Sps turning more white

Miami Reef · Apr 19, 2022

Kfactor said:
The Hanna ulr

Oh, that’s a very accurate test kit, so getting a 0ppm reading is not good for your system.

The natural reef has 0ppm phosphate readings, but there is a constant food supply that the corals catch 24/7. When people simulate a ULNS (ultra low nutrient system) they keep the residual P:N levels low, but they are feeding and exporting very heavily.

If you only have a little fish and are lightly feeding AND having 0 residual readings, it is a recipe for bleaching corals.

Luckily for you, the solution is clear and simple:

Add more fish
Reduce filtration
Feed more

Initially the phosphates you add will get absorbed pretty rapidly in the calcium carbonate (your rocks) so you may need to dose bottled phosphates as it will be much easier. If not, it will take a lot of food to get that initial reading, and you may get bacterial blooms from the sudden excess feeding, which adds carbon as well as phosphates which fuel the blooms.

So, to recap: get some phosphates into the tank. At least 0.03ppm. Initially, dose phosphates in a bottle, then maintain with more feedings/reduced filtration.

Kfactor · Apr 19, 2022

Miami Reef said:
Oh, that’s a very accurate test kit, so getting a 0ppm reading is not good for your system.

The natural reef has 0ppm phosphate readings, but there is a constant food supply that the corals catch 24/7. When people simulate a ULNS (ultra low nutrient system) they keep the residual P:N levels low, but they are feeding and exporting very heavily

If you only have a little fish and are lightly feeding AND having 0 residual readings, it is a recipe for bleaching corals.

Luckily for you, the solution is clear and simple:

Add more fish
Reduce filtration
Feed more

Initially the phosphates you add will get absorbed pretty rapidly in the calcium carbonate (your rocks) so you may need to dose bottled phosphates as it will be much easier. If not, it will take a lot of food to get that initial reading, and you may get bacterial blooms from the sudden excess feeding, which adds carbon as well as phosphates which fuel the blooms.

So, to recap: get some phosphates into the tank. At least 0.03ppm. Initially, dose phosphates in a bottle, then maintain with more feedings/reduced filtration.

tank you for the reply and am going to be getting more fish today but will be qt ten for a month or so . My total tank volume is 125g ish and I only have a clown / star blenny and a cromie in the tank right now just ave a hard time finding good fish

minus9 · Apr 19, 2022

Kfactor said:
tank you for the reply and am going to be getting more fish today but will be qt ten for a month or so . My total tank volume is 125g ish and I only have a clown / star blenny and a cromie in the tank right now just ave a hard time finding good fish

It may be worth it to buy fully QT'd fish online? I would definitely get some herbivores in there, they will be your biggest help with algae control and feeding your corals. You virtually have no fish in that size tank that are contributing to the corals, but adding some snails, trochus and turbos will help in the meantime.

Dennis Cartier · Apr 19, 2022

Kfactor said:
tank you for the reply and am going to be getting more fish today but will be qt ten for a month or so . My total tank volume is 125g ish and I only have a clown / star blenny and a cromie in the tank right now just ave a hard time finding good fish

Where are you located in Canada?

thatmanMIKEson · Apr 19, 2022

minus9 said:
It may be worth it to buy fully QT'd fish online? I would definitely get some herbivores in there, they will be your biggest help with algae control and feeding your corals. You virtually have no fish in that size tank that are contributing to the corals, but adding some snails, trochus and turbos will help in the meantime.

Do you know of a good online QT fish site? I was just hearing about this

Miami Reef · Apr 19, 2022

thatmanMIKEson said:
Do you know of a good online QT fish site? I was just hearing about this

TSM aquatics.

thatmanMIKEson · Apr 19, 2022

Miami Reef said:
TSM aquatics.

Wow just a quick glance but they seem like a good move for buying fish, I may have to look deeper into this thank you!

Jeff Jarry reef · Apr 19, 2022

Agree corals are i had the same issue with a few acros fading and I keep my phosphates around 25-30 PPB and once you have enough fish and figure how many time a day to feed and amount it will be steady. It took me a couple of months to know exactly how to keep nutrients steady.