Weak/No PE

[JVice]

Hey guys, I have been running zeovit for 6 weeks now. A couple of weeks ago I started noticing weak to no polyp extension tank wide. Red bugs were my first suspect, and I did notice a few and I treated the tank as I have before. No red bugs have been noticed since. Even w/red bugs in the past not all corals have been effected. All parameters are in line and dosing is followed exactly. Since this is tank wide and zeo is the only variable I can point to I was wondering how to proceed. Is this a period of the coral adapting to the new environment or some other problem. I did feed the tank heavyly Sunday night and got weak PE on a few corals, but did get 4-5 corals showing messenterial filament, which I have never seen in my tank. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks, Jay

[G.Alexander]

Jay, please tell us some general information about your tank. Water volume, dosing, which components of the system are you use, water parameters etc. Have you observed polyp expansion before starting with zeo ?

G.Alexander

[JVice]

http://www.zeovit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3729
This is the info on my tank. Using the basic 4, added AAHC after first zeolith change. Yes, I had very nice polyp extension before starting zeo as well as the first few weeks of starting it.
Thanks, Jay

[wasp]

Hi jay your calcium is too low & your alk is too high, should raise ca to 420 - 440, and keep your alk between 7 & 8, don't let it go over 8.
But I also see you said 0 phosphate, this was before you even begin zeovit. Perhaps you have stripped the phosphate to a level too low for sps health. Best plan is to test with a Hanna colorimeter if you can borrow or buy one, these are very accurate & detect the low levels we have with the zeovit system. If phosphate is too low supplementary feeding is needed to maintain sps health.
Also, I see you are dosing some non zeovit supplements. This can be OK, but if there is problems best to reduce or stop.
The b ionic is Ok of course, however with low zeovit nutrient levels need to avoid fluctuations as much as possible, rather than add once a day can be a good idea to dose with a dosing pump.

[JVice]

Thanks, Wasp. I should have added that I have adjusted my CA to the 420 range and Alk is 7-8. I have thought about my phosphates, and plan to get colorimeter. I had some nuisance algae in my tank when I started zeovit and thought it may be where the phosphates were tied up causing the low phosphate reading. The algae has since pretty well cleared out since I started zeo and the phosphates are again reading zero on my tests, but I do need to get a Hanna.
Thanks again, Jay

[CAReefer]

Something else to consider, I don't know if you noticed an improvement in water clarity or not, but your corals may be having to adjust to a more intense light. I experienced something similar in my tank and IIRC it started at about the 4 wk mark. All recovered nicely. Try shortening photoperiod and or raise your lights for a week or so and see if it improves PE.

Just my .02 cents
Marshal

[gqjeff]

Jay, make sure you test your params again.. I prefer salifert test kits also never used the Aqua pharm... Not sure how reliable they are... Marshall makes a good point also. I never experienced this myself and I run 400 watters...

Jeff

[G.Alexander]

Jay, which carbon brand are you using ?

G.Alexander

[JVice]

Black diamond

[G.Alexander]

Jay, I am not familiar with this carbon, but using a capable carbon is very basic to get good polyp expansion. Maybe some others will post their experiences with the Black Diamond carbon.

G.Alexander

[G.Alexander]

Nobody is or has used Black Diamond carbon with ZeoVit ?

G.Alexander

[gqjeff]

Alexander, I started off using zeo carbon and then switched to black diamond.. I have GREAT polyp extension with it so I am not sure that would be the problem.. I have had no problems after switching to it 4 months ago.. I am going to go back to the zeo carbon though after Bob has noticed improved coral color after switching back from black diamond to zeo as well...

Jeff

[Aged Salt]

Nobody is or has used Black Diamond carbon with ZeoVit ?

G.Alexander

Alexander, didn't Thomas try this with some adverse-effects to coral coloration? I used it for several months w/o any noticeable effect , but after 2 exchanges of K-Z carbon, I noticed marked improvement of my SPS colors, especially in my blue coloration in my Acro's, most notably the stags Bob

[G.Alexander]

Thanks Jeff and Bob. I am not 100 % sure if this was the same carbon. If so I did not get why the results can be so different.

Looking forward to Jays photometer PO4 readings while nutrients also can affect PE negative.

Jay, have you observed if there is any fish in the tank nipping at polyps ?

G.Alexander

[Aged Salt]

Jay, are you sure there are no parasites roaming around in your corals? Bob