Too clear water?

FlyinBryan

FlyinBryan

New member
Is there such a thing as to clean or clear water? Ive been running a sterilizer for about a year and just started gfo/carbon a little over a week ago. The water looks HD..its amazingly clear. Corals cant seem to stay alive, even with parameters in line w/salifert tests, in my tank but the water sure looks great!!
 
Yes you could be stripping the water completely "clean" and taking all the nutrients out. Are you using to much carbon and gfo possibly
 
What kinda corals are you keeping? There are a lot of people keeping ULNS tanks and keep coral fine. U just gotta feed...

Dat your turbo MPsti05?
 
FlyinBryan said:
What are ulns?
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Ultra Low Nutrient System... Basically reducing nitrates and phosphates to nearly zero. This is mostly achieved through bacterial means, but some choose to dose vodka or other carbon sources.

Typically seen in sps only environments. Softies, zoos, and Lps tolerate and often do better in "dirtier" water. Dirtier meaning a bit of phosphate and nitrate.

Very advanced subject worthy of a google search.

http://grumpyreefer.net/2009/10/28/ulns-is-not-really-l-and-far-from-ul/
 
UV sterilizers strip water of common planktonic foods and bacteria. Often beneficial bacteria gets neutralized. IMO sterilizers are a fish only equipment. They kill too many planktonic foods that help keep your coral colorful.
 
How big of a uv? I run uv for 5yrs now and gfo and carbon and phosphate remover. But only run a 36 w on a 75 gallon. If u run to big no corals will grow ny bro learned hats way
 
Miller..yeah I've been looking at that the last couple of days...nitrates are pretty low and phosphates are also quite low. But something is irritating my corals.

Modjoe mine's abt the same size..makes water nice n clear..

So I'll turn it off and reduce the amount of carbon in reactor..I'll also run minimal amount of GFO.
 
I've always heard that you're not supposed to run UV in a reef tank. Never knew why, maybe this is why? Hopefully things get better for you.
 
Ive run uv for years no issue and yes water is super clear thats why i keep running besides the other benefits
 
@madjoe im with you..tank is really clear with UV but something is preventing corals from growing.

What makes gfo/carbon so tricky?

I'm trying to have everything right but nothing is working at all. Il keep trying!
 
FlyinBryan said:
@madjoe im with you..tank is really clear with UV but something is preventing corals from growing.

What makes gfo/carbon so tricky?

I'm trying to have everything right but nothing is working at all. Il keep trying!
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i never had problem with carbon but i dont tumble it it goes in the tray. but gfo if tumbled to fast it creates dust that gets over the corals and what not . i should meantion i have my uv on my return pump so the flow goes thru it faster then suposse to still works effectively for clarity but might not kill everything . i suposse if the flow was slower it could kill more good stuff and cause problems but dont think so. not at 36w. my brothers tank came with 60w one and he couldnt grow even mushrooms. then he removed and hes good now . u check for stray voltage . just throwing stuff out there
 
Just curious, what do you guys use to buffer alk? I'm using that superbuffer dkh by Kent marine. I mix it with some salt water from tank and pour it back into the refuge.

Thanks for your responses guys. I've turned off the uv and GFO/carbon..for some reason tonight after I pulled out by large and now dead leather finger..my return pump was kicking out dust..turned off the GFO/Carbon and problem went away. But it wasn't doing it before why all of the sudden??
 
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