Running GFO/ Carbon?

[CastAway]

So, if not a phosphates/GFO issue (which seems to be the consensus in the thread so far) sps color may be influenced by other factors, right? What kind of lighting do you run? That's a variable in sps color, right?

 

[RedReefer]

I'm running a 6 bulb 36" ATI fixture and bulbs. So lighting isn't a issue.

 

[CastAway]

Might the bulb types, or colors, be a factor? I always see questions about the particular array of bulbs, or line-up....

 

[RedReefer]

Not my bulb combo....

 

[evolved]

Do you have a phosphate checker or a phosphorous checker? If it's phorphorous, you need to multiply by 3.066 to convert P to PO4.

My hanna phosphorus checker has never had a reading of .006 or higher.

 

[ahtatt]

i would say you might not need it.
I have a 125g mixed reef with sps, lps, and softies. I had run gfo for about 6 months after I upgraded, and my phosphates went crazy, along a nasty silicate brown slime over everything. My phosphates went down, as did my silicate problem, but after a while I believe it began stripping too much out of my water.

I think the gfo was keeping the levels of nutrients the corals need so low, my sps began to brown out.

Now, I dont run gfo, I feed my corals more often, and only run my skimmer at night.
The results are slow, but definately positive.

 

[RedReefer]

i would say you might not need it.
I have a 125g mixed reef with sps, lps, and softies. I had run gfo for about 6 months after I upgraded, and my phosphates went crazy, along a nasty silicate brown slime over everything. My phosphates went down, as did my silicate problem, but after a while I believe it began stripping too much out of my water.

I think the gfo was keeping the levels of nutrients the corals need so low, my sps began to brown out.

Now, I dont run gfo, I feed my corals more often, and only run my skimmer at night.
The results are slow, but definately positive.

Sounds like my story. Stripping out needed nutrients. I also just started feeding more. I 100% agree on a slow improvement, but at least color is improving.

 

[RedReefer]

Do you have a phosphate checker or a phosphorous checker? If it's phorphorous, you need to multiply by 3.066 to convert P to PO4.

No I have the standard hanna po4 checker. I know it has a .04(+/-) error. So as long as its reading around 0.0-0.03 I figured thats close enough.

 

[DrewBrees713]

Water is super clear po4 ranges from .001-.005.

You meant .o3-.05?

 

[RedReefer]

No I have the standard hanna po4 checker. I know it has a .04(+/-) error. So as long as its reading around 0.0-0.03 I figured thats close enough.

I meant this^^^

 

[mos90]

the hanna phohate meter does have an error of .04 +/- if your getting a reading of .06 your actual phos levels could be as high as .1 or as low as .02. big difference. i would get a second test, i prefer salfert and double check.. the salfert test is accurate enough to clarify the hanna's results. .1 is getting close to higher then desirable.

 

[rovster]

Also keep in mind your tank is new. It an take several months for some corals to settle in.

 

[RedReefer]

I've been thinking of the new tank issue being its only been running 3 months.

 

[Chris L]

How deep is your tank?

How far off the surface of the water is your fixture?

 

[120REEF]

I run both 24/7 and have great success with that

 

[RedReefer]

How deep is your tank?

How far off the surface of the water is your fixture?

20" deep and 9" off the water.

 

[RedReefer]

I also took measurements by dropping the water level during maintenance and using a tape measure. I only have about 42-45 gal in my display and 12 gal in my sump. I was changing 20gal a week and running a way oversized skimmer. I also was running the BRS recommended amount of gfo and carbon.( when researched is too much). Five small fish and all of the above leads me to the conclusion I'm stripping my water. I took the carbon& GFO offline. Cut my water changes to 10 gals a week and I already see improvements in color. Its been one week so we'll see. Time will tell.