Nutrient levels and sps

[Rpc07]

so after 5 months or so I have picked up my first few sps frags, a birdsnest and a purple/green acro. After 5-6 weeks both seem to be doing well but I don't notice much growth.

I test my water every week and for the past month they have been stable at

Amm 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-6ppm
Phosphate .03-.04
Ph 8-8.2
Alk 9-9.2
Cal 420-430
Mag 1350-1360

The tank is a 24"x 22"x 22" with a hydra 26 had on it.

 

[Sabellafella]

so after 5 months or so I have picked up my first few sps frags, a birdsnest and a purple/green acro. After 5-6 weeks both seem to be doing well but I don't notice much growth.

I test my water every week and for the past month they have been stable at

Amm 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-6ppm
Phosphate .03-.04
Ph 8-8.2
Alk 9-9.2
Cal 420-430
Mag 1350-1360

The tank is a 24"x 22"x 22" with a hydra 26 had on it.

I dont see any issue with your parameters but no growth at all with the birdsnest?

 

[Sabellafella]

Try posting a photo. If they seem to be doing well, your everythings fine, try moving the frags up a little bit to give them more light. Also what lighting are you running?

 

[Rpc07]

I recently in the last week had an issue with nopox dropping nutrients much to fast and the birdsnest started to bleach from the base but it has stopped bleaching and looks like it is recovering. Both sps frags are at the top of my rock work.

The lighting is a hydra 26hd

 

[Taylor Harnden]

It can take a while for new frags to get settled in and start growing. Take pictures and compare month to month. Sps are slow growers. Keep everything stable and they will take off when their ready

 

[Rpc07]

Sounds good ill make sure I keep things stable and keep an eye on the frags

 

[reeferfoxx]

What are you using to test po4? Got a good amount of green dusting on the back wall and your euphyllia hammer is looking a little deflated also?

 

[Rpc07]

I'm using Red Sea pro test kit. These pics were taken a few hours after lights out everything was closed up for the night I just turned the lights on to take the pics quick. As far as the back wall I have never cleaned the back wall I leave it alone for my cleanup crew to take care of I only clean the front and sides.

 

[Taylor Harnden]

How old is the tank?

 

[Rpc07]

Around 5 months

 

[Taylor Harnden]

Ok cool. Ya just keep everything stable as possible and u will be good to go

 

[Rpc07]

Thanks. Appreciate the help

 

[Rpc07]

Well the frag seemed to stop bleaching for a few days maybe 4-5 but I came home from work today and noticed the frag is continuing to bleach from the base up. It's the only drag to do this so I'm not sure how to proceed.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well the fray seemed to stop bleaching for a few days maybe 4-5 but I came home from work today and noticed the frag is continuing to bleach from the base up. It's the only drag to do this so I'm not sure how to proceed.

Have you tested your water in those 5 days?

 

[Rpc07]

Yeah the results I posted in the first post was the last time I tested which was Sunday . I test every week and my numbers are always close to what I posted. I'll test again tonight but I doubt at this point it's because of things being unstable.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Something isn't right then. Either your tests are off, light too bright or temp is off. SPS is always a tell all when it comes to parameters. They aren't forgiving when it comes to parameter swings either.

 

[Rpc07]

Yeah I'm not sure what's going on all my lps and zoas are thriving and growing. Should I try and lower the light intensity 10% ?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Yeah I'm not sure what's going on all my lps and zoas are thriving and growing. Should I try and lower the light intensity 10% ?

Maybe?

LPS and softies can handle parameter swings. Otherwise, the frags will die and you can try again later when the tank matures more. You need to go through everything. Make sure parameters are correct, salinity, temp, photoperiod and intensity. Maybe get a Lux meter from amazon? It's hard to tell. We can only tell you so much based off what you are telling us.

 

[Rpc07]

Understood. I will go over everything tonight. I've been using Red Sea pro test kits but I will also use my Api test kit and compare the readings.

My photo period is 12 hours with 5 hour ramp up/down and 2 hours at peak. I'm running a hydra 26 had on a 24" x 22" tank and peak intensity is 50% and I run them at 14k.

I only noticed the bleaching after I started to dose nopox and my nitrates dropped quick from 18ppm to 5-8ppm in about a week. Since then I cut the dose in half and my nitrates have been hovering around the 8ppm range. Phosphate has always been low and is currently .03 - .04

My salinity has always been at 1.026 tested with a refractometer and I always make sure my water changes match perfect. Temp hovers 78 degrees and never swings more then a degree up or down.

I'm. Ot sure what other info I can give but please anything else that may help I will provide.

 

[lakereef]

Birdsnest are fast growers so they'll show signs of a problem faster than others. Looks like low nutrients to me and would recommend feeding more and/or getting more fish.