This past January my tank took a turn for the worse. I made two interventions at the time, one on purpose and the other inadvertently. I was running a ultra-low nutrient system (nitrate .1; phosphates not measurable) and some people had suggested some nutrients would be better (I've got about 2/3 sps; 1/3 lps). I carbon dose (with Red Sea NOPOX) so I reduced the dosage. There was little effect so I continued lowering dosage then got pretty dramatic spikes up to nitrates of 5.0. Some SPS (acros) and LPS (Lobo, euphyllia) started declining. When I saw what was happening I started to increase dosage and reduce nitrates. In mean time, my two clams (including beautiful maxima) died.
At same time in January, I plumbed a 30g breeder frag tank into my system. I didn't think of this as intervention into chemistry. But the added turbulent surface area increased evaporation and rodi with kalkwasser in it went up about 15-20% and ph went up about .15. In winter my Ph usually peaks in 8.3-8.4 as my sump is in unheated basement. Now it peaked low 8.5s and regularly high 8.4s.
Everything is fine now. Tank has recovered. Nitrates are stable in 1-2 range and corals like that. Ph is down with summer to peaking 8.2-8.3.
My question for the experienced reefers here: was it the nitrates or the Ph? or a combination?
At same time in January, I plumbed a 30g breeder frag tank into my system. I didn't think of this as intervention into chemistry. But the added turbulent surface area increased evaporation and rodi with kalkwasser in it went up about 15-20% and ph went up about .15. In winter my Ph usually peaks in 8.3-8.4 as my sump is in unheated basement. Now it peaked low 8.5s and regularly high 8.4s.
Everything is fine now. Tank has recovered. Nitrates are stable in 1-2 range and corals like that. Ph is down with summer to peaking 8.2-8.3.
My question for the experienced reefers here: was it the nitrates or the Ph? or a combination?