Something not quite right

[mariusz621]

I've been using zeovit from January this year and I've found it to be a very good method of reducing nutrients. It took however about 4 months for my system to show benefit of using zeo.
In August I have moved my reef into smaller tank with total water volume of around 150l. I use 0.5kg of zeo stones in zeo filter pumped clean 2 to 5 times a day. Water flow through zeo filter is around 600l/h. I dose 0.3ml of start2 a day and I add 1 drop of zeofood and 2 drops of zeoback twice a week. I also use 0.5 kg of activated carbon, skimmer Aqua Medic Turboflotor 1000 multi, Korallin Calcium reactor and 1x400w 20000k light. There is around 30-40kg of Live Rock in the tank, water movement is provided by Eheim 1260 (return from sump) + 3 Maxijet 1200. Stock include mandarin, small cling fish and 4 1cm gobies. I add just a pinch of artemia once every other day. No additional food is used.



Water parameters are: KH 10,2 Ca 430ppm, Mg 1200ppm, No3 30mg/l.
I don't understand why my no3 are so high!?!
In the same time the main tank which is FOWLR has No3 of 10mg/l. The bioload of this 180g tank is big: hawaiian, rectangular and picasso triggers, yellow and purple tang, maroon clown, blue spotted toby. There are 2 tunze steams, Turboflotor 5000twin, around 70kg of LR. I use 1kg of zeo stones and 0.5 kg of carbon and add only zeostart at 1ml a day. The fish get flakes in the morning and 3 cubes of frozen artemia in the evening.
How come that No3 in my FO tank much lower than in the reef??? Considering bioload and amount of food added to each system, I just can not figure it out.

[CAReefer]

Unrelated, but your Alk needs to be closer to NSW levels <8 dKH when utilizing the Zeovit method.
As for the Nitrate problem, IME P04 and N03 tend to run hand in hand, what is your P04 reading? My conversion from metric to standard is pretty bad, but most quantities seem to be in line. It seems to me that your bak and food dosages are low, but I will defer any dosage change recommendations to the less conversionally challenged. Sorry I couldn't be any more help.

Marshal

[mariusz621]

Unrelated, but your Alk needs to be closer to NSW levels <8 dKH when utilizing the Zeovit method.
As for the Nitrate problem, IME P04 and N03 tend to run hand in hand, what is your P04 reading? My conversion from metric to standard is pretty bad, but most quantities seem to be in line. It seems to me that your bak and food dosages are low, but I will defer any dosage change recommendations to the less conversionally challenged. Sorry I couldn't be any more help.

Marshal

I'm trying to bring Alk to NSW level. I did underestimated power of korallin reactor when firstly added to this small set up. After checking Alk a week later they were over 18dKH. It took few week and few water changes to drop it. I'm aiming for 7-8dKH.
I only have a standard po4 test kit which shows 0. I will have to get something like deltec po4 test.
I think the dosage of back and food is rather large comparing to what I've been adding previously. I can be wrong here though.
Thanks Marshal

[CAReefer]

Have you tested your CA reactor effluent for N03? could be a source.

[fkadir]

Are you doing water changes? How much and how often?

Are you skimming wet?

Also, 600L/hr is too fast for 0.5kg of zeoliths. Recommended is 400L/hr for every kg of zeoliths so that should put the correct flowrate you should be pushing at 200L/hr.

[losmandy]

off-topic, mariusz621, is that a fantail filefish? Nice triggers.

[Aged Salt]

Hi Mariusz621, As Farish mentioned lower the zeo-filter flow rate to 200 l/h. Marshal is on target in that your zeo-dosing is low, but do not increase them until the KH is between 6-8dKH or you will have coral consequences. Once your KH is inline, plz. repost on this thread for updating zeo-diosing Bob

[mariusz621]

Have you tested your CA reactor effluent for N03? could be a source.

I haven't check that. It's never crossed my mind. I use those products in my reactor:
http://www.coralculture.co.uk/shop/p...roducts_id=598
http://www.coralculture.co.uk/shop/p...roducts_id=383

I will check it once it's connected. It'll be back in operation when dKH drops to 7.
Thanks for that.

[mariusz621]

off-topic, mariusz621, is that a fantail filefish? Nice triggers.

No, it's blue spoted puffer.


Not a best picture, as he does not like camera

[mariusz621]

Hi Mariusz621, As Farish mentioned lower the zeo-filter flow rate to 200 l/h. Marshal is on target in that your zeo-dosing is low, but do not increase them until the KH is between 6-8dKH or you will have coral consequences. Once your KH is inline, plz. repost on this thread for updating zeo-diosing Bob

Would it make a difference if I put the filter on timer (3 hours on/3 off) or reduce flow rate to 200l/hour?
I was thinking of adding more stones and increase the flow, which would lower No3 faster. I must be wrong again

Farish, I change 10% water weekly using RODI water, which I've tested last week for No3 with 0 result. Tds of RO water is <8ppm.

My corals are not happy, loosing some flesh form the base (likely only 2). Rest of them are getting dark brown. :crap: I'm not sure what is causing it. Is the high dKH, or fast water flow through zeo filter, or high levels of No3 to blame.
I though smaller tank would be easier to maintain. I'm not sure now

[fkadir]

Its good if you can interval the pump for the zeofilter but you need to cut it down to 200L/hr even when you are doing intervals. Too high a flowrate will contribute to negative consequences.

I think all 3 have a part to blame for your issues you are facing. Get these 2 things sorted out and you will see improvements to the SPS conditions.

[Aged Salt]

Hi Mariusz, the tissue lost[STN] is parameter-related; gradually reduce the KH to NSW guidelines[6-8]. Do not increase zeo-dosing--that includes the quantity of zeolites or it's flow rate.You can run the zeo-filter continuously now if you wish. Your choice. Plz. follow the recommendations above. Bob