I've been struggling to lower my nitrates for over 3 weeks now. I'm not chasing numbers, some, not all, of my corals look ticked off. For example, a pretty easy sps Monti started to bleach on top while other acros have thrived. Dkh has been consistent - I have an alkatronic and test every 4 hours. I've lost a couple of turbo snails from lack of algea (they die, add trates, I remove them). Since the losses of the snails I've turned off the UV for now to let some growth come back.
No3 is consistently at 25ppm with the nyos test kit. Po4 is at 0.13 which I've been slowly dropping with gfo. All other params are nominal -
SG 35ppt
Dkh 8
Ca/mg: 450/1350
For filtration I have a roller filter and skimmer. The tank is 8mo old and past most of the uglies. I have a healthy pod population and Coraline algea is finally showing up. I have a fuge with chaeto growing nice and green (20h photo period).
Things I've tried:
Vacuuming sand bed
Blowing rocks
Cleaning sump
Wet and dry skimming
Dosing microbacter 7
Water changes (large and small awc)
I've reduced feeding - no, like really reduced. I've cut feedings in half AND I now use a food scale to weigh out the frozen food.
I feed 8g (~4 cubes) a day. I feed 1/2 sheet of nori every other day.
Fish:
Blue throat trigger (3")
Yellow tang (3")
Purple tang (4")
Blonde naso (4.5")
Leopard wrasse (3")
Clown (1")
Mandarin (1.5")
Blue face angel juv (1.5")
Potters angel (1.5")
Copperband butterfly (4")
Cuc:
Cerith x 50
Nassarius x 50
Astraea x 25
Nerite x 25
Margarit e x 25
Plus another 15+ Mexican turbos.
1 emerald
Lots of pods
Ideas?
No3 is consistently at 25ppm with the nyos test kit. Po4 is at 0.13 which I've been slowly dropping with gfo. All other params are nominal -
SG 35ppt
Dkh 8
Ca/mg: 450/1350
For filtration I have a roller filter and skimmer. The tank is 8mo old and past most of the uglies. I have a healthy pod population and Coraline algea is finally showing up. I have a fuge with chaeto growing nice and green (20h photo period).
Things I've tried:
Vacuuming sand bed
Blowing rocks
Cleaning sump
Wet and dry skimming
Dosing microbacter 7
Water changes (large and small awc)
I've reduced feeding - no, like really reduced. I've cut feedings in half AND I now use a food scale to weigh out the frozen food.
I feed 8g (~4 cubes) a day. I feed 1/2 sheet of nori every other day.
Fish:
Blue throat trigger (3")
Yellow tang (3")
Purple tang (4")
Blonde naso (4.5")
Leopard wrasse (3")
Clown (1")
Mandarin (1.5")
Blue face angel juv (1.5")
Potters angel (1.5")
Copperband butterfly (4")
Cuc:
Cerith x 50
Nassarius x 50
Astraea x 25
Nerite x 25
Margarit e x 25
Plus another 15+ Mexican turbos.
1 emerald
Lots of pods
Ideas?
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