Neptune Aquatics

Depressed- Thinking about Getting Out

patchin

patchin

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While updating my DBTCs, I realized how poorly I've done with my tank over the years. My parameters are pretty good. Alk 9-10 with Elos. CA 475 Elos. Mg 1280 Salifert(should be a little higher). I dose two-part everyday and have receently installed an ATO. I use RO water to top-off, although I haven't tested the tds lately. The filters and membrane were replaced within the last 6 months or so. Salt is Seachem Reef. Flow should be adequate. Turnover is minimal.
There's a small refugium in the sump. Lighting is a 175 MH with 130 watts of pc actinic. In the past I've never been able to grow sps. Recently, some millis have done Ok, Although one is receding. Two BN are doing OK.

Pretty depressed right now. And after such a good day, too. Any clues on my problems? This hobby can't be this tough.

The only thing that comes to mind is the fact that I have a lot of leather type corals:
3 Green Finger Leathers
Mr Ugly Didn't Have
Large Devils Hand(went to Steinhart)
small Tyree Toadstool
Green Nepthea
These have grown pretty well. Opinions, please.

The tank is a standard 50 RR.
 
How actively are you running carbon? With all of those softies (especially leathers), you may have some serious alopathy issues as you indicated.
 
My carbon is not changed often enough, plus there's very little flow through my sump. Just bought a Mag 5 to increase the flow. so I don't know how much good it has done with the low turnover.
 
It very well could be the leathers. Don't let it get you down to much. We all kill corals and imo, that is ok if we learn from it. We don't mean to but it happens. I would look thorugh your coral list on what you don't do well with and for the meantime, limit yourself on those types. Try regular carbon changes and see how that gets you. You may be surprised at how a simple change in routine can have large impacts :)
 
+1 on allelopathy.

If you want to keep a lot of leathers, maybe do a separate softie tank.

I think you should be able to well with your sps. Sounds like you're on top of your water chemistry.
 
I have tow types of carbon. One is a large pellet(Kent). The second one is more of a small granule(Seachem). Would the smaller one work better or faster?
 
Careful of doing too much carbon at one time.

If the water clarity changes a lot, some corals get upset.

Also, zoas can close or shrink if the water gets too clean.
 
That'll explain why my zoas and palys are growing larger than they did before running the same amount of carbon on the 32g as I did on the 10g before. :p
 
Steve I changed the filter sock to my sump this week and I will start doing it more frequently. Not sure if you use them. I also just gave the leather to Steinhart.

How is the setosa? I think I get too small frags in some corals. Sorry I gave you one so tiny. I have yet to get a chalice to grow. Both from DBTC and were single eye frags. They just sit. I am focusing on the corals that do grow well for me.
 
Much like everyone else the leather types are what instantly spring to mind. A mixed reef is often harder to keep than a dedicated reef (i.e. SPS only).

Personally I would be content with soft corals if they're doing good, hell you could even cut down on lighting, and need for keeping your alkalinity/carbon up too.
 
sfsuphysics said:
Much like everyone else the leather types are what instantly spring to mind. A mixed reef is often harder to keep than a dedicated reef (i.e. SPS only).
Click to expand...

And like withh Eric's tank, size matters.

The smaller tanks can show various effects sooner.

So the same amount of leathers in a 180 might not be an issue like in a 50.
 
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