Struggling after a crash

[180large]

3 yr old tank getting over a crash I caused by doing a water change without adding salt … I know dumb but any way. I can’t get things straightening up again. Just added GFO on the 18 th and as you you can see phos went up in 24 hrs.
Running 3 tblspns in a BRS reactor mixed with carbon.
220 gal system
Clear water 300 running on reverse cycle.

FYI I have recently stopped using filter socks going on a month now. There is some detritus build up in sump. ( Rubbermaid 100 gal stock tank )
Feed 1 cube mysis , and one pellet feeding per day.
1 large yellow tang
1 whitetail bristletooth
1 one spot rabbit fish
1 mandarin.

 

[tbrown]

I'm just curious, are you looking for advice or documenting?

 

[180large]

Advice , insight. What to do to get things right. Just can’t get it stable.

 

[tbrown]

Did you get your salinity and all back in line? You're showing phosphates on the chart. Are there more parameters you're currently struggling with or just phosphates currently? If you had a crash and lost a bunch of algae or corals and ended up with some decay phosphates could be released back into the water.

What are you testing with?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How long has it been? I’ve had a couple of crashes, it takes several months to get over it, IME 5-6+ months. Be patient and keep the tank stable. Good luck.

 

[180large]

Salinity is good now , using Hanna then cross reference with salifert.
Nitrates at 5
So I should just ditch any coral that’s dying ? Was hoping maybe a giant hammer would come back. Very minimal extension now. Most if it’s dead.
Alk 9.1
Ca 530
So ca is out of wack also

 

[tbrown]

I wouldn't toss anything that's still alive. I usually don't even toss out the skeletons of dead corals. If they stink and look sick, that's about the only time I consider tossing them.

 

[180large]

Salinity is good now , using Hanna then cross reference with salifert.
Nitrates at 5
So I should just ditch any coral that’s dying ? Was hoping maybe a giant hammer would come back. Very minimal extension now. Most if it’s dead.
Alk 9.1
Ca 530
So ca is out of wack also

Oh yeah aptasia now too.

 

[tbrown]

Lots of them or just a few?

Peppermint shrimp have always been my go-to for Aiptasia if you can find true Peppermints but @tharbin has had them go rogue and attack hammers more than once.

 

[180large]

How long has it been? I’ve had a couple of crashes, it takes several months to get over it, IME 5-6+ months. Be patient and keep the tank stable. Good luck.

Since like July of 2025

 

[180large]

Lots of them or just a few?

Peppermint shrimp have always been my go-to for Aiptasia if you can find true Peppermints but @tharbin has had them go rogue and attack hammers more than once.

Lots , took out some rocks. Was thinking of nudis when I get parameters stable. They probably won’t live in high phosphates , right ?

 

[tbrown]

Lots , took out some rocks. Was thinking of nudis when I get parameters stable. They probably won’t live in high phosphates , right ?

I had 1.0+ phosphates in my old 125 and Berghia were breeding very successfully.

 

[tharbin]

Lots , took out some rocks. Was thinking of nudis when I get parameters stable. They probably won’t live in high phosphates , right ?

The phosphates posted in your graph aren't high enough to bother nudis. They are pretty tolerant of poor tank conditions. Are you still losing livestock or has that part of your tank stabilized?

--edit--
I also would not dump dying or dead coral unless they were obviously diseased, algae covered, or stink.

 

[180large]

I had 1.0+ phosphates in my old 125 and Berghia were breeding very successfully.

Nice ! Good to know

 

[180large]

Nice ! Good to know

So you think like 20 or so would be sufficient

 

[tbrown]

So you think like 20 or so would be sufficient

I started with 3 but I was being patient. @tharbin went with 10 or 12 if I recall correctly?

 

[tharbin]

I started with 3 but I was being patient. @tharbin went with 10 or 12 if I recall correctly?

I started with ten the first time. The second time I only tried five but it failed, probably because of predation.

With the fish you have I would probably add 10 to 15 1/2" or larger (breeding size) and give it some time. You could add more to speed it up but it will still take a while. Most of the work will be done by the offspring.

 

[vetteguy53081]

3 yr old tank getting over a crash I caused by doing a water change without adding salt … I know dumb but any way. I can’t get things straightening up again. Just added GFO on the 18 th and as you you can see phos went up in 24 hrs.
Running 3 tblspns in a BRS reactor mixed with carbon.
220 gal system
Clear water 300 running on reverse cycle.

FYI I have recently stopped using filter socks going on a month now. There is some detritus build up in sump. ( Rubbermaid 100 gal stock tank )
Feed 1 cube mysis , and one pellet feeding per day.
1 large yellow tang
1 whitetail bristletooth
1 one spot rabbit fish
1 mandarin.

I recommend an ICP test and see what the results are versus yours. Also how are you testing ?

 

[180large]

The phosphates posted in your graph aren't high enough to bother nudis. They are pretty tolerant of poor tank conditions. Are you still losing livestock or has that part of your tank stabilized?

--edit--
I also would not dump dying or dead coral unless they were obviously diseased, algae covered, lost

I started with ten the first time. The second time I only tried five but it failed, probably because of predation.

With the fish you have I would probably add 10 to 15 1/2" or larger (breeding size) and give it some time. You could add more to speed it up but it will still take a while. Most of the work will be done by the offspring.

ouch , $50 each.

 

[180large]

I recommend an ICP test and see what the results are versus yours. Also how are you testing ?

Great idea will do that. Thank you