I got in trouble

RobM · Mar 9, 2018

What are your parameters?

Mine are:
Sal 1.025
Dkh 8
Cal 420
MG 1390
Phos 4 ppb (hanna ultra low)
Nitrate 0

I also have a fair bit of flow and light, and the clown hosting helps.

This tank has been going for 4 years now.. many ups and downs but never a complete crash. Anemones were added after 1 year and have split a few times. I sold off their brothers.

RtomKinMad · Mar 9, 2018

Our parameters are ok. We just last month got an apex system. We have a separate doser for cal and mag. Have 2 MP40s and two other power heads.
Ph 8.0-8.2, sal 1.024, cal 420-480, mag 12-1400. Phos 0 mostly. Have a strong phosphate reActor. Nitrate 0. Test weekly and husband watches the apex on his phone. We have a mini carpet anemone that is on the same rock for 3 yrs. moved from 75 gal tank. Looks good. But this bt We got from LFS for 20$ with some coral, store was closing out and not our regular store. We have had two other bt that both died in 1-2 yr old tanks. And have always had AI lights and tried to feed krill. Have ick in this 300gal tank but never had a total loss. Lots of Coraline algae. 30+ fish including 2 blue jaw triggers, 9 tangs and several wrasse, annularis angel, pyramid butterfly and 4 clowns and more. Maybe too many fish? Will ask husband what lights are set at. He does all electronics, plumbing and water changes. I just pick the fish and watch their health! Thanks for your help.

RtomKinMad · Mar 9, 2018

1WildBill · Mar 9, 2018

Simply beautiful.

RobM · Mar 10, 2018

A few things I might suggest.. not sure on your testing methods but 1200 to 1400 mag is a big swing.. as is the cal from 420 to 480. I also didn't see you mention alk which is one of the most important. If your dosing causes parameter swings like that it will make for unhappy nems. (And SPS)

Try to stick to +/- 20 points or less if you can. Also temp should be 77-78f.

Hard to tell from the lighting but you may have white/red/green LEDs up too much. I crank the blues and purples and keep the rest at like 12%

The last thing I can recommend is to try to leave the tank alone if your messing with it too much. I still have a problem with trying to change stuff all the time thinking it will make it better and it usually makes it worse. Just pick your parameters try to stay on target and let it fall into a rythm. Keep you r hands and any other contaminates oro the best you can. I got some plastic grabbers to help.

Other than that your fish look good and happy!

RtomKinMad · Mar 10, 2018

Thank you so much. Checked with husband on the numbers as he works the doser and equipment. Alk is 9-10. Cal is 480, mag 1450. Better numbers and consistency with the doser. Ph is 8.1. Temp 78. Lights- red and geeen off. White are 80%, blues purples and Uv are 100% on a 12 hr cycle with one hour ramp up and down at night. We try not to mess with anything. That’s why we haven’t tried to move the anemone. It seems to like to be fed. We have 4 clowns but they don’t even notice the anemone but host my large leather mushrooms! One of the pairs is breeding every 15 days. We haven’t yet tried to keep the babies as is a very difficult process with rotifers and all. I haven’t seen them after hatching. They hatch at night and are all gone by am. We also have a refugium in the basement with extra snails dusters and chaeto. The sump is hand built and works well. Thank you so much for your help. Husband will watch numbers closer. What do u think about lights? Anyone use kessels and have better luck? We also have 180 fish only with our geriatric tang, porqupine puffer and Koran angel. Have kessels 180 lights on that tank but only two. Thank you everyone.