High Nitrate please help want to save my kenya tree

[Ariellemcc]

Personally I don't think you have enough live rock in the system. I'd get twice as much live rock and I think you will notice a big difference.

Working on it we used what we had when we upgraded but it was on a time crunch cuse the 75 was leaking

 

[FUNGI]

You need a better light

Agree....didnt see that light before my posting

 

[PPBlimpy]

Used a buck of water from the 75 to try to rinse the sand a bit but didnt want to wash it to much and i will try to raise the kenya tree up. What kinda light should i get for it

I like noopsyche k7 lights personally

 

[exnisstech]

Curious what you are running in the canister? If it were me I would probably run a pre filter on the the intake and/or add a hob for particulates and put a bunch of rock rubble in the canister to add more room for Bio filtration and just let it run and not have to worry about cleaning it. It would pretty much be a cryptic fuge which is a great place for pods and worms and such to thrive.

 

[BryanM]

I would consider this a new tank, pre started cycle, but migrating, my understanding always has some sort of cycle.

You need test kits for sure so you know exactly where you're at.

My tank migration had a couple of my softies unhappy for about a week and a half before the perked back up.

Also magically, I bottomed out nutrients after the migration (I used new substrate, kept old live rock), and the old tank had mid 20's nitrates and .3-.7 phos. Bottomed out within two weeks.

So get some test kits :)

 

[Ariellemcc]

Curious what you are running in the canister? If it were me I would probably run a pre filter on the the intake and/or add a hob for particulates and put a bunch of rock rubble in the canister to add more room for Bio filtration and just let it run and not have to worry about cleaning it. It would pretty much be a cryptic fuge which is a great place for pods and worms and such to thrive.

Mechanical filtration, matrix, carbon and porcelain

 

[Dburr1014]

I would not assume nitrate at 80 ppm is harming that coral. Some great tanks have had higher levels.

OP, I tend to agree with this statement but what are your phosphate levels?

But I also think 80 ppm is not ideal. Maybe for some tanks, but not all. We still have a lot to learn about nutrients.

 

[Dburr1014]

I would consider this a new tank, pre started cycle, but migrating, my understanding always has some sort of cycle.

If it's all from an almost 2 yo tank, why do you think it's "new" or why would it "cycle"?

I do, however, think for the amount of rock, the size of the tank and how many fish/size of fish, it's going to get worse before it gets better. The tank is way overstocked for the life support system to handle.

OP has 7 heavy waste producers and a couple clowns that are medium size. All in a 125 with barely any rock, a undersized skimmer and a canister filter. No bueno.

 

[Faurek]

Don't think it's because of the nitrates, it either needs to acclimate or the tank is too new for it, sometimes Kenyas can be finicky. Don't start stripping nitrates or you could kill it by hunger, what are the phosphates at?

 

[BryanM]

If it's all from an almost 2 yo tank, why do you think it's "new" or why would it "cycle"?

I do, however, think for the amount of rock, the size of the tank and how many fish/size of fish, it's going to get worse before it gets better. The tank is way overstocked for the life support system to handle.

OP has 7 heavy waste producers and a couple clowns that are medium size. All in a 125 with barely any rock, a undersized skimmer and a canister filter. No bueno.

because I migrated a tank recently, used new sand, and all the old live rock, and it had a mini cycle. Almost certainly due to introducing new substrate and not using the old live sand, but using the old sand presents even more risk.

 

[Dburr1014]

because I migrated a tank recently, used new sand, and all the old live rock, and it had a mini cycle. Almost certainly due to introducing new substrate and not using the old live sand, but using the old sand presents even more risk.

I went from my 75 to the 150 in May last year. No cycle, fully loaded with sps. I did clean and reuse my sand.

I guess different tanks act differently.

 

[grumpyguppy]

Best way to deal with nitrate other than water changes. I do water changes every week and a large water change once a month. Change/clean filter media as instructed. And i can’t get the dang nitrate down. Im at a loss. i know the test sucks but i currently use a api drops test and it look likes is 80s.
I was gifted a rock with some kenya tree on it a few days ago from a fellow keeper (their tank is clean and they have lots of thriving corals, anemones ext) (including this kenya tree that was doing well in their tank) and i don’t know what its doing now (ps i haven't been able to keep anemones alive I've tried a few times and i really don't want this to die)

125 gallon
Fx4 filter
125 gallon rated skimmer
125 gallon rated uv light
Rabbitfish, 2 foxface , 4 tangs, pair of clowns, hawkfish, 1 damsel, 4 chromis
Feed flakes or pellets in morning and night and sometimes (maybe once a week) frozen food midday

In my experience I have had great success in dosing brightwell reef bio fuel. Helps drip both nitrates and phosphates. As long as you have a skimmer. Didn’t read your equipment list

 

[BryanM]

I went from my 75 to the 150 in May last year. No cycle, fully loaded with sps. I did clean and reuse my sand.

I guess different tanks act differently.

Honestly after the dinos I went thru due to bottoming out nutrients (Pre migration N:23, P:.4) I wish I had rinsed/cleaned my sand and re-used it.

I did not like the look of the live sand, but I didn't hate it enough to go through all the nonsense I've been dealing with since, and I'm 99% sure its because I used a new, not-live, substrate.

 

[Keithb22]

Light choice is highly subjective and dependent on what you want in a light as a minimum. What I mean by that is do you want simplicity, app control, ability to ramp up, etc.my 75 I wanted simplicity and bought a smart plug a did light bars from quanta and love them. They can definitely grow coral and are a great bang for buck. I’ve also used radions and loved them as well, more control but the price tag to boot.

 

[edsbeaker]

You may have other problems in the tank but I am Specifically addressing the sagging Kenya tree. My thought is that they tend to like nutrients, and I don’t think your nitrates would cause this. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to bring them down, but, I think Kenya’s need high flow to perk up and stay standing up. It looks like its polyps are opening, so I think if you don’t have high flow, that’s your issue as far as the Kenya.

 

[JCH]

Personally I don't think you have enough live rock in the system. I'd get twice as much live rock and I think you will notice a big difference.

I agree, you don’t have nearly enough rock . Also did anyone mention clean up crew? I’d add a bunch of hermits and snails. Looks like quite a few fish popping in there. Need scavengers.

 

[Mellotang]

You ever medicate that tank When it was fish only?