Who Gives A Fish Forums

Been struggling with my mixed reef tank lately. Got Zoas, Acans, and a Duncan, but they're not thriving like before. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrates at 5 ppm. Running a Red Sea 130D with AI Prime lighting. Any ideas what's messing with the vibe?

What's your alkalinity and calcium levels? Stability is key for mixed reefs. If those swing, it'll stress them out. Also, how old are your bulbs? LEDs can shift spectrum over time, might need adjusting.

Check your flow patterns. Duncans especially hate direct flow. If they're retracting, it's a sign. Try repositioning powerheads or lowering the intensity.

goldenfin wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:52 am What's your alkalinity and calcium levels? Stability is key for mixed reefs. If those swing, it'll stress them out. Also, how old are your bulbs? LEDs can shift spectrum over time, might need adjusting.

Yep, and don't forget magnesium. Low mag can throw everything off. Had the same issue last year, took me ages to figure it out.

How often are you feeding? Acans love meaty foods, but overfeeding can spike nutrients. I do spot feeding twice a week with mysis, keeps 'em happy without messing with the water.

My tank's chill now after I switched salts. Was using Instant Ocean, but the trace elements were sketchy. Moved to Red Sea Blue, big difference.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna test alk and calcium tonight, and maybe tweak the flow. Appreciate it!

riderox wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 6:06 am My tank's chill now after I switched salts. Was using Instant Ocean, but the trace elements were sketchy. Moved to Red Sea Blue, big difference.

Salt mix matters more than people think. Red Sea Blue's got a solid rep for mixed reefs. Also, if you're dosing, make sure your doser's calibrated. Had a friend crash his tank from overdosing alk.

Another thing, check for pests. Flatworms or nudis can stress corals without obvious signs. A quick dip might reveal something.

True, pests are sneaky. Found a bunch of asterina stars munching on my Zoas once. Little jerks.