water too clean?

Duberz · Mar 23, 2016

I'm currently running gfo(1cup) and carbon(1/4cup) in my tank. My water volume is around 80gal. My corals seem pale and little growth. I have been reading that gfo can strip my tank water of nutrients before corals can utilize them. I have been thinking of taking the gfo off line but I'm scared to do so with the presence of some algea. Is it possible to have algea with water too clean? My nitrates test 0(api) and phosphates 0(hanna 713). I have stable parameters(alk 9,cal 420 and mag 1350)and good flow(2 mp40's)along with good lighting(2 radion g2's). I feed lrs reef frenzy and a scoop of reef chili twice a day to 8 fish. Also I do a 5gal water change once a week. The pic shows my light green algea with lights off. When they come on you can't see it. Sorry for the long post I'm just frustrated.

twilliard · Mar 23, 2016

What is your po4 level at right now?
With the algae it is present. (Edit- diatoms )
Also what is your no3?

Duberz · Mar 23, 2016

Both 0

twilliard · Mar 23, 2016

What lighting do you run?
Seems that the po4 is bound hence the 0 reading

Duberz · Mar 23, 2016

2 radion gen 2's at 65% mostly blue

twilliard · Mar 23, 2016

With the amount of food being fed you should have sufficient nutrients
Can't say to stop GFO as the green algae or bacteria is present.
Almost a double edge sword.
If your corals are lacking might want to first try increasing the lighting as I see in the picture they have a lot of zooanthelle

reefwiser · Mar 23, 2016

I see no coraline algae growth any where. What is your intensity setting on your Radion fixture? Have you used a Par meter to adjust?
What corals do you have? I can see like 3 small blobs of something in the picture.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 23, 2016

IMO, those kits are not able to read low enough to say you have nutrients too low, and the presence of the algae, assuming it is actually growing, suggests otherwise.

What type of corals are we talking about?

Duberz · Mar 23, 2016

Yea I've read the 713 isn't the one to get. I have zoas,hammer sunset mont,goni and a galaxea. They are doing well other than the monti is pale and I'm not getting the growth I would like. When I put something in with coraline it also seems to fade out. I asked this question about clean water because I can't see anything else it could be. I do have a apogee par meter and I'm getting 200 on the sand bed. When I was running this same exact setup in a previous tank my triton test said my iodine was low. I dosed Lugols and my colors seemed to come back. I figure the gfo was depleting it. I may try that and some aminos again. Here is a pic with the lights coming on.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 23, 2016

While I do not think there's a clear relationship between iodide and color, and do not generally feel it is worth dosing, I am confident the GFO is not depleting it.

On the other hand, the algae likely is. It takes up iodine quickly. If you think it useful, dosing some type of iodine (preferably not Lugols as it is an unnatural form) is fine to do. If you want to dose iodine, I'd use an iodide salt such as sodium or potassium iodide.

Amino acids are a fine thing to dose if you think nitrate is low and want some extra nutrition for the corals.

reefwiser · Mar 23, 2016

First this tank is a baby right now. The corals are so small they are not at a size that they would be taking up much. If your are having coralline algae fade away that's not a good sign. When you say my alk is 9 is that with an api test kit? How often do you check it and what are you using for a calcium supplement?

CoralIN · Mar 23, 2016

This tank appears to be very young. I wouldn't be dosing anything yet. Anything that you have going on can likely be dealt with through water changes with the exception of the issues related to dry Marco rock which it appears that the tank was started with.

I am battling a lot of the same issues as you currently in my new setup (started Dec 2, 2015). It's just part of the process and all normal. I love the marco rock but the phosphate issue comes along with the rock and it just takes time. Coraline algae comes along after the phosphates finally stop leaching back into the tank.

My recommendation is that you avoid making a lot of changes and just let the tank do it's thing. Add coral and fish as you can. Do water changes with water that you are 100% positive is clean and clear with the proper salinity and zero phosphates.

If you have plenty of fish you can feed heavily, just make sure you have a way to get the excess out of the tank (filter socks, skimmer).

But, please don't start adding and chasing stuff, you'll only spend $ you don't need to an be unhappy with the results.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 23, 2016

CoralIN said:
If you have plenty of fish you can feed heavily, just make sure you have a way to get the excess out of the tank (filter socks, skimmer).
s.

Just to clarify what that means and its implications...

There are a number of good reasons to not add too much food, but in terms of nitrate and phosphate ending up in the water, it doesn't really matter if a fish eats it or not. Even when eaten by a fish, nearly all of it ends up in the water. Fish do not really retain most of the N and P, and an adult fish retains almost none (like an adult person: what goes in must come out). :)

CodyRVA · Mar 23, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If you think it useful, dosing some type of iodine (preferably not Lugols as it is an unnatural form) is fine to do.

Can you recommend a specific product? I'm currently using Lugols.

@Duberz what test kits are you using?

Duberz · Mar 23, 2016

Thanks all for your help! Definitely not chasing stuff. I'm no Mr Farley expert but I have been in the hobby roughly 20 years. I moved and this is a new(4 months) build. I have always feared gfo stripping my water. @CodyRVA I'm using hanna for alk and nyos(I really like)for cal and mag. @reefweiser alk is tested every day with my hanna checker And im using Randy's recipe for two part. I wouldnt usually dose a young tank with few corals but my alk was dropping. I have it dialed in now(only 20mil a day) and its been rock steady. @Randy Holmes-Farley im using potassium iodide. Just started 1 drop a day. It seemed to work last time I thought my corals were starving. Forgot to mention my skimmer is rated for a much larger tank then I have. Thanks again guys!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 24, 2016

CodyRVA said:
Can you recommend a specific product? I'm currently using Lugols.

@Duberz what test kits are you using?

Any one that says iodide, like this one:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/esv-potassium-iodide-1-solution.html

and these would also be OK:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/iodion-liquid-iodine-supplement-brightwell-aquatics.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/two-little-fishies-iodine-concentrate-250-ml.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/korallen-zucht-iodide-complex-concentrate-50-ml.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/korallen-zucht-potassium-iodide-fluoride-concentrate.html

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 24, 2016

Duberz said:
@Randy Holmes-Farley im using potassium iodide. Just started 1 drop a day. It seemed to work last time I thought my corals were starving. Forgot to mention my skimmer is rated for a much larger tank then I have. Thanks again guys!

Let us know what you find dosing this time. :)