So i have been doing a lot of experimentation with my tank, its been going strong for a year now, and the coral color and pe have been great always but growth has always been slow. i started feeding every day and haven't seen any visible improvement yet but i plan to continue that. my next step was possibly reducing my water change. right now i have done 15 gallon water changes consistently every week, i was thinking about bumping it down to 10 gallons to keep more nutrients in the water for the corals. good idea? stupid idea? any input is appreciated. i am also picking up an mp40 next week!!! really excited i think thats going to give me some change as well sorry for the long post haha.
Curious question
- Thread starter Jarrett
- Start date
While there are some corals that appreciate more nutrients in the water, it needs to be balanced with what else a person is doing to reduce the nitrates and phosphates to keep algae at bay.
If you have any stony corals, they will quickly not appreciate a reduction in the lesser amounts of water changed.
If you have any stony corals, they will quickly not appreciate a reduction in the lesser amounts of water changed.
well i have always had 0 nitrates, as far as phosphates i honestly never check i was running GFO but i now have stopped for a couple weeks. but i have literally no algae anywhere so i think i am going to keep the GFO off line unless i see a change in that. i have read that all though i need low phosphates there does need to be some for corals to grow. i am just trying to switch my routine up because i have done that routine since the start and all though i get good results in color and PE theres obv something not balanced as far as nutrients for the corals to grow.
What types of corals do you keep?
Taking GFO off-line is not necessarily a good idea for a few reasons..one, you aren't measuring it, and if you don't have a Hanna meter - you aren't measuring it accurately. Two, your salt mix contains phosphates, so you DO have them in your tank and I assure you, it adds enough to satisfy the needs of the corals you have. Three, when you start to see the algae, you will already have phosphates that are higher than what is 'acceptable' and your rock and sand will already have been adsorbing them..and now you will be fighting them.
If you are switching to an MP 40 next week - and say you do see improvement - how will you know if any improvement is due to the added flow or the added nutrients (place my bet entirely on the MP 40 please
).
You could also not see any change at all and then what - you chase high phosphates and hope to get the tank back in control.
I don't think anyone with a successful tank will tell you that cutting your water changes and taking GFO off-line is the path to a more successful tank.
Taking GFO off-line is not necessarily a good idea for a few reasons..one, you aren't measuring it, and if you don't have a Hanna meter - you aren't measuring it accurately. Two, your salt mix contains phosphates, so you DO have them in your tank and I assure you, it adds enough to satisfy the needs of the corals you have. Three, when you start to see the algae, you will already have phosphates that are higher than what is 'acceptable' and your rock and sand will already have been adsorbing them..and now you will be fighting them.
If you are switching to an MP 40 next week - and say you do see improvement - how will you know if any improvement is due to the added flow or the added nutrients (place my bet entirely on the MP 40 please
).You could also not see any change at all and then what - you chase high phosphates and hope to get the tank back in control.
I don't think anyone with a successful tank will tell you that cutting your water changes and taking GFO off-line is the path to a more successful tank.
you make a valid point i am gonna throw the gfo back in this upcoming water change. i have always done 10 cups for my 75 gallon tank you think thats to much? i just don't want to strip the water to much. thats why i was contemplating bumping down the amount of water i changed. but thats fine i like doing 15 gallon water changes i am just trying to attempt all different scenarios to get diff results then what i have gotten.
10 cups???????? Cups? please tell me that is a typo
My best advice is to only change 1 thing at a time when trying different things. The MP 40 will be a great addition. Do keep up with your 15G water changes - they are SO good for a tank, and do add back that GFO (after we clarify the amount you are using...lol)
My best advice is to only change 1 thing at a time when trying different things. The MP 40 will be a great addition. Do keep up with your 15G water changes - they are SO good for a tank, and do add back that GFO (after we clarify the amount you are using...lol)
Great call Kat!
Jarrett, you are sounding like the moms who for ever comparing their child to the other mom's child.lol
BTW, not all corals grow at the same speed!
Do you turn your filtration (return pumps, skimmer) off when you feed your animals? For how long? I turn them off, turn them back on an hour or a little more after I have fed. This also helps to keep the sump, and socks cleaner as well.
Jarrett, you are sounding like the moms who for ever comparing their child to the other mom's child.lol
BTW, not all corals grow at the same speed!
Do you turn your filtration (return pumps, skimmer) off when you feed your animals? For how long? I turn them off, turn them back on an hour or a little more after I have fed. This also helps to keep the sump, and socks cleaner as well.
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- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY
What type of lighting are you running over the tank? If MH/T5 what type of bulbs? That could be your issue with good color but not enough growth.
- Location
- Rocky Point, NY
What about replenishing trace elements that are found in your salt? Corals will use up trace elements (how much/how fast depends on how stocked/what type of corals you keep). The only way to replenish trace elements is through water changes or dosing. If you cut back water changes, you reduce the amount of the amount of these trace elements in your tank. (I should really take my own advice, lol). This could contribute to slow coral growth.
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY
He does 15g water changes every week on a 75g tank. I don't think this is a nutrient or trace element problem.
- Location
- Rocky Point, NY
- Location
- Dingmans ferry PA
you might be shocking your sytem doing 15 gallons every week. you have a 75 gallon which means you probably have 60 gallons of total water volume in the tank and now instead of the recommended 10% you are doing 25% water change which is changing the parameters every time you do a water change. im sure people are saying water changes are good it replenishes which is true but to much is not always good. if you are running a good skimmer and you have good good habits like not over feeding there really isnt a need for water changes more then 10%. i have 100 total water volume in my tank and i do 10 gallons a week in a full sps system. i do 5 gallons on tues and 5 gal on sat
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well thats what i thought, as far as 15 gallons being to much, but as far as shocking the system i dont think i do that because my corals always look the same after every water change the salinity is consistent at 1025 always, i match the temp perfectly and my water changes keep my magnesium in check so i dont have to dose it.
and i have a 20 gallon sump so i probally have more water volume then just 60 gallons and i have a SWC 150 bmk protein skimmer i went +1 on the skimmer and it does its job perfectly. maybe just do 10 gallons a week from now on?
- Location
- Dingmans ferry PA
Its not about shocking them with temp or salinity its the sudden rise or fall of alkalinity. Unless your matching every parameter in your water change water to the tank
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY
This is your problem. There is no growth spectrum in those bulbs. Get more white into the system and you will see an improvement in growth.
And yes, your doing a ton of water changes to the tank. But I doubt thats the growth problem after seeing your bulbs. And 5g less isn't going to help, you should think about 10g every 2 weeks.
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