7 month old tank phosphate high and traces of ammonia / nitrite :(

[newfishhobbiest]

So I have a Biocube 16 Gallon it's 7 months old now.

I had to move some rocks yesterday to make space and I did a water change 2.5 gallons.
I put in new sponge, filter floss, chemipure, BioCube Filter Cartridge,

bioballs are from start of the tank on the bottom chamber in middle, never removed them.

today my water is not looking good. I have two clown fish, some CuC, shrimp, and corals.

AI Prime 16HD light, Koralia circulation pump

PH is low 7.8
ammonia is 0.6
nitrite is 0.2
phosphate is 1.3
salinity 1.025
calcium is 350
magenisum is 1320
alkainity is 10

I was thinking of adding GFO or Phosguard to lower phosphate in mesh bag.
Adding some bacteria to lower ammonia and nitrite
Also, doing another 20% water change tomorrow

Any other solution can you guys offer?

 

[fishywishy]

Keep doing water changes until you’re ammonia goes down. although, it might just be a test kit error. What test kit are you using? Have you been over feeling or anything?

Edit: are you saying you removed some rocks or you just moved them out of the way? If you removed them that’s probably what’s causing the problems.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Keep doing water changes until you’re ammonia goes down. although, it might just be a test kit error. What test kit are you using? Have you been over feeling or anything?

Edit: are you saying you removed some rocks or you just moved them out of the way? If you removed them that’s probably what’s causing the problems.

I moved the rocks inside and it was vertical standing before, now it's horizontal. so it made more space on top and more space for corals to be attached.

I did a test at home with API and got another test done outside in store "Spin test"

Yea going to do more water changes.

 

[fishywishy]

I moved the rocks inside and it was vertical standing before, now it's horizontal. so it made more space on top and more space for corals to be attached.

I did a test at home with API and got another test done outside in store "Spin test"

Yea going to do more water changes.

A spin test is just as accurate as an api test so it could still be a test kit issue, but if not just keep doing water changes.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

so I did a 30% water change and results still not looking good #fishmedic #reefsquad
Water looks clean during the day and fishes come to eat the food everytime, but corals aren't opening up.

@Sharkbait19 @fishywishy

Can someone help me, corals not looking good last few days.

Hammer and Zoas are opening up, one of the SPS is looking white
GSP is opening up
Toadstool leather coral opens up partially not like before

Kenya Tree looks slouching
Leather Coral looks slouching

API Test picture (Left to Right) -> PH / Ammonia / Nitrite / Nitrate

Feel like there is Ammonia / Phosphate is still coming high / Calcium is low

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

looks like your zoas are reaching which could be light issue. It appears to be sps in first picture which appear to just be a skeleton. can you post some white light pictures? I am not an expert but can you also post what lights you are using and schedule?

What is the water temp?

If using old school bioballs that will not help much as far as bio space availability for bacteria to live. You said you added new socks new floss etc. Is it correct to say these are brand new? If not how were they cleaned?

I probably dont have an answer but this will help others.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Light I am running is AI Prime 16 HD

UV - 65%
V - 65%
RY - 85%
B - 80%
G / DR / ML - 0%
CW - 20%

Temperature is around 78/79

(Middle chamber)
For Biocube 16, I change the sponge and filter every 15 days, I put in new sponge.
Chemipure is changed usually every 3 months
Bioballs are in the bottom chamber and they are coral life bioballs.

Corallife Biocube Filter in 1st Chamber is changed every 2 weeks.

​

 

[newfishhobbiest]

looks like your zoas are reaching which could be light issue. It appears to be sps in first picture which appear to just be a skeleton. can you post some white light pictures? I am not an expert but can you also post what lights you are using and schedule?

What is the water temp?

If using old school bioballs that will not help much as far as bio space availability for bacteria to live. You said you added new socks new floss etc. Is it correct to say these are brand new? If not how were they cleaned?

I probably dont have an answer but this will help others.

Yes brand new floss/sponge/filter

 

[Sharkbait19]

It’s possible you messed up your cycle with how much media was replaced, but that shouldn’t really affect much beyond nitrogenous compounds.
Any changes to the source water perhaps?

 

[newfishhobbiest]

It’s possible you messed up your cycle with how much media was replaced, but that shouldn’t really affect much beyond nitrogenous compounds.
Any changes to the source water perhaps?

Nope same RO/DI water I get always, and make my own saltwater. The only big thing I did was move the rocks and added new corals.

 

[fishywishy]

Nope same RO/DI water I get always, and make my own saltwater. The only big thing I did was move the rocks and added new corals.

have you tried testing your rodi water? Sometimes there can be ammonia in your water.

 

[jabberwock]

You have way too much going on way too soon in a very small tank. At 7 months you might have 1 or 2 corals.

Stop adding "stuff". Why did you add ChemiPure? Stop adding "stuff".

You need time, and a slow measured approach while your tank seeks out equilibrium. You are going to have a hard time with 2 clowns in such a small tank. They will out grow that tank pretty quickly.

You are going to experience some coral losses here. Happens to most of us. My advice is to SLOW DOWN.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

You have way too much going on way too soon in a very small tank. At 7 months you might have 1 or 2 corals.

Stop adding "stuff". Why did you add ChemiPure? Stop adding "stuff".

You need time, and a slow measured approach while your tank seeks out equilibrium. You are going to have a hard time with 2 clowns in such a small tank. They will out grow that tank pretty quickly.

You are going to experience some coral losses here. Happens to most of us. My advice is to SLOW DOWN.

You can actually add coral all at once. Minimum bioload and provide the bacteria on the skeletons and rocks. It can be a good way to add bacteria without causing a cycle. The clowns yes I agree with 2.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I agree others stated. Check water source make sure your refractometer is calibrated.

 

[jabberwock]

You can actually add coral all at once.

Not if your tank is too new, which yours obviously is based on the results you are experiencing. I would just grit my teeth and do micro daily water changes and ride it out. Accept the losses because that is what is going to happen.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Not if your tank is too new, which yours obviously is based on the results you are experiencing. I would just grit my teeth and do micro daily water changes and ride it out. Accept the losses because that is what is going to happen.

Going to do another water change and test water daily, hopefully I can save it.

Yes going to test my RO/DI water right now and make sure there is no ammonia in it.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

@jabberwock I don't think you know my tank that well...lol. my tank is fine....feel free to check out the link in my signature and the link I added. I'm also not the OP.

How to Cycle a Reef Aquarium Right Away - With Corals First | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Forever and a day we have been schooled in how to set up and cycle an aquarium. Set it up, wet it, add bacteria, test, add fish, test again, and then eventually add corals. But here at Reef Builders…

reefbuilders.com

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Going to do another water change and test water daily, hopefully I can save it.

Yes going to test my RO/DI water right now and make sure there is no ammonia in it.

You can also do 100 percent water changes if needed. So if something is funky with it, feel free to do so.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

I might have found the culprit, my RO/DI water is reading on TDS meter 38 PPM.

OMG cant believe I didn't test the water first such stupid mistake.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I might have found the culprit, my RO/DI water is reading on TDS meter 38 PPM.

OMG cant believe I didn't test the water first such stupid mistake.

I have done it as well. it's what is in there that is causing that reading and what else is slipping through.

I recommend getting your rodi filters swapped and reverified. Once done, go ahead and do a 100 percent water change. Ensure temp is within 2 degrees and using the same salt.

I get mine premade at store. I didn't test salinity and it was high and wiped out my pico project. I also did it to this tank and salinity was high again. I now always double check now. But it can slip time to time.