CMPS
Community Member
I've been asked for some advice to help 'rescue' this setup by another group at a university lab I am affiliated with. As you can see, things look pretty bad right here. Lots of algae growth and coral die-off. Honestly, given the requirements of the experiment that is being done, I'm not quite sure where to start here.
The study being conducted is on how the introduction of varying levels of plastic particulate affects the growth of various coral species. I was told that this was the reason that typical filtration is not used, as the plastic particulates clog filters and pumps in the tanks with higher concentrations.
The setup consists of four separate 20 gallon long tanks, no rocks or substrates, and frag racks on the bottom. Each tank has a pair of powerheads, though some appear to be broken on dysfunctional.
I first inquired about water quality parameters. Weekly water quality testing is done, which give low readings, though with just API test kits, which are somewhat notorious for being inaccurate at lower levels. Water changes are done, apparently about 2 gallons per aquarium per month (10%). The lighting for each tank is an orbit marine from Current USA. Fusion 1 and 2 are dosed regularly. From what I was shown of the most recent testing, calcium levels were only slightly low and alkalinity looked fine, as does salinity and PH.
With all the apparent algae, I suggested to increase the water change percentage as a form of nutrient export and to potentially fix other water quality issues, up to 20% a week, or 4 gallons per tank per week. Along with taking a closer look at water parameters, I hope this at least would be enough for the candy canes and hammerheads to bounce back.
The remaining 6 species in each tank are all SPS, which predictably, are not looking good. I don't have much experience with SPS personally, I keep mainly LPS and softies. I know water quality and trace elements are even more important for SPS, as are precise flow and lighting requirements. Many of the SPS seem like a lost cause, but would like to see if anyone here has some tips on how to go about rescuing them, such as dosing iodine or other traces, especially those not found in reef fusion.
Some other suggestions I was thinking of included repositioning of the coral. Many of the SPS especially seem positioned with inadequate flow. Another possibility would be to have a hang-on in the tank to grow Chaeto as a form of additional nutrient export. However, with so much clearly wrong here, I'm not quite sure where to start my reccomendations.
Any pointers or tips on what I should suggest to turn this setup around?
Attached below are some ideas of what we are dealing with here. Yeah, not looking too pretty...
The study being conducted is on how the introduction of varying levels of plastic particulate affects the growth of various coral species. I was told that this was the reason that typical filtration is not used, as the plastic particulates clog filters and pumps in the tanks with higher concentrations.
The setup consists of four separate 20 gallon long tanks, no rocks or substrates, and frag racks on the bottom. Each tank has a pair of powerheads, though some appear to be broken on dysfunctional.
I first inquired about water quality parameters. Weekly water quality testing is done, which give low readings, though with just API test kits, which are somewhat notorious for being inaccurate at lower levels. Water changes are done, apparently about 2 gallons per aquarium per month (10%). The lighting for each tank is an orbit marine from Current USA. Fusion 1 and 2 are dosed regularly. From what I was shown of the most recent testing, calcium levels were only slightly low and alkalinity looked fine, as does salinity and PH.
With all the apparent algae, I suggested to increase the water change percentage as a form of nutrient export and to potentially fix other water quality issues, up to 20% a week, or 4 gallons per tank per week. Along with taking a closer look at water parameters, I hope this at least would be enough for the candy canes and hammerheads to bounce back.
The remaining 6 species in each tank are all SPS, which predictably, are not looking good. I don't have much experience with SPS personally, I keep mainly LPS and softies. I know water quality and trace elements are even more important for SPS, as are precise flow and lighting requirements. Many of the SPS seem like a lost cause, but would like to see if anyone here has some tips on how to go about rescuing them, such as dosing iodine or other traces, especially those not found in reef fusion.
Some other suggestions I was thinking of included repositioning of the coral. Many of the SPS especially seem positioned with inadequate flow. Another possibility would be to have a hang-on in the tank to grow Chaeto as a form of additional nutrient export. However, with so much clearly wrong here, I'm not quite sure where to start my reccomendations.
Any pointers or tips on what I should suggest to turn this setup around?
Attached below are some ideas of what we are dealing with here. Yeah, not looking too pretty...
