Why is my Phosphate zero, Nitrite 1, and Hammers bleaching at what appears to be lessening of the ugly stage that started about 3 weeks ago?

[bruno3047]

Do you have any data suggesting nitrite is toxic to corals?

The data I have seen shows no toxicity in marine systems at less than 10 ppm nitrite.

Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Do you have any data suggesting nitrite is toxic to corals?

The data I have seen shows no toxicity in marine systems at less than 10 ppm nitrite.

Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

No, but I have data that shows the typical aquarium cycle has nitrites peaking in the 20 to 25 ppm range, which would put it significantly over the 10 ppm your data suggests is still safe.

Beginner: The Nitrification Cycle and New Tank Syndrome(

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No, but I have data that shows the typical aquarium cycle has nitrites peaking in the 20 to 25 ppm range, which would put it significantly over the 10 ppm your data suggests is still safe.

Beginner: The Nitrification Cycle and New Tank Syndrome(

I have never ever seen anyone report anything close to 25 ppm nitrite cycling a reef tank. I usually see reports of 2 ppm or less. Not sure why it would ever get that high unless one overdosed ammonia somehow.

 

[bruno3047]

I have never ever seen anyone report anything close to 25 ppm nitrite cycling a reef tank. I usually see reports of 2 ppm or less. Not sure why it would ever get that high unless one overdosed ammonia somehow.

Are you saying that Duke University’s data is incorrect?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Are you saying that Duke University’s data is incorrect?

It is a theoretical construct, not data. It isn't even seawater specific, not to mention reef tank specific.. it talks about fresh and salt.

I will reiterate and challenge you to find anyone on Reef2Reef who reports a reliable nitrite level above 10 ppm. I think finding one above 3 ppm may be challenging.

it just is not an issue worth thinking about in an established reef tank.

 

[redfishbluefish]

A number of posts have been removed. Please stick to the OP's concern and question. In addition, our rule here is the same thing your mom told you, If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Let's keep this thread open. Thanks, Paul, Team R2R

 

[bruno3047]

A number of posts have been removed. Please stick to the OP's concern and question. In addition, our rule here is the same thing your mom told you, If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Let's keep this thread open. Thanks, Paul, Team R2R

I’m sorry about hijacking this thread. I hope the OP’s hammers are OK.

 

[BWV]

Well team,
I do believe i have some good news.
I can only really see it under just the blues, and on the bigger hammer, but if my eyes aren't lying to me (I am optimistic to a fault, and can't see so well anymore) I do believe I see some color coming back!!!!

Fingers crossed!!

 

[BWV]

BTW... I'm a toy addict, and like to build things, so I'm still buying the refurbished PAR sensor to measure stuff.

My only decision is if I use my Flir DM93 and just do the math...or if I dig out one of my Arduinos, an lcd display, and some buttons and let it do the math.... I'm not sure what the resolution on the Arduino ADC looks like vs the SQ-120 0.2mv per PAR...time to do some research...

 

[Aqua Man]

with your experience, will rock/substrate stop taking the phosphate? im in the same situation right now, where i dose phosphate because of little to no phosphate reading, regardless of how much i dose

Even if you test 1 hr after the dose?

Sufficient dosing will eventually saturated available surface sites for the given phosphate concentration you are trying to attain.

I did find it interesting that the 2 tanks I was dosing PO4 into took about the same amount to reach equilibrium.
Interesting because one is bare bottom and well established. The other has aragonite substrate and newer. Both are around 20 gallons.

 

[BWV]

So... The apogee SQ120 came today!!!

And I think I was cookin' em... you guys and/or gals that said less light were probably spot on.
In the data below, I am using the a range of 1.05 to 1.15 correction for the LED response curve this sensor has (and 1.08 for under water). Below are the figures for Now, and Before lowering the levels(I turned em back up for a minute to see where I was)...
The big hammer was seeing about 160 to 175 PAR before and is now at 101 to 111
So.. I think I am closer to what I should have now... I do have a little color back in the big hammer...so this is good
BUT.. the Goni is kinda closed up (this might be due to the Shroom trying to lay on top of it...chemical warfare?)

I now (since dosing 1ml Neophos a week) have green fuzzy algae where the red hairy stuff was... I am being super careful to make small changes.

Check out the PAR measurement Rig!! $104... (well..if you don't count the FLIR... you could do this with a 10$ meter instead of a $350 one... )

Water test results in a few I'll do it before the 20% change tonight...

 

[BWV]

As all of my coral seems "depressed"... less extension than normal, I think l lost my Goniastrea, my goniopora is looking floppy, etc... and I think I have a fairly well established biology in the tank, I have gotten rid of 8/10ths of the stock Fluval Evo Sponge. I have been using filter floss pad before it, so am trapping solid waste already... I'm just using a square of it to support the carbon and biomax 'til I 3d print a rack. I think it just holds waste, and can't see a benefit beyond surface area for biology, which I think i am doing with the 3 mesh bags of bio-max(like 2oz each) I have in there.
I just have this feeling there is something "polluting" my tank...making the water unpleasant for the coral..that I am not testing for, so am not seeing. I'm trying hard to practice good husbandry, my water params are decent, my light is spot on now (I think)... but I think I'm seeing what I feel is a decline in tank health as far as the coral go. (Fish look fine).
I honestly think it was healthier before I put the fish back...
I do see color coming back in my hammers, but they aren't extending as they used to. Cleaned and stirred everything up and let the filter catch it all before a 20% water change. We'll see.

Side note... I started using Aquarium Note... Kinda like that over the Google Sheets file I've been using.

Temperature 77.8
pH 8.15
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.025
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0
Salinity 1.026
Alkalinity 7.7
Calcium 370
Magnesium 1350

 

[BWV]

First... THANK YOU to all those who shared thier knowledge and spent time crafting your thoughts into the words that helped me and my coral.

An update, I think it was the filter sponge that depressed the coral, and we know the light caused the bleaching.
(The color started coming back before I tore out the sponge)

Removed the sponge, 3d printed a rack for my carbon and bio media (I'll drop some pics here later of the rack), and I have extension and happy coral.
My hammers have color almost back to normal, and are waving like they used to.

I wont assume this is good or bad...but I am noticing my once 5 head hammer, looks to be 8 or 9 heads now (is it "growth" or last ditch survival effort?) Now:

2 moths ago...

Now/Before:

Except my Goni and my other Goni...
The Goniastrea looks terrible, and algae is upon it hard...not much left, may just pull it.
My Goniopora skeleton became exposed and algae climbed on, I dipped it in 200ml/liter peroxide(3%) and the skeleton cleaned up nice, but there's little if any extension, and three days later, more algae.

Any advice? The goniopora sees about 80PAR light and low-moderate flow.
Today's chemistry:
Temperature 77.6
pH 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.01
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity 7.7
Calcium 380
Magnesium 1350

 

[Lavey29]

First... THANK YOU to all those who shared thier knowledge and spent time crafting your thoughts into the words that helped me and my coral.

An update, I think it was the filter sponge that depressed the coral, and we know the light caused the bleaching.
(The color started coming back before I tore out the sponge)

Removed the sponge, 3d printed a rack for my carbon and bio media (I'll drop some pics here later of the rack), and I have extension and happy coral.
My hammers have color almost back to normal, and are waving like they used to.

I wont assume this is good or bad...but I am noticing my once 5 head hammer, looks to be 8 or 9 heads now (is it "growth" or last ditch survival effort?) Now:

2 moths ago...

Now/Before:

Except my Goni and my other Goni...
The Goniastrea looks terrible, and algae is upon it hard...not much left, may just pull it.
My Goniopora skeleton became exposed and algae climbed on, I dipped it in 200ml/liter peroxide(3%) and the skeleton cleaned up nice, but there's little if any extension, and three days later, more algae.

Any advice? The goniopora sees about 80PAR light and low-moderate flow.
Today's chemistry:
Temperature 77.6
pH 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.01
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity 7.7
Calcium 380
Magnesium 1350

Your numbers seem good now except phosphate. LPS like nitrates around 10. Have you done an ICP to check your trace elements? Goni can be finicky corals and were once considered almost impossible to keep years back. I have mine in the bottom third getting low to moderate flow and lighting.

 

[BWV]

I have been tempted to ICP but have not yet.

I think the algae are consuming the nitrates... worried if i raised them I wont be able to see the coral through the algae.

Thanks!!

 

[Lavey29]

I have been tempted to ICP but have not yet.

I think the algae are consuming the nitrates... worried if i raised them I wont be able to see the coral through the algae.

Thanks!!

Since your tank is young and you added corals and lighting early, algae will be an issue until your biodiversity and microfauna grow. I waited almost 4 months before adding coral and lights so my ugly phase was minimal and manageable. Still have patches of GHA now but coraline is overtaking it now. Do you have any tuxedo urchins in your cleaner crew? They have been really knocking back my GHA.

 

[BWV]

I really would like a tuxedo urchin
Been waiting for nice weather as I understand they are sensitive.

 

[Lavey29]

I really would like a tuxedo urchin
Been waiting for nice weather as I understand they are sensitive.

I was surprised my local Petco had nice ones in clean looking tanks. I added 3 and those guys take care of business pretty well. Far better then my snails and crabs. Check out the top of this rock compared to the GHA around it. They clean it to the bone and so far are not eating my coraline.

 

[BWV]

NICE!!!