Test results need help. Algae scrubber good or bade

[CHSUB]

. my monti grow like crazy

If nutrient deficiency is the problem, why do Montipora grow like crazy? Adding some no3 might not hurt, but not sure how it will help when a similar coral appears to be thriving? Imo, you’re not providing enough detail about your system for a solution. Maybe your Acros are misplaced for growth…low flow, poor lighting, other coral aggregation, pests?

 

[GARRIGA]

Couldn't it also be the algae zapping trace needed and not just low nitrates? ICP test just a point in time and no confirmation in between tests certain requirements not always being met.

Plus never grasped the low nitrate as always being an issue since might be possible system getting enough ammonium and lack of reading doesn't properly reflect that fact. Reefs devoid of measurable nitrates my understanding and I get we want to see some nitrate to confirm enough ammonium being added but still can't see how that's 100% proof it isn't. Couldn't the tank possibly be so efficient as to solve ammonium quick enough there's no nitrate formed yet enough fish breathing means a constant flow of ammonium provided along with food and nitrification?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Couldn't it also be the algae zapping trace needed and not just low nitrates? ICP test just a point in time and no confirmation in between tests certain requirements not always being met.

It could be the case that a trace element supplement might be useful. It's easy enough to try something like Tropic Marin A and K and see if it changes anything. :)

Plus never grasped the low nitrate as always being an issue since might be possible system getting enough ammonium and lack of reading doesn't properly reflect that fact. Reefs devoid of measurable nitrates my understanding and I get we want to see some nitrate to confirm enough ammonium being added but still can't see how that's 100% proof it isn't. Couldn't the tank possibly be so efficient as to solve ammonium quick enough there's no nitrate formed yet enough fish breathing means a constant flow of ammonium provided along with food and nitrification?

Again, it is certainly possible the organisms are getting enough N. Having more N ensures that is not the problem, or solves it if it is. :)

 

[GARRIGA]

It could be the case that a trace element supplement might be useful. It's easy enough to try something like Tropic Marin A and K and see if it changes anything. :)



Again, it is certainly possible the organisms are getting enough N. Having more N ensures that is not the problem, or solves it if it is. :)

Unless to your previous points made on biological filtration robbing needed ammonium thereby making nitrates not the solution or confirmation. Makes me think we might be looking at this the wrong way by examining the end process vs ensuring enough input provided first. Seneye or Seachem ammonia alert along with slowly increased dosages of ammonium bicarbonate perhaps the future of nutrient control.

Seeing nitrates just confirms ammonia was present but not that the corals got their share of it. Yet perhaps a slight reading of ammonia/ammonium and still less than lethal ensure there's availability of what's really needed. Just thinking out loud and seeing how this hobby can be advanced although would be walking a fine line not for everybody. Although simple enough to wet a test strip post dosing and confirm just enough but not too much added and see how life responds from that.

Granted one could just eliminate or minimize biological filtration yet not all start with a tank full of corals and some might have fish in excess of what the corals can solve. :thinking-face:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unless to your previous points made on biological filtration robbing needed ammonium thereby making nitrates not the solution or confirmation. Makes me think we might be looking at this the wrong way by examining the end process vs ensuring enough input provided first. Seneye or Seachem ammonia alert along with slowly increased dosages of ammonium bicarbonate perhaps the future of nutrient control.

Seeing nitrates just confirms ammonia was present but not that the corals got their share of it. Yet perhaps a slight reading of ammonia/ammonium and still less than lethal ensure there's availability of what's really needed. Just thinking out loud and seeing how this hobby can be advanced although would be walking a fine line not for everybody. Although simple enough to wet a test strip post dosing and confirm just enough but not too much added and see how life responds from that.

Granted one could just eliminate or minimize biological filtration yet not all start with a tank full of corals and some might have fish in excess of what the corals can solve. :thinking-face:

Without a doubt, having a particular nitrate level does not ensure that corals get as much ammonium as they want.

What it does ensure is that corals have an adequate N source of some sort. That is why I have a minimum nitrate level recommended, with the caveat that it may not be needed or used at all. It is insurance.

Having a particular minimum detectable ammonia level may work to ensure corals get all the ammonia they want (though I'm not sure what level that would be), but what might happen is nitrate may rise excessively while trying to keep ammonia at the preselected level.

 

[chicago]

OK.. So let me add some information on this system. I have a lot of fish in this system. large angels and tangs, wrasses. The tank was and is suppose to be sps dominated. Long story but ick - hypo and restarted the tank 5 years ago.. lots of live rock in tank and sump.. Sump is a 300 gallon horse trough, . The water flows over the side overflows, through filter floss. Large dyi roller matt before hitting basement sump socks. water in sump goes through a large Protein skimmer and then part is diverted through the ALS. I get about 2 cups of algae a week from the screens off. the ALS. Temp of tank is at around 79 to 80. like to shoot for alk of 7.2 calcium 420 and mg 1350. salinity 35 . Lighting is 4 apex sky - 6 radions older ones. and some black box Chinese made. The Par ranges across the tank at 200 - 450 . There is about 1/2 to 1 inch layer of reef grade sand in the tank. Water flow is solid. I have 4- 6 gyrees moving water at any time.

I do test about every two or three months - ICP .. and always see a lack of iodine, Baron and the others that are low.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do test about every two or three months - ICP .. and always see a lack of iodine, Baron and the others that are low.

Iodine may be a useful supplement.

The comment on barium being critically low is misguided, IMO. It has no known biological role in any known organism. It's the sort of info that gets repeated over and over across the internet with no known data supporting the claims. I do not recommend bothering to dose it, but its also not a problem to do so.

 

[chicago]

randy... thanks for the comment.. sorry to be a pain.. but can you take a look at the other issues in the test results that are low ect. My take away so far is that the real only thing jumping out on the report is the zero level of nitrate and perhaps a bit low in Cal, Alk and mg ?

Funny thing is a I think my tank did better 15 years ago when I would dump in cal alk and mg without thinking about all this and had no heavy filtering.. then again the tank was DSB sump with 8 inches of sand.. story for another day when I had to clean that up..LOL

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

randy... thanks for the comment.. sorry to be a pain.. but can you take a look at the other issues in the test results that are low ect. My take away so far is that the real only thing jumping out on the report is the zero level of nitrate and perhaps a bit low in Cal, Alk and mg ?

Funny thing is a I think my tank did better 15 years ago when I would dump in cal alk and mg without thinking about all this and had no heavy filtering.. then again the tank was DSB sump with 8 inches of sand.. story for another day when I had to clean that up..LOL

My assessment in the above posts was that nitrate is low, and you might (or might not) benefit from a trace element supplement.

I'd personally lower the salinity (if it really is that high, I'd confirm that) as others have suggested.

Magnesium and alk are fine, though mag will drop if you lower the salinity. Calcium is borderline fine, but if you lower salinity, it will drop and I'd boost it.

 

[chicago]

ok... thank you ...