Abrupt End of Polyp Extension

[victoly]

i think it was the ramping up of GFO and alk swing.

[bimmerzs]

Sounds more like the gfo being moved to a more appropriate reactor was the catalyst. Switching to a fair amount of gfo can cause an abrupt alk (and corresponding ph change) and really pee off sps. It's always a good idea to calculate how much gfo is needed and then start off with half of that. You can check your effluent over a week to see if the phsphates are dropping, if not then add more gfo and repeat process.

Cheers,

[esacjack]

wow really? So too much carbon, or too much GFO can irritate the stability of the tank? I only recently learned that activated charcoal raises phosphates, is that correct?

[victoly]

GFO has a much greater capacity to affect your tank parameters. Carbon can add phosphates, but generally it's a small amount. The only people who need to be concerning themselves with that, are those who are trying to achieve ultra low nutrient

[esacjack]

understood, thank you for laying that out for me

[(Bio)³]

GAC contributes ~1% of Po4 levels in a tank.

[bimmerzs]

wow really? So too much carbon, or too much GFO can irritate the stability of the tank? I only recently learned that activated charcoal raises phosphates, is that correct?

Here's info on pretty much everything you would ever want to know about carbon, and how to choose what's best. http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/ Also.... marineland carbon is actually pretty good when stacked up against some of the very expensive brand names. I use the lignite carbon from bulk reef supply myself. Here's another interesting article that shows more brand comparison's. http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm What is interesting is that a lot of the carbon on the market comes from the same supplier with maybe a step or two reordered or taken out of the process, then it's just rebranded.

Cheers,