It just got real

[Bosskram]

Ok so after reading a lot of different post on this site, I have (I think) taken to the next level of newb. I made two spreadsheets, 1 that is for testing and keeping track of parameters, and the 2nd that is for maintenance. I'm asking a lot of question at my LFS and so far trying to make some sense of the Chemistry, and science behind this hobby.
So far I'm tracking :
Salenity, Ca, Mg, KH, NO3, PO4

My tank is fairly new started back in 1st week of January, I have (2) zoa polyp colonies, (1) Duncan, (1) frog spawn, (1) green hairy mushroom, (1) small purple mushroom. (1) Neo Blue Damsel, (1) Fire shrimp, (1) pistol candy cane pistol Shrimp, (1) Yellow Watchman.
My tank is the Biocube 32, I put a protein skimmer in, and have two PH that are (I think) 525 gph + the cube pump that is 225 gph.

All corals are living and open, however I've notice that they don't seem to be expanding, or extending. From what I read on the Red Sea handouts my parameters might be a bit low on Ca, Mg, and KH.

What am I missing? What am I not doing? What am I overdoing? What am I over thinking?
I want to not get stuck in the desert land of reefing, and am trying to do things correctly.
Any advice would be well received.

 

[ScottR]

Welcome to R2R.

Can you post parameters? Also post pics. I’m sure everyone cane weigh in when it can be zeroed in on.

 

[ccombs]

Ok so after reading a lot of different post on this site, I have (I think) taken to the next level of newb. I made two spreadsheets, 1 that is for testing and keeping track of parameters, and the 2nd that is for maintenance. I'm asking a lot of question at my LFS and so far trying to make some sense of the Chemistry, and science behind this hobby.
So far I'm tracking :
Salenity, Ca, Mg, KH, NO3, PO4

My tank is fairly new started back in 1st week of January, I have (2) zoa polyp colonies, (1) Duncan, (1) frog spawn, (1) green hairy mushroom, (1) small purple mushroom. (1) Neo Blue Damsel, (1) Fire shrimp, (1) pistol candy cane pistol Shrimp, (1) Yellow Watchman.
My tank is the Biocube 32, I put a protein skimmer in, and have two PH that are (I think) 525 gph + the cube pump that is 225 gph.

All corals are living and open, however I've notice that they don't seem to be expanding, or extending. From what I read on the Red Sea handouts my parameters might be a bit low on Ca, Mg, and KH.

What am I missing? What am I not doing? What am I overdoing? What am I over thinking?
I want to not get stuck in the desert land of reefing, and am trying to do things correctly.
Any advice would be well received.

Welcome to R2R, First off you are on the right track for testing. Reef tanks take time to mature. For now I would focus on slowing down, not adding more corals, and letting your system mature. Once you get about a year into it or so, maybe re-evaluate and look into dosing, etc. Most problems in this hobby are solved with patience and slow/methodical decisions.

If you are running into urgent issues of things dying, the wonderful members of this forum are here to help right away!

 

[Bosskram]

Salinity 1.023
Ca 360 ppm
Mg 1240 ppm
KH 8.7 dkh
NO3 025 ppm
PO4 0.12 ppm

That is from my testing today. I'll try to get pictures tomorrow.

 

[PirateDan]

If you’re using stock lights you’re not going to see much growth. Nothing in my biocube did much until I did a light upgrade. I got the Steves leds. They worked great.

 

[Mjrenz]

I have honestly had no problems in my biocube with the stock lights growing any lps or soft coral. I use Tropic Marin pro reef salt and try to keep my salinity at 1.025, magnesium around 1400, and calcium around 420

 

[PirateDan]

I have honestly had no problems in my biocube with the stock lights growing any lps or soft coral. I use Tropic Marin pro reef salt and try to keep my salinity at 1.025, magnesium around 1400, and calcium around 420

My corals grew with stock lights but they really took off after I changed lights so much so i had to get a bigger tank.

 

[KrisReef]

Are your powerheads pointed directly at the corals?

 

[Bosskram]

No both are at the top of the tank pointing to the opposite side and Pointed upper/ mid obliged if the tank. Corals are moving but not being constantly blown around. Watching the water you can see the columns of random movements.

 

[Bosskram]

No both are at the top of the tank pointing to the opposite side and Pointed upper/ mid obliged if the tank. Corals are moving but not being constantly blown around. Watching the water you can see the columns of random movements.

 

[Bosskram]

Sorry typed all of that on my phone

 

[Adam G]

Bump that salinity to 1.025 or 1.026. This is the specific gravity of sea water.

 

[GoatmealJones]

I agree usually run salinity a little higher than that

 

[Dkeller_nc]

It does appear from reading the specifications for the Biocube 32 LED on coralvue's site that there's some odd choices they made with respect to lighting. Particularly the use of all-white LEDs for most of the photoperiod. And the max PAR of 81 would seem to be quite a bit low for many LPS and just about all SPS. That said, I'm sure that it would grow zoas and mushrooms quite well. My guess is that the only coral you may have issues with is the euphyllia (frogspawn), as they typically prefer relatively high light levels.

And yes, a calcium level of 360 and an alkalinity of 8.7 dKH would be a bit off. As Adam suggested, I'd (slowly!) raise the specific gravity of the tank to 1.026, then re-test your parameters. A good way to so this is simply turn off the top-off unit and check the specific gravity in the morning and then in the evening until you reach your desired salinity.

Once you get your specific gravity in line, you'll want your calcium somewhere between 400 and 450 ppm, and maintain your alkalinity in the 8 - 9 dKH range. When you increase the speciic gravity, you may find that the alkalinity goes a bit higher than you'd like. The calcium level, btw, is generally considerably less important than alkalinity so long as it doesn't go really low (<360ppm) or really high (>500 ppm).

If your nitrate really is at 25 ppm, that's a bit high, so you'll want to take steps to reduce it over time.

 

[Mjrenz]

It does appear from reading the specifications for the Biocube 32 LED on coralvue's site that there's some odd choices they made with respect to lighting. Particularly the use of all-white LEDs for most of the photoperiod. And the max PAR of 81 would seem to be quite a bit low for many LPS and just about all SPS. That said, I'm sure that it would grow zoas and mushrooms quite well. My guess is that the only coral you may have issues with is the euphyllia (frogspawn), as they typically prefer relatively high light levels.

And yes, a calcium level of 360 and an alkalinity of 8.7 dKH would be a bit off. As Adam suggested, I'd (slowly!) raise the specific gravity of the tank to 1.026, then re-test your parameters. A good way to so this is simply turn off the top-off unit and check the specific gravity in the morning and then in the evening until you reach your desired salinity.

Once you get your specific gravity in line, you'll want your calcium somewhere between 400 and 450 ppm, and maintain your alkalinity in the 8 - 9 dKH range. When you increase the speciic gravity, you may find that the alkalinity goes a bit higher than you'd like. The calcium level, btw, is generally considerably less important than alkalinity so long as it doesn't go really low (<360ppm) or really high (>500 ppm).

If your nitrate really is at 25 ppm, that's a bit high, so you'll want to take steps to reduce it over time.

I had an octospawn that nearly wasted away in one of my tanks under T5 lights, it's now in my biocube and actually recovering. I also have a brain coral that hated the t5s and is thriving in the biocube. I'm sure I could get more growth with better lighting but I can't complain

 

[ScottR]

Bump that salinity to 1.025 or 1.026. This is the specific gravity of sea water.

+1 this. What test kit did you use for NO3? 025 ppm?

 

[ScottR]

I’ll add to what someone else said, patience is key. I waited before adding livestock and corals. Introduced everything slowly. I started off with easy corals. Everything went well. Then a friend gave me some free clippings of his acros and some other SPS. The acros didn’t make it. Bleached. Just shows that even my tank wasn’t ready for something more diffiult. My tank was started in November. Went live in December.

 

[Jay Z]

I've noticed in mine that it takes a while for everyone to get adjusted. Any small change to flow or lighting and I get mixed results for a day or 2. Way I read my tank is if I have corals not extending they are getting to much light or flow and I adjust for that. It strectching they want more. I've moved some of my corals around my tank every 2 days or so looking for their happy spot, over 2 months and multiple head adjustments I have everyone happy now.

My Kessil 700 had lost all its settings and I had to guess on where I had it originally for scheduling. My tank looked messed up for a good week while I tried to get it dialed back in, everyone was unhappy.

I've been fighting the salinity monster for the last 3 months because of a janky skimmer, been anywhere from 32-35 for salt. even with salt swings everyone looks happy and healthy.

Don't go rushing it, watch ever piece multiple times a day, keep chasing the numbers but remember you have multiple factors they want.

 

[Mical]

As mentioned above - slow down. Your tank is going to go through many changes it's first year and you've got it loaded with corals at an early stage. Many will adapt but keep your strategy of maintenance and tracking.

 

[BestMomEver]

If you’re using stock lights you’re not going to see much growth. Nothing in my biocube did much until I did a light upgrade. I got the Steves leds. They worked great.

Same here. Steve’s are amazing. I have sps in my biocube that are doing ok so far.

As for parameters... I would jack them up a little. I run calcium at 440, dkh at about 10, and mag about 1400. If need, get small containers of a 2 part additive.