for me. Now I have a red algae problem. I can’t win. I just took out all my rowaphos and am giving up. Fish only I guess.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Welp, finally got the phosphates down to 0.4. Which is a new record for me. Now I have a red algae problem. I can’t win. I just took out all my rowaphos and am giving up. Fish only I guess.

Red algae means cyanobacteria, or something else like a red turf?

 

[Aries360]

Yes red turf algae seems to describe it better.

 

[bubbgee]

Welp, finally got the phosphates down to 0.4. Which is a new record for me. Now I have a red algae problem. I can’t win. I just took out all my rowaphos and am giving up. Fish only I guess.

It will be like this. The red turf could be the one consuming phosphates bringing your numbers down. This is the ugly phase and will be like this as your tank matures. Sometimes you just have to wait it out until the tank says it's ready.

Alternatively, just use brightwell phosphate e, I use half a dose for the tank and let the phosphate drop and I monitor it. It usually goes down half of my phosphates.

I also battled phosphates and nitrates for years and with my new tank, I am able to manage it better with this dosing. I also used Aquaforest Life Source which helped my tank 'mature' faster.

 

[twentyleagues]

It will be like this. The red turf could be the one consuming phosphates bringing your numbers down. This is the ugly phase and will be like this as your tank matures. Sometimes you just have to wait it out until the tank says it's ready.

Alternatively, just use brightwell phosphate e, I use half a dose for the tank and let the phosphate drop and I monitor it. It usually goes down half of my phosphates.

I also battled phosphates and nitrates for years and with my new tank, I am able to manage it better with this dosing. I also used Aquaforest Life Source which helped my tank 'mature' faster.

This is not a new tank. This tank has been mature for a while.

 

[Remi]

With your phosphate at 0.4, what is the nitrate level?

 

[Aries360]

It will be like this. The red turf could be the one consuming phosphates bringing your numbers down. This is the ugly phase and will be like this as your tank matures. Sometimes you just have to wait it out until the tank says it's ready.

Alternatively, just use brightwell phosphate e, I use half a dose for the tank and let the phosphate drop and I monitor it. It usually goes down half of my phosphates.

I also battled phosphates and nitrates for years and with my new tank, I am able to manage it better with this dosing. I also used Aquaforest Life Source which helped my tank 'mature' faster.

The tank is like 7 years old lol. Just was trying to do more coral .

 

[bubbgee]

Have you identified the source of phosphates? Mine has been the RODI water I was using for water change and top off and resolved by changing filters. The other is cheap pellet food for fish and the last one is reef roids and RedSea AB+.

Eliminated these issues and my phosphates went down gradually with Phosphate-E and GFO.

 

[bubbgee]

The tank is like 7 years old lol. Just was trying to do more coral .

My apologies. Crissed crossed with another post.

 

[Aries360]

Have you identified the source of phosphates? Mine has been the RODI water I was using for water change and top off and resolved by changing filters. The other is cheap pellet food for fish and the last one is reef roids and RedSea AB+.

Eliminated these issues and my phosphates went down gradually with Phosphate-E and GFO.

Yes I have 50 plus fish

 

[CeylonCorals]

Have you tried spot feeding your corals? I always spot feed them twice a week and I do see an incredible growth rate on certain corals, not everything.