Solid Vodka Pellets - SPS Bleaching

[thewackyreefer]

I recently added 500ml of EcoBak pellets to my tank (info below) 3 days ago. About half of my sticks bleached within the first 24 hours when the tank got cloudy, however, they are all showing great polyp extension. The water has since cleared and params are all looking normal.

I'm wondering if there's anything I can / should do or will the color come back on it's own?

80 gal total water volume
2 LED fixtures from ReefFiltration
SWC 120 Skimmer
500 ml ecobak in Avast reactor
78.0 degrees
Salinity = 1.024
pH = 7.95 - 8.1
Calcium = 425 (salifert)
Alk = 9.5 dKH (salifert)
Mag = 1250 ppm (seachem)

 

[lars]

i beleive it's best to have low alk around 7 when using those pellets.

 

[thewackyreefer]

I'm thinking about taking it down to 8 or so over the course of the next month or so but I've seen quite a few people running the pellets at 9+, could be the issue...

 

[Paul_N]

I run my alk around 9 with no issues.

 

[aquafrags]

you might have already had a ULNS tank, every tank is different, I would shut them off

 

[thewackyreefer]

Even though everything else looks fine and there is PE? Sorry, I don't want it to sound like I have a ton of SPS colonies/frags. I only have about 12-14 total and 6 bleached. I never ever thought my system was ULNS, I skim but I feed pretty **** heavy.

 

[gilmour01]

i've been running the EcoBak for months. My Ca reactor keeps my Alk around 11-12 and i havent noticed any bleaching or burnt tips like has been reported with vodka dosing. How long have you been running the LEDs?

 

[thewackyreefer]

LED's have been running for 3+ months. Haven't moved anything for 3 weeks or adjusted the lighting schedule since September.

 

[luke33]

Sounds like you may be sterile. I've been there before. Did you have a nitrate or phosphate issue?

 

[Troylee]

I think you might have added to much to fast... A cloudy tank is a bacterial bloom... Common if you overdose with vodka... I have never tried pellets but have dosed vodka for a couple years and had a few blooms here and there... Lol
If the color don't come back around or gets worse I would recommend some amino acids to help it.... Also lighting can be touchy also I switched from 20k bulbs to 10k and it took over 2 months for them acclimate to the more intense light.... I actually, right at the 2 month mark bleached out 3 or 4 pieces and lost them all...:(

 

[thewackyreefer]

Nitrates and phosphates have always been high, will be able to test this weekend.

Troy, I think you're probably right, too much too fast. Other than the bleaching everything's looking pretty good. I've got one colony that's always been dark green that is totally bleached now and has bright blue polyps, looks pretty cool actually. Doesn't look like anything's getting worse and I have been dosing some aminos to help so I think I should be ok!.


Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[WesF]

Yeah that's alot to add at once for 80 gallons. The directions only call for 500ml per 100g. Also it says to put half in, wait a week, then add the second half.