What Is Going On Here?

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

So a few weeks ago, I switched from 100 percent water changes to roughly 20 ish percent and dosing AFR. I ended up buying a doser.
I have noticed my corals are not as happy and started just before the switch as well. While the full water changes are easier and less hassle, they are more mess. This will also cut down on my monthly cost.

My parameters are yesterday
Phosphates .22
Nitrates 17
Calcium 440
Magnesium I believe 1390
ALK is 8.7
Salinity 1.027.

I did a small water change and lowered salinity to 1.026. so numbers will be slightly lowered.

Alk was 5.7 and raised slowly over about a week. I used rods food initially to raise pros and nitrate and then was able to get reef roods and mix with benepets.

I am noticing my bowerbanki not fully inflated, sps slowly receding STN, Duncan not fully extending and retracting, and tonight appeared hammer is also flesh underneath receding. I plan to try and borrow a par meter and move corals to better positions. I have also changed flow so more dispersed but gentler. However, my elegance coral, blasto and pectenia seem to be doing well and even my sun coral is happier.

These pictures are early morning and days far apart. First is oldest second will be newest. At least it seems to me they are receding.

 

[Science/G]

Change is rough on reef aquariums. Your parameters are within acceptable ranges. Phosphates are high.....for many reefers. The alkalinity shift probably is the biggest cause of the issues you are seeing. All I can recommend is to continue to test, and get that AFR dialed in.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Change is rough on reef aquariums. Your parameters are within acceptable ranges. Phosphates are high.....for many reefers. The alkalinity shift probably is the biggest cause of the issues you are seeing. All I can recommend is to continue to test, and get that AFR dialed in.

Yes, seems to be stabalizing with 1.8 ml a day. I will check again to verify tonight. Did this with less than .5 change a day so maybe I just need to wait for everything to adjust another week and leave the lights alone for now.

I am also going to be dialing in the reef roids for phosphate. Have measuring spoons, the small ones, coming so I can dial the phosphates in more and nitrate.

 

[Science/G]

is your lighting new?

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

is your lighting new?

No, had it for a while and corals seemed happy with what I had. Unfortunately I had to reset and swap apps a couple times with the lighting and don't remember what I had. I don't think corals are in ideal places. With light. So need to also rearrange a couple.

 

[Science/G]

No, had it for a while and corals seemed happy with what I had. Unfortunately I had to reset and swap apps a couple times with the lighting and don't remember what I had. I don't think corals are in ideal places. With light. So need to also rearrange a couple.

Try to rent a par meter for sure. See what's going on there. The VBR-Aqua IP68 PAR Meter on Amazon for $130 is a good deal. My numbers using it were close to what I tested in the past using an Apogee Meter.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Try to rent a par meter for sure. See what's going on there. The VBR-Aqua IP68 PAR Meter on Amazon for $130 is a good deal. My numbers using it were close to what I tested in the past using an Apogee Meter.

Yeah, can't afford at the moment lol. But my local shop has one I can borrow. Plan is to try and see if I can borrow today.

 

[Science/G]

Did your phosphates go up from zero, to .22 in the last two weeks? That's a big shift!

 

[X-37B]

How big is this system?

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Yes, it went to about

Did your phosphates go up from zero, to .22 in the last two weeks? That's a big shift!

Yes, I was having issues getting it up. And over shot with reef roids. Why I ordered the micro dosing spoons to try and stabilize the amount needed and just make them detectable. I need to get the Hannah checked as saliphert phosphate is difficult.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

How big is this system?

This is 7.1g total volume UNS30A. With displacement maybe about 5 gallons.

 

[Science/G]

Yes, it went to about

Yes, I was having issues getting it up. And over shot with reef roids. Why I ordered the micro dosing spoons to try and stabilize the amount needed and just make them detectable. I need to get the Hannah checked as saliphert phosphate is difficult.

This is the one you need. Hanna Marine Phosphate Ultra Low Range Colorimeter – Checker HI774

 

[X-37B]

This is 7.1g total volume UNS30A. With displacement maybe about 5 gallons.

Ok. Do you have an ato?
Stability is key. Doubt if light is an issue but don't know what you run.
My 15 is only 9.5 g's. Ato, and I dose 2 part by hand daily with no issues. Only dosing 2ml of esv 1 & 2.
2 fish and light feeding. I do dose some esv dried phyto once a week.
I do 5% WC once a month so 1/2 gal.

20% is overkill, imo.
10% a month is a good starting point.

Dosing afr takes around 6-10 days to stabilize. It is biologically active and needs time to stabilize.
I dosed alk daily until the afr kicked in.

No need to adjust sg with a water change just take out a cup or 2 and replace with ro/di, simple.

You changed flow also.

So reduce WC and get alk/ca stable with the afr.
Keep flow the same and resist changing it. You don't need alot of flow in a tank that small.

Keep your lights the same until the system is stable.

Do you have FTS so we can see the full system.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

This is the one you need. Hanna Marine Phosphate Ultra Low Range Colorimeter – Checker HI774

Probably the one I was looking at. Be a bit before I can get.

 

[X-37B]

Probably the one I was looking at. Be a bit before I can get.

Pm me with your address. I will send you a hanna LR I dont use. It will get you started. Only 3 packs of reagent but you can order more.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Ok. Do you have an ato?
Stability is key. Doubt if light is an issue but don't know what you run.
My 15 is only 9.5 g's. Ato, and I dose 2 part by hand daily with no issues. Only dosing 2ml of esv 1 & 2.
2 fish and light feeding. I do dose some esv dried phyto once a week.
I do 5% WC once a month so 1/2 gal.

20% is overkill, imo.
10% a month is a good starting point.

Dosing afr takes around 6-10 days to stabilize. It is biologically active and needs time to stabilize.
I dosed alk daily until the afr kicked in.

No need to adjust sg with a water change just take out a cup or 2 and replace with ro/di, simple.

You changed flow also.

So reduce WC and get alk/ca stable with the afr.
Keep flow the same and resist changing it. You don't need alot of flow in a tank that small.

Keep your lights the same until the system is stable.

Do you have FTS so we can see the full system.

No, I don't really have any evaporation. I was keeping at 1.27. I was advised to run lower at 1.026. tank will stay there unless I leave lid off. I still check salinity weekly to bi weekly to verify. Sometimes daily lol. I run an air pump though to keep oxygenated and there is some gaps for gas exchange.

I was doing 100 percent for years with success so going down to barely any is difficult lol. I am trying as hopefully. It will be cheaper even though so far seems to be a pain. Hopefully when settled it will be easier.

For AFR been dosing I think over 2 weeks and it has been kicking in. I have stopped at same dosage for now to verify stabilization.

Yes, I am pretty happy with flow at moment. But always urge lol. I will avoid and leave everything as is.

I have 12 inch AI blade glow and grow. With the tank metal risers. Currently everything but whites set at 40 percent and white I think 15 currently for a few hours then down to zero to give a nice blend for a bit.

I will add a current full tank shot when I get home from work shortly.

Thank you for your advice and everyone else. As dosing is new and out of my element.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Pm me with your address. I will send you a hanna LR I dont use. It will get you started. Only 3 packs of reagent but you can order more.

I tend to go over board so its more of a budget thing. If it wasn't for that I would buy one and plan on it in a month or two. I don't want to give the wrong impression as there is just other priorities I am focusing on. But we can discuss a used price to be fair and see what shipping cost. I'll message you later. Thank you as that is an awesome offer as well.

 

[Tahoe61]

This is what I do in my Pico, I put one days volume of evaporation water with 1 days dose of AFR, which is roughly 1.5 ml in the top off container. So it doses over 24 hours. I refill the container every day.
You can't typical use AFR in top off because it will be metabolized by bacteria, but not in 24 hrs and a clean container, so I alternate containers.
Having a Pico has taught me you absolutely have to have SG dialed in all the time.

I love my Pico but I have to be meticulous, sps and clams will not tolerate swings. I changed my WC routine to 1/4 gallon once a week.

Just keep the beautiful Elegance happy. :)

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

This is what I do in my Pico, I put one days volume of evaporation water with 1 days dose of AFR, which is roughly 1.5 ml in the top off container. So it doses over 24 hours. I refill the container every day.
You can't typical use AFR in top off because it will be metabolized by bacteria, but not in 24 hrs and a clean container, so I alternate containers.
Having a Pico has taught me you absolutely have to have SG dialed in all the time.

I love my Pico but I have to be meticulous, sps and clams will not tolerate swings. I changed my WC routine to 1/4 gallon once a week.

Just keep the beautiful Elegance happy. :)

I picked up a doser so the AFR is consistent but might break the dosage up a bit. I never really had much issues with evap. Now if I leave lod off. That's a whole other story. My freshwaters evap like crazy lol. I don't keep lids on them lol. But yeah, alI still watch it. May change though in future and not opposed to setting up top off. Just low on priority. Don't want anyone thinking I'm against it ROFL.

 

[Tahoe61]

Personally I don't test pH but I would suggest that having a lid on a Pico to prevent evaporation might be problematic with regard to pH.
I really like the ATO device on Amazon for 11.00. I bought multiple ones so I can dose different products. I just can't imagine not having ATO in Arizona.