Over 1 year in and still having parameter issues...

[CallMeLloyd]

Tank specs & Stocking List
55 Gallon Breeder
Fluval Aquaclear 70 HOB
Fluval 307 Canister Filter
Eheim 150W Heater
2 Viparspectra 165W
2 Current USA 1,050 Wave Makers

Coral Beauty x1
Gladiator Clownfish x2
Blue Chromis x2
Pink Anthias x1
Six Line Wrasse x1
Sally Lightfoot x1
Fire Shrimp x1
Fighting Conch x1
Trochus Snails x6
BumbleBee Snails x3
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs x3

Here is also my last couple weekly water test results.

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR	WEEKLY NOTES
DATE/TIME	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04
11/14/23	34.8	79.3		8.8	450	1310	0.0	0.04	Skipped WC this past week
11/21/23 7:30 PM	34.8	79.5		8.3	430	1300	0.0	0.06	Skipped WC this past week, Removed ChemiPure Blue

So I have been focusing on getting my Nitrates up to 2-5 and it seems like no what what I feed or how much I still get 0 nitrate readings. So the past 2 weeks I have skipped my weekly 10% WC to see if nitrate would rise and it did not. So in order to fix that I guess I have 2 options right? Dosing it up or maybe add another fish? But I honesty think I have enough fish as it is in a 55 gallon, let me know what you think on that. Also my alk levels have come down quite a bit, probably cause I skipped 2 water changes? I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals as my salt mix which mixes Alk at 10-11 (cant remember), Cal 455, mag 1345 based on the box @ 35ppm. Now this is what is confusing me, if I need to keep my DT parameters at the levels salt mixes at. But a weekly water change doesn't raise the levels enough. I should either do a bigger WC or dose right? But I thought without a lot of lps/sps corals I wouldn't have to dose? Also if I'm trying to gain some nitrates wouldn't doing a bigger wc lower nutrients even more? So confused and need a game plan! I really don't understand why it's looking like a need to dose and I also feel like I don't have enough corals to start dosing... Let me know if I left out any info you think would be helpful.

** Also, I do not currently dose anything (but I do have Red Sea Alk, Cal, Mag, All-For-Reef, Brightwell Neophos & Neonitro on standby)
** No sump for filtration just a canister filter & HOB filter
** No Skimmer
** No coralline Algae

 

[Lavey29]

What is your feeding schedule? Turn temp down to 77. Magnesium 1400 to 1500. You want nitrates at 10 to 15 and phosphate. 05 to .1 for LPS corals.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Tank specs & Stocking List
55 Gallon Breeder
Fluval Aquaclear 70 HOB
Fluval 307 Canister Filter
Eheim 150W Heater
2 Viparspectra 165W
2 Current USA 1,050 Wave Makers

Coral Beauty x1
Gladiator Clownfish x2
Blue Chromis x2
Pink Anthias x1
Six Line Wrasse x1
Sally Lightfoot x1
Fire Shrimp x1
Fighting Conch x1
Trochus Snails x6
BumbleBee Snails x3
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs x3

Here is also my last couple weekly water test results.

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR	WEEKLY NOTES
DATE/TIME	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04
11/14/23	34.8	79.3		8.8	450	1310	0.0	0.04	Skipped WC this past week
11/21/23 7:30 PM	34.8	79.5		8.3	430	1300	0.0	0.06	Skipped WC this past week, Removed ChemiPure Blue

So I have been focusing on getting my Nitrates up to 2-5 and it seems like no what what I feed or how much I still get 0 nitrate readings. So the past 2 weeks I have skipped my weekly 10% WC to see if nitrate would rise and it did not. So in order to fix that I guess I have 2 options right? Dosing it up or maybe add another fish? But I honesty think I have enough fish as it is in a 55 gallon, let me know what you think on that. Also my alk levels have come down quite a bit, probably cause I skipped 2 water changes? I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals as my salt mix which mixes Alk at 10-11 (cant remember), Cal 455, mag 1345 based on the box @ 35ppm. Now this is what is confusing me, if I need to keep my DT parameters at the levels salt mixes at. But a weekly water change doesn't raise the levels enough. I should either do a bigger WC or dose right? But I thought without a lot of lps/sps corals I wouldn't have to dose? Also if I'm trying to gain some nitrates wouldn't doing a bigger wc lower nutrients even more? So confused and need a game plan! I really don't understand why it's looking like a need to dose and I also feel like I don't have enough corals to start dosing... Let me know if I left out any info you think would be helpful.

** Also, I do not currently dose anything (but I do have Red Sea Alk, Cal, Mag, All-For-Reef, Brightwell Neophos & Neonitro on standby)
** No sump for filtration just a canister filter & HOB filter
** No Skimmer
** No coralline Algae

Seems like you know what your doing.... Only thing missing is pictures

 

[FUNGI]

Fluval Aquaclear 70 HOB
Fluval 307 Canister Filter
What are you using to test nitrates?
What do you have in there as media......
you should have no problems with Nitrates running these two......(the opposite in fact)

 

[00W]

I'm not an expert but here's my take.
I looked at your tank thread but didn't see any pictures to help me.
How's the tank doing in your opinion?
No corals so I wouldn't worry about dosing anything. Numbers look fine to me.
If you want nitrates up,don't clean your filters for a month but don't stop water changes that's not the right way to do it and the reason your numbers change.
You have enough fish.
Lightning seems OK.
Seems like you have a handle on your tank so far. Good job having a journal.
I think you're OK so stop worrying and shoot us some pictures.
With no skimmer and no sump and no dosing water changes are your best method at consistency.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

What is your feeding schedule? Turn temp down to 77. Magnesium 1400 to 1500. You want nitrates at 10 to 15 and phosphate. 05 to .1 for LPS corals.

1 Frozen cube everyday (half in morning other half before lights out), on my off days I'll feed them some pellets in between feedings. Also use reef roids to spot feed corals 2 times a week. Why do you suggest me turning my heater down 2 degrees?

Seems like you know what your doing.... Only thing missing is pictures

I'll post a picture soon, I'm currently at work & also I do and don't know what I'm doing. Sometime I feel like I am over thinking things and just making it harder on myself.

Fluval Aquaclear 70 HOB
Fluval 307 Canister Filter
What are you using to test nitrates?
What do you have in there as media......
you should have no problems with Nitrates running these two......(the opposite in fact)

I used Hanna HR checker for Nitrates. For media I used Fluval biomax.

I'm not an expert but here's my take.
I looked at your tank thread but didn't see any pictures to help me.
How's the tank doing in your opinion?
No corals so I wouldn't worry about dosing anything. Numbers look fine to me.
If you want nitrates up,don't clean your filters for a month but don't stop water changes that's not the right way to do it and the reason your numbers change.
You have enough fish.
Lightning seems OK.
Seems like you have a handle on your tank so far. Good job having a journal.
I think you're OK so stop worrying and shoot us some pictures.
With no skimmer and no sump and no dosing water changes are your best method at consistency.

I feel like my tank is struggling or at least I feel like I am. I also do have some corals, I haven't attached them to rocks yet, just chilling on frag rack. Regarding the water changes should I do maybe 2 wc a week until my parameters are closer to the new mixed saltwater? Then go back to once a week?

 

[Lavey29]

1 Frozen cube everyday (half in morning other half before lights out), on my off days I'll feed them some pellets in between feedings. Also use reef roids to spot feed corals 2 times a week. Why do you suggest me turning my heater down 2 degrees?


I'll post a picture soon, I'm currently at work & also I do and don't know what I'm doing. Sometime I feel like I am over thinking things and just making it harder on myself.


I used Hanna HR checker for Nitrates. For media I used Fluval biomax.


I feel like my tank is struggling or at least I feel like I am. I also do have some corals, I haven't attached them to rocks yet, just chilling on frag rack. Regarding the water changes should I do maybe 2 wc a week until my parameters are closer to the new mixed saltwater? Then go back to once a week?

Because 77 or 78 is the most prevalent temperature in the hobby and areas where corals are harvested generally fall into 76 to 78 range. I run 77 on my tank. My tank is slightly larger then yours. I feed 4 cubes per day 2 and 2 with some ora eggs in the middle. So 3 full feedings per day.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tank specs & Stocking List
55 Gallon Breeder
Fluval Aquaclear 70 HOB
Fluval 307 Canister Filter
Eheim 150W Heater
2 Viparspectra 165W
2 Current USA 1,050 Wave Makers

Coral Beauty x1
Gladiator Clownfish x2
Blue Chromis x2
Pink Anthias x1
Six Line Wrasse x1
Sally Lightfoot x1
Fire Shrimp x1
Fighting Conch x1
Trochus Snails x6
BumbleBee Snails x3
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs x3

Here is also my last couple weekly water test results.

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR	WEEKLY NOTES
DATE/TIME	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04
11/14/23	34.8	79.3		8.8	450	1310	0.0	0.04	Skipped WC this past week
11/21/23 7:30 PM	34.8	79.5		8.3	430	1300	0.0	0.06	Skipped WC this past week, Removed ChemiPure Blue

So I have been focusing on getting my Nitrates up to 2-5 and it seems like no what what I feed or how much I still get 0 nitrate readings. So the past 2 weeks I have skipped my weekly 10% WC to see if nitrate would rise and it did not. So in order to fix that I guess I have 2 options right? Dosing it up or maybe add another fish? But I honesty think I have enough fish as it is in a 55 gallon, let me know what you think on that. Also my alk levels have come down quite a bit, probably cause I skipped 2 water changes? I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals as my salt mix which mixes Alk at 10-11 (cant remember), Cal 455, mag 1345 based on the box @ 35ppm. Now this is what is confusing me, if I need to keep my DT parameters at the levels salt mixes at. But a weekly water change doesn't raise the levels enough. I should either do a bigger WC or dose right? But I thought without a lot of lps/sps corals I wouldn't have to dose? Also if I'm trying to gain some nitrates wouldn't doing a bigger wc lower nutrients even more? So confused and need a game plan! I really don't understand why it's looking like a need to dose and I also feel like I don't have enough corals to start dosing... Let me know if I left out any info you think would be helpful.

** Also, I do not currently dose anything (but I do have Red Sea Alk, Cal, Mag, All-For-Reef, Brightwell Neophos & Neonitro on standby)
** No sump for filtration just a canister filter & HOB filter
** No Skimmer
** No coralline Algae

You may be changing water too frequently or cleaning filters too frequently. You have basic filters which are both chemical lacking chemical and biological capabilities. Also feeding too little can impact no3 numbers as well as Phos levels

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Because 77 or 78 is the most prevalent temperature in the hobby and areas where corals are harvested generally fall into 76 to 78 range. I run 77 on my tank. My tank is slightly larger then yours. I feed 4 cubes per day 2 and 2 with some ora eggs in the middle. So 3 full feedings per day.

Okay I will lower the temp down one notch when I get home. So maybe I'm not feeding enough...

 

[CallMeLloyd]

But at the same time if I don't change my water my big 3 parameter will go down like they have the past 2 weeks. Which then I would need to dose correct? @vetteguy53081

EDIT: Every time I've cleaned my canister filter and/or hob filter the sponges/filter floss is never really dirty. Sometimes my hob filter floss is and I just replace it. I replace hob filter floss about once every 1-2 weeks.

 

[FUNGI]

and clean that BioMax only once a month....quick rinse in old tank water.....

 

[00W]

I'd say change water every other week and let your filters go a little longer.
Feed a bit more and clean a little less.
Worry less about your numbers for a bit and relax and enjoy your tank.
Try that and see what happens.

 

[KrisReef]

But at the same time if I don't change my water my big 3 parameter will go down like they have the past 2 weeks. Which then I would need to dose correct? @vetteguy53081

EDIT: Every time I've cleaned my canister filter and/or hob filter the sponges/filter floss is never really dirty. Sometimes my hob filter floss is and I just replace it. I replace hob filter floss about once every 1-2 weeks.

If you clean the filter before it get dirty it will never start producing NO3.

If you are doing frequent water changes, the salt parameters should be close to what you have in the tank.

If you are starving your fish, the corals will also suffer without enough nutrition to grow and thrive.

 

[FUNGI]

leave your canister alone for 2 months.......your gonna get your nitrates.....

 

[Mikeltee]

You need liverock and a skimmer if you want to do it right. There will be no need for weekly water changes once you do. I have a canister in my backup tank and it pretty much sucks the uneaten food out immediately and then the Matrix processes it. I've run it almost a month and the sponges look brand new. I run an FX4 in a 40g breeder. I have 4 fish in it and feed heavily.

 

[FUNGI]

"You need liverock and a skimmer if you want to do it right."......
Debatable, but to each, his own......

 

[CallMeLloyd]

I'd say change water every other week and let your filters go a little longer.
Feed a bit more and clean a little less.
Worry less about your numbers for a bit and relax and enjoy your tank.
Try that and see what happens.

10% every other week? And do you think I should double my feeding amount? And when you say clean less you mean just the filters right? I still should clean glass & syphon sand bed when doing WC's?

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Zero Nitrate & Phosphate readings, what now?

Hello fellow reefers, my tank has been up and running for about a year & a half and I have been battling Algae and 0.0 readings for Nitrate & Phosphate. I do weekly water changes of 10g, I have a 55g breeder. In my tank I have 2 clownfish, 2 blue chromas, six-line wrasse, coral beauty, pink...

www.reef2reef.com

Here was my tank last month...

 

[00W]

Well golly gee.
I had this whole philosophical post and approach for you but I'm SO bad at explaining myself (ask my wife) I just deleted it.
So.
I don't think you need to clean your sand bed every week. My opinion only.
Don't clean your filters for awhile. My opinion only.
Clean glass with your magnet, whatever in front. Yes. Maybe let the back go a bit. See what happens there.
Yes, 10 % every other week.
I'd try working on phos and nitrate first. Get them where you want,wherever that may be. Each tank is different so there's no magical number.
Does that make sense?
I've never been an "overcleaner " but more a "leaveitbe-er." I don't constantly test everything unless something is really looking wrong.
We all have our own philosophy and I'm giving you what works best for me.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Well golly gee.
I had this whole philosophical post and approach for you but I'm SO bad at explaining myself (ask my wife) I just deleted it.
So.
I don't think you need to clean your sand bed every week. My opinion only.
Don't clean your filters for awhile. My opinion only.
Clean glass with your magnet, whatever in front. Yes. Maybe let the back go a bit. See what happens there.
Yes, 10 % every other week.
I'd try working on phos and nitrate first. Get them where you want,wherever that may be. Each tank is different so there's no magical number.
Does that make sense?
I've never been an "overcleaner " but more a "leaveitbe-er." I don't constantly test everything unless something is really looking wrong.
We all have our own philosophy and I'm giving you what works best for me.

Makes sense, thank you. As far as my other testing results looks like my alk is the only thing dropping somewhat fast if I skip a week WC. Will that stay stable with a biweekly 10% WC? I feel like my alk will be at like 8dkh then I'll mix saltwater that has a 11 dkh when I do a WC. I'm I thinking about that wrong?