Biopellet Question

[nyc reefer]

Hellow fellow reefers, I started a Nextreef SMR1 reactor with approx 250/300ml of NP biopellets back in mid December 2010. I have noticed a few changes with my tank, first off my water nitrates and phosphates have drop off to record lows, before I could never keep my nitrayes down even with routine WCs. However, this seems to have come at a cost to my corals, my prized Toadstool coral used to have awesome polyp extension and a deep pink color, it has almost no polyp extension and has bleached out to a yellowish/white color. My rics used to extend out and bubble up, now they seem unhappy w/o bubbling up.

There have been two other equipment changes to the tank, first I changed skimmers from an oversized Bubble Magus 160 external to a SWC 160 cone insump. Second I switched from an 8 bulb Nova Extreme T5/ho to a Aquactinic (2) x 250mh/(2) x 54w T5 fixture, I run the same light cycle as before. What could be causing the coral discontent, unhappiness?? Is this normal??

Tank Specs: 72ga Bowfront w/ 20ga sump
Salinity 1.025, Ammo, Nitites, Nitrates = 0ppm

Thanks in advance

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

i think the toad will come back to normal, they just dont like the light change that there were use to. I know you have to feed heavy with pellets so you put food in the water column. But the light is what i think is wrong with the toad

 

[NYreefNoob]

agreed, pellets will cause the tank to become clearer which will allow for more light penitration with is more then likely the problem for both corals, and thats a huge differance in lighting. my ric's actually have alot more color since using the pellets. and you do need to feed the tank, once things bottom out on readings you really need to feed the tank

 

[nyc reefer]

Pellet Question

Thanks for the replies, I though the purpose of using the pellets is to maintain a low nutrient system. Wont feeding the tank defeat the purpose of the pellets? Educate me!!! Thanks guys.

 

[NYreefNoob]

no once the bacteria is consumed { nitrates, phosphates ect } the pellets will continue to need fed. same concept as dosing vodka, once everything is gone it needs a source to feed on, system almost becomes to sterile. i feed 2.5 cubes a night to my tank and have a decent amount of fish. plus dose AA's twice a week

 

[Tim]

You said you ran the same light cycle,when you set up the new lighting did you acclimate the tank to the new light`s? If not I bet that is most of you problem.