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Phosphates are zero because your algae is using it, as well as your nitrates...phosphates could be coming from your water, unless you are using RODI...phosphates also be leaching from your live rock or sand bed...if you have algae, you have excess nutrients.
Our hobby is all about the water...in a fish only tank, or a few leathers you can get away with most new jersey tap water...SPS, will not do well, even 14 tds is too high, especially if it is the wrong 14 tds. I like the spectra pure products. I would consider a RODI unit more important than a...
Water changes are to remove dirt, leftover food and detritus from your system...if your phosphate is high, you may not be getting the crud out. Change your socks every day, blow your rocks and vacuum your substrate. If your RODI is coming out zero tds, then it is in your tank. You are doing...
You should not have to dose with reef crystals...it is desighned for reef system and always shows high calcium, mag, strontium. The assumption is you have a thriving sps population in your tank using this stuff up...your numbers are definitely out of whack...btw, 82 degrees is on the high end...
I do not buy a lot of fish, but when I do I ask the lfs to hold my fish for two weeks(with a deposit, of course) in a copper free tank. Not a guarantee, but a big help.
Spectra pure makes some of the best RODI units and filters...Thier recommendation is between 3-1 and 4-1 (waste water to pure "0" tds)...ideal pressure should be 70psi....the colder your water the slower the process. I live in Ringwood, which has a high iron content in the water. We run between...
Keep your lights low for a few weeks...if your water parameters are good, you will get more coralline then you need or want...same parameters as you would need for good coral growth
I use the spectra pure max cap...they recommend when changing filters to disinfect the canisters before inserting the new filter mediums...also the di cartridge should be fresh, if sitting in stock, they can dry out and not function properly.