Hello,
I have a 43 gallon housing a pair of blue mandarins. They require very minimal additional feeding, giving me complete control over the NO3/PO4 levels. The tank naturally moves to 0/0, and I need to supplement both NO3 and PO4 weekly in order to have a measurable amount of either. I had near zero coralline algae until the past six months due to low par (40). I bought a par meter, adjusted the light levels, and now it is growing.
I initially tried to run ULN due to the unusually low nutrient load and ran into a dino issue after a few months. To solve that I decided to move to a more traditional nutrient balance and started adding NO3 & PO4 in order to prevent the dinos. Since that point I vacillate between massive GHA takeover and something that is either dino or a slimy cyano. I test every 3-7 days based on the severity of the current situation.
I can manually battle my way out of each, but there is never a period of time that the tank looks "good" for more than a few days. The combination of GHA or dino kills every attempt at a coral after about a month (GSP lasts a little longer). I have tried to do the right thing by selecting a nutrient target and sticking with it for a few months, and I have researched whatever I could to try and fix this.
NO3:0 PO4:0 Ran for 6 months, had dinos for the last 3. Only had mandarins, pods, and a hermit. Low lights
NO3:2 PO4:0 Ran for 6 months, had the least algae, but was a brown coating that required daily blowing/cleaning. Low lights
NO3:4 PO4:0-.01 Ran for 6 months, GHA became stronger. Low lights. Added Astrea snails (no snails previously)
NO3:0 PO4:0 Ran for 2 months, over-correcting for GHA and trying to not to spike nutrients. dinos/cyano exploded. Brought to 80 par to correct light issue.
NO3:8 PO4:0.04 Ran for 3 months trying to keep the 20/1 ratio and higher nutrients for corals. GHA exploded, killed most of the plugs.
NO3:4 PO4:0.01 Current setup for 2 months, GHA thick in the rocks and sandbed. 2 weeks ago added additional hermits and a 5 lettuce nudi's and some cheato to fight the GHA with no change sofar. GSP and two LPS are still alive but in strong decline.
I need help. The only thing I have success with are the fish and hermits that are still doing fine.
I have a 43 gallon housing a pair of blue mandarins. They require very minimal additional feeding, giving me complete control over the NO3/PO4 levels. The tank naturally moves to 0/0, and I need to supplement both NO3 and PO4 weekly in order to have a measurable amount of either. I had near zero coralline algae until the past six months due to low par (40). I bought a par meter, adjusted the light levels, and now it is growing.
I initially tried to run ULN due to the unusually low nutrient load and ran into a dino issue after a few months. To solve that I decided to move to a more traditional nutrient balance and started adding NO3 & PO4 in order to prevent the dinos. Since that point I vacillate between massive GHA takeover and something that is either dino or a slimy cyano. I test every 3-7 days based on the severity of the current situation.
I can manually battle my way out of each, but there is never a period of time that the tank looks "good" for more than a few days. The combination of GHA or dino kills every attempt at a coral after about a month (GSP lasts a little longer). I have tried to do the right thing by selecting a nutrient target and sticking with it for a few months, and I have researched whatever I could to try and fix this.
NO3:0 PO4:0 Ran for 6 months, had dinos for the last 3. Only had mandarins, pods, and a hermit. Low lights
NO3:2 PO4:0 Ran for 6 months, had the least algae, but was a brown coating that required daily blowing/cleaning. Low lights
NO3:4 PO4:0-.01 Ran for 6 months, GHA became stronger. Low lights. Added Astrea snails (no snails previously)
NO3:0 PO4:0 Ran for 2 months, over-correcting for GHA and trying to not to spike nutrients. dinos/cyano exploded. Brought to 80 par to correct light issue.
NO3:8 PO4:0.04 Ran for 3 months trying to keep the 20/1 ratio and higher nutrients for corals. GHA exploded, killed most of the plugs.
NO3:4 PO4:0.01 Current setup for 2 months, GHA thick in the rocks and sandbed. 2 weeks ago added additional hermits and a 5 lettuce nudi's and some cheato to fight the GHA with no change sofar. GSP and two LPS are still alive but in strong decline.
I need help. The only thing I have success with are the fish and hermits that are still doing fine.