I don't know what else to do?

[rsixer]

I've been in the hobby for quite some time, but having an issue Ive never encountered before, so asking for input. Ive recently set up a AIO Tideline 47, it was cycled about two months before adding coral, mostly Euphyllia, its been running for 3 months now. Water parameters are as follows Ammonia and nitrite 0, KH 8.2. PH 8, temp 77F, nitrate is detectable but very low, magnesium sitting at 1380, but at one point was fairly low before dosing, salinity 1.24. I run a bag of carbon, bio filtration, puragen, and recently added a Icecap AIO skimmer, 10-15 gallon water change every 2 weeks is my usual routine. Medium water flow and I have a Kessel Apx9 thats running 50-80% intensity, mostly blue/violet spectrum. Although nothing has died, the coral just don't look happy, in particular the 2 hammers. Is there something I'm missing here? Any input will be helpful.

 

[DJF]

Didn’t see ca but guessing it’s in alignment. I’d consider less frequent water changes. Your water might be too clean. Let your nutrients climb a bit.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've been in the hobby for quite some time, but having an issue Ive never encountered before, so asking for input. Ive recently set up a AIO Tideline 47, it was cycled about two months before adding coral, mostly Euphyllia, its been running for 3 months now. Water parameters are as follows Ammonia and nitrite 0, KH 8.2. PH 8, temp 77F, nitrate is detectable but very low, magnesium sitting at 1380, but at one point was fairly low before dosing, salinity 1.24. I run a bag of carbon, bio filtration, puragen, and recently added a Icecap AIO skimmer, 10-15 gallon water change every 2 weeks is my usual routine. Medium water flow and I have a Kessel Apx9 thats running 50-80% intensity, mostly blue/violet spectrum. Although nothing has died, the coral just don't look happy, in particular the 2 hammers. Is there something I'm missing here? Any input will be helpful.

Take a water sample to an LFS that does not use API kits , which I suspect you are using and see what readings they come up with to compare with yours and disregard nitrites which are freshwater specific

 

[rsixer]

Didn’t see ca but guessing it’s in alignment. I’d consider less frequent water changes. Your water might be too clean. Let your nutrients climb a bit.

No I haven't tested for CA, I would image they are in check cause the few coral in there wouldn't really be much of a consumer at this point, plus Ive been using Sea-lab 28, but that's my next step. Ill try letting the tank dirty up a bit. I only have 2 large fish in there that I feed generously but the water has been pretty pristine consistently.

 

[Dom]

I've been in the hobby for quite some time, but having an issue Ive never encountered before, so asking for input. Ive recently set up a AIO Tideline 47, it was cycled about two months before adding coral, mostly Euphyllia, its been running for 3 months now. Water parameters are as follows Ammonia and nitrite 0, KH 8.2. PH 8, temp 77F, nitrate is detectable but very low, magnesium sitting at 1380, but at one point was fairly low before dosing, salinity 1.24. I run a bag of carbon, bio filtration, puragen, and recently added a Icecap AIO skimmer, 10-15 gallon water change every 2 weeks is my usual routine. Medium water flow and I have a Kessel Apx9 thats running 50-80% intensity, mostly blue/violet spectrum. Although nothing has died, the coral just don't look happy, in particular the 2 hammers. Is there something I'm missing here? Any input will be helpful.

I wouldn't mind seeing a full tank picture.

 

[rsixer]

Take a water sample to an LFS that does not use API kits , which I suspect you are using and see what readings they come up with to compare with yours and disregard nitrites which are freshwater specific

Yes Im using API and Salvert tests

 

[Currierfarms14]

I second the notion that your water may be “too clean”. Most of the good tasty stuff the coral love isn’t in that pristine of water. Dirty it up! :)

 

[rsixer]

I wouldn't mind seeing a full tank picture.

Ill post more tomorrow when the light is on.

 

[rsixer]

I second the notion that your water may be “too clean”. Most of the good tasty stuff the coral love isn’t in that pristine of water. Dirty it up! :)

Do you recommend removing the media for now, carbon, etc? I wish I could increase bioload but these two fish in there attack everything I've tried to so far.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you recommend removing the media for now, carbon, etc? I wish I could increase bioload but these two fish in there attack everything I've tried to so far.

Leave media in until various things are confirmed. Brighter light in pics will help greatly tomorrow

 

[Zyk5280b]

You don't have to add livestock and I agree on too clean; if you have little to zero nitrate then your phosphate is probably close to 0 and way too low for lps. You can dose Neophos or another diy solution to bump your phos.

 

[rsixer]

You don't have to add livestock and I agree on too clean; if you have little to zero nitrate then your phosphate is probably close to 0 and way too low for lps. You can dose Neophos or another diy solution to bump your phos.

Yes I did think about the nitrate being to low, but figured since it is detectable it was probably fine. I do have some B-ionic nitrate that Ive been hesitant to use, but ill try bringing it up 1ppm and see if there is a change.

 

[Tamberav]

if your phosphate is super low, zero. That can tick euphyllia off or at least hinder growth.

 

[Dom]

Ill post more tomorrow when the light is on.

Nice looking tank. Clean looking. Agreed, dirty it up a bit. Fewer water changes and maybe feed heavier.

 

[KrisReef]

Reef Roid, fish eggs, phytoplankton drift feeding at night should let you know if the coral were hungry after a couple of weeks.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Get rid of the carbon, bio filtration is your rock, puragen not needed. Turn skimmer down so it oxygenates the water but doesn't skim for a while. Keep parameters steady . You need to test cal mag and ALK as well as phos and nitrates. I run (not saying it's the right parameters just what I run)
Cal 425-450
ALK 9
Magnesium 1425 1450
Phos .03-.1
Nitrates 10-20.
Keep everything as steady as you can.

In my experience in my tank hammers like magnesium. Flow should have hammers swaying preferably random with pause time.

There is a movement to not test for magnesium, I personally think you should.

 

[Dom]

Reef Roid, fish eggs, phytoplankton drift feeding at night should let you know if the coral were hungry after a couple of weeks.

"Drift Feeding"?

 

[rsixer]

Get rid of the carbon, bio filtration is your rock, puragen not needed. Turn skimmer down so it oxygenates the water but doesn't skim for a while. Keep parameters steady . You need to test cal mag and ALK as well as phos and nitrates. I run (not saying it's the right parameters just what I run)
Cal 425-450
ALK 9
Magnesium 1425 1450
Phos .03-.1
Nitrates 10-20.
Keep everything as steady as you can.

In my experience in my tank hammers like magnesium. Flow should have hammers swaying preferably random with pause time.

There is a movement to not test for magnesium, I personally think you should.

Thanks, ill try this. Been double dosing mag everyday, but takes forever to bring it up. Nitrates need to come up for sure. This is the first reef that is purely "new", usually I had old established rock/water. Due to a outbreak of Bubble algae that I fought back for years I decided to completely start from scratch.