ReeferTCG
Active Member
Hi all,
I’m feeling really frustrated and know much of this is my fault. My tank, a 6-month-old Red Sea 200, was thriving—alkalinity consumption increasing, corals with open polyps, and everything looking healthy. Even though I QT’d my fish, I noticed some flashing. Knowing my LFS has flukes, I dosed PraziPro following recommendations. The first dose went fine, corals stayed happy. After the second dose, however, a huge bacterial bloom occurred, dropping my pH from 8.1 to 7.8 in a single day. I left AFR and Kalk dosing running, which caused alkalinity to spike from 8.8 to 9.3. Around that time, nitrates were at 1 and phosphates 0.08, so I dosed a bit of ammonia. Since then, things have gone downhill—Goniopora closed, Acros showing RTN, Green Slimer and Candy Cane receding, and Euphyllia pulling back. Some corals are surviving, but overall I feel crushed because I know this is my fault. To try raising nutrients without stressing the tank with additives, I increased auto feeding, which in two days spiked phosphates to 0.55. Tomorrow I’m doing a 10% water change. I thought nutrients were bottoming because Chaeto had stopped growing, but testing shows they are still rising. I really need advice on stabilizing the system again, as well as some moral support.
For reference, my tank is a Red Sea 200 with a remote sand bed, refugium, filter roller, and skimmer. I had been dosing PNS bacteria, Microbacter7, amino acids, phyto, Reef Roids, and Chaeto Grow, but I recently stopped the phyto and bacteria. I also dosed DIY ammonia at a reduced amount to raise nitrates. Kalk and All For Reef dosing were started when the tank was thriving but paused until alkalinity dropped. Auto water changes are running. My Kalk is from BRS (purchased via Amazon).
Most recent parameters:
I’m feeling really frustrated and know much of this is my fault. My tank, a 6-month-old Red Sea 200, was thriving—alkalinity consumption increasing, corals with open polyps, and everything looking healthy. Even though I QT’d my fish, I noticed some flashing. Knowing my LFS has flukes, I dosed PraziPro following recommendations. The first dose went fine, corals stayed happy. After the second dose, however, a huge bacterial bloom occurred, dropping my pH from 8.1 to 7.8 in a single day. I left AFR and Kalk dosing running, which caused alkalinity to spike from 8.8 to 9.3. Around that time, nitrates were at 1 and phosphates 0.08, so I dosed a bit of ammonia. Since then, things have gone downhill—Goniopora closed, Acros showing RTN, Green Slimer and Candy Cane receding, and Euphyllia pulling back. Some corals are surviving, but overall I feel crushed because I know this is my fault. To try raising nutrients without stressing the tank with additives, I increased auto feeding, which in two days spiked phosphates to 0.55. Tomorrow I’m doing a 10% water change. I thought nutrients were bottoming because Chaeto had stopped growing, but testing shows they are still rising. I really need advice on stabilizing the system again, as well as some moral support.
For reference, my tank is a Red Sea 200 with a remote sand bed, refugium, filter roller, and skimmer. I had been dosing PNS bacteria, Microbacter7, amino acids, phyto, Reef Roids, and Chaeto Grow, but I recently stopped the phyto and bacteria. I also dosed DIY ammonia at a reduced amount to raise nitrates. Kalk and All For Reef dosing were started when the tank was thriving but paused until alkalinity dropped. Auto water changes are running. My Kalk is from BRS (purchased via Amazon).
Most recent parameters:
- Alkalinity: 8.08 spike to 9.3 dKH
- Nitrate: 1 spike to 11.1 ppm
- Phosphate: 0.08 spike to 0.55 ppm
- Calcium: 455 ppm
- Magnesium: 1395 ppm
- Salinity: 35 ppt
- Ph 8.1 drop to 7.8 back to 8.1
