Spschampion Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Hi, I have a 120 gallon mixed reef tank. I’ve had it up and running for about six months. I am relatively new to the hobby, but reading and researching everything I can. I perform an array of water tests, every week. One thing I’ve noticed consistently is that the tests show zero nitrate and zero phosphate. Yet, I have algae so I know this cannot be true. I’ve read that coral need low levels of both nitrate and phosphate for color/growth. I was previously dosing red seas no pox daily. I have recently stopped altogether. I’ve also begun feeding heavier. I’m curious, is there likely nitrate and phosphate in the tank that the algae absorbs faster then I can pick up on the tests? Also, if I continue to “dirty” the water will it just fuel the algae growth rather then make nutrients available to the coral? Thanx in advance for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Which test kits are you using? Some are more accurate than others. PO4 in particular can be tough to measure in the small quantities we shoot for, so kits like the Hanna Ultra Low Range Phosphate tester are useful. It measures my water at 0.04 ppm, but other tests would show that as 0 ppm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 I just purchased the Red Sea phosphate rest and I use the Salifert for nitrate. Both samples stay completely clear! Which according to instructions is zero. I’m wishing I had bought the Hanna checker for phosphate now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Spschampion said: I just purchased the Red Sea phosphate rest and I use the Salifert for nitrate. Both samples stay completely clear! Which according to instructions is zero. I’m wishing I had bought the Hanna checker for phosphate now You could check with some local shops to see if any of them have the Hanna ULR. Maybe they could test a sample for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 That’s a good idea! Thanx! Also I noticed you have some Acropora. How fast do the “fast” growers grow for you? I know this is kind of a loaded question but I’m curious thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 3 hours ago, Spschampion said: That’s a good idea! Thanx! Also I noticed you have some Acropora. How fast do the “fast” growers grow for you? I know this is kind of a loaded question but I’m curious thanx My fastest grower is my green slimer. This should give you a good idea of growth rate: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 Here's a Cali tort I received a little less than a year ago. It's purple and blue with yellow tips Was a stick about an inch or so long with one branch about a quarter inch. It has grown probably 50x original size and I've even broken pieces off on accident. This is in a very unstable 20 gallon red sea. Alk is all over and low. No clue what nitrates/phosphate are. Two different test kits for nitrate always showed 20-30. Can't read the colors on red sea phosphate kit. I've been dealing with green hair and red cyano for last couple months which seems to be slowing down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Wow, that’s pretty fast! Thank you for sharing and nice acros btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Wow, that’s pretty fast! Thank you for sharing and nice acros btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Does the hammer sting the Cali tort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 Not yet. I think it stung my John Deere just to the left of it but it is now healing so it may have been something else. My RBTA has been stinging my red planet at the top. Now it's stinging my blue Stylo since I gave my huge finger leather/rock to another member. The leather used to block the rbta from stinging it. It's also now stinging my blastoma 🤬 I have too much random everything for a 20 gallon. I am thinking of fragging my Cali tort as it's getting too big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 I wish I had a before of the Cali tort. It was about the size of suncrests slimmer in the beginning except it was like the right branch only. What's really weird is it's just about the only sps I can get to grow besides a pink bird'snest that's not shown, and my red planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 The blue Stylo and much smaller pink Stylo just to the left, I've had for almost 2 years. The red planet is between trumpet and rbta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Nice, might have to try to talk you out of a frag if the Cali tort! I’ve had issues with my hammer colony stinging Monti caps! Caused some STN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 I’ve got a purple Stylophora that grows really good probably doubled in size in the last few months! One of my favorites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 My tierra del fuego has ridiculous growth. Almost as much as the slimmer. The slimmer growth is off the chain though. Probably 3-4" a month Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spschampion Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 I’ve been wanting a frag of the Tierra Del Fuego. Haven’t seen any available yet! I think the fastest growing acro I have so far is the RMF Superman stag. It’s encrusting the putty really quickly! I’ve been reading that many acros encrust first then start to grow vertically/horizontally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What_The_Frag Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 On 6/13/2019 at 10:50 AM, Spschampion said: I’ve been wanting a frag of the Tierra Del Fuego. Haven’t seen any available yet! I think the fastest growing acro I have so far is the RMF Superman stag. It’s encrusting the putty really quickly! I’ve been reading that many acros encrust first then start to grow vertically/horizontally? If you want a frag of Tierra Del Fuego I have plenty. Just send me a dm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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