Stray Voltage

[DerekL]

Thank you Jordan great thread. I should be able to squeeze behind my tank and install a GFCI outlet. Other then stray voltage do mag pumps contain any lubricant or anything that could be leaching into my tank? I really want to get to the bottom of this.

 

[jroovers]

I doubt that any stray current or voltage is the issue related to your SPS, but that is just my opinion. I know that in some methods of artificial reef building, they use electricity to help speed growth (may not be comparing apples to apples here though). Here is a good article to take a look at that may help you form a better hypothesis of whether stray current is a good or bad thing:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/the-electrified-artificial-reef-at-pemuteran-bali-Indonesia

Why don't you give us some more info - exact parameters, husbandry practice, GFO/Carbon that you are running and how much, etc. I had some base recession on pieces in the past with high capacity GFO, I went back to normal capacity BRS, and things got much better. You don't need nearly as much as they recommend. Also, I didn't run carbon anytime recently. Each system is different though.

 

[EricTMah]

Check out this thread

http://www.thefragtank.ca/community...tage-etc-for-the-electrically-ungifted.10623/

Wow! What great info. I certainly feel dumb now.

Glad this topic came up and now that I'm educated on it. Good thing my ground probe is plugged into my GFCI

Thanks for the info!

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[DerekL]

Jordan here are my parameters
CA 430
Alk 8dHK
MG 1380
pH 8.2
PO4 .01ppm
NO3 6ppm
SG 1.026
Temp 80 f
I do a bi weekly water change of 15 gallons of water using RO/DI water and aquavitro salinity salt. I run 1 cup of rowaphos and 1 cup of carbon. I find my gfo lasts about 6 weeks where I change my carbon monthly. I also run and always have filter floss in my last bubble baffle going into my return chamber in sump. For Nitrates I use Nitra Guard Bio Cubes I am also only using 500ml of them which is less the recommended but has been working for me. I feed the fish daily sometimes 2 times a day and switch between pellets, frozen mysis and frozen enriched brine. If there is any other info I missed let me know so I can provide it. Thank you I also use a filter sock not sure if that matters but I guess the more info the better. My lighting is also the Orphek Atlantik LEDs and my skimmer is JNS C01.

 

[Reef Hero]

I don't think you have stray voltage..... Getting into sps successfully and especially acros seems to be the toughest for many reefers....myself, I've only ever run t5s so I have no experience with led. I have heard a few say that you need a decent amount of uv LEDs tho to have any success. As far as your parameters go, they look pretty good. I've never been able to read any nitrates in my water but 5ppm is not much.... Have you ever tested for potassium? I have found sps thrive when potassium levels are kept in check. Also, whenever keeping sps, pests or bugs always come to mind.... Do you dip everything? Are you sure you don't have any pests?
Some pics of the sps would be helpful too. You say that the tips go white first? But is the rest of the coral still coloured nicely with good polyp extension, etc??


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[jroovers]

I agree with RH about your parameters, looks good. How long has your tank been up and running though now? It takes time obviously, and with the LEDs, may take a bit longer than expected. But this is coming from one of the so-called non-100% LED believers lol.

 

[DerekL]

Jordan and RH my tank has now been running for 14 and a half months. I have no sps at the moment but will see if I can get pics from when I did. As for when the tips start to bleach yes the rest of the coral has great polyp extention and color. I suspected alk swings so I tested daily for a week and it remain the same. I was dosing soda ash from BRS to keep alk stable when I had sps. I had sps doing very well for awhile in this tank. I will get a potassium test and check for that. As for dipping yes never do I miss dipping new frags. I use the bayer advanced insect killer I also have coral RX.

 

[jroovers]

How were you dosing the alk, on a BRS doser? That will help for consistency. Also, putting your sump on a reverse lighting period will help with preventing pH swings. I would try again with a monti or mille frag, or a few of them, and see how it goes.

 

[DerekL]

I do have dosing pumps but they are medical grade which I would think a little more accurate. My light on my sump is reverse of the display tank. I also have chaeto that grows well and needs to be thinned out monthly.