I have been using a Natureef Denitrifier for about a year now, and since all popular test levels have been maintained in the tank, I haven't done a water change. I have a refugium and a large skimmer, so phosphates and nitrates have been rock solid at '0.' I am growing macro in the fuge like crazy, harvesting almost every 6 weeks. I add essential elements supplement, along with Tech 1 Iodine, buffer, strontium, and drip Kalk and TurboCalcium as a top off on a weekly basis. I have loads of shrooms that I don't feed that do fine, and I have a few anemones (GBTA, rockflower) and they appear to be doing fine. Tons of little fish, like firefish, sailfin tang, blennies, gobies, anthias, dusters, and crabs. Lighting is about 100 watts of actinic and 300 watts at 12k, all T5. I have tons of Coraline algae growth, and very little micro algae growth of any kind except the macro in the fuge, the 4" deep sandbed is always white.
Here is the problem. I have tried 3 blonde nasos consecutively, all have died within a week from an unknown reason. Someone told me they have sensitive skin. Is there an essential element that I am lacking? Is there a buildup of something harmful that they don't make a test kit for (sulfates or sulfites?).
The only answer people give me is to start doing water changes again. I really hate doing water changes! I have 6 tanks, and I have to do water changes on 4 of them monthly, so I get my fill. Whether it is Kent, or ReaSea, or Reefcrystals, the salt manufactures have seemed to add all the right supplements to their salt, but the contents are a mystery to everyone except the manufactures. The manufacturer of the Natureef Denitrifier systems indicated that they have had reef tanks running for decades without waterchanges, adding only Mg, Calcium and Iodine.
I suppose the 3 ultimate questions are, 1) Are the salt manufacturers adding a secret combination of ingredients (I doubt they use evaporated seawater collected from coral reefs)? 2 )Is there a mystery chemical slowly building up in the tank? 3) Without doing a water change, what can be done to resolve the issue?
Thanks for expert input only, no opinions please.
Here is the problem. I have tried 3 blonde nasos consecutively, all have died within a week from an unknown reason. Someone told me they have sensitive skin. Is there an essential element that I am lacking? Is there a buildup of something harmful that they don't make a test kit for (sulfates or sulfites?).
The only answer people give me is to start doing water changes again. I really hate doing water changes! I have 6 tanks, and I have to do water changes on 4 of them monthly, so I get my fill. Whether it is Kent, or ReaSea, or Reefcrystals, the salt manufactures have seemed to add all the right supplements to their salt, but the contents are a mystery to everyone except the manufactures. The manufacturer of the Natureef Denitrifier systems indicated that they have had reef tanks running for decades without waterchanges, adding only Mg, Calcium and Iodine.
I suppose the 3 ultimate questions are, 1) Are the salt manufacturers adding a secret combination of ingredients (I doubt they use evaporated seawater collected from coral reefs)? 2 )Is there a mystery chemical slowly building up in the tank? 3) Without doing a water change, what can be done to resolve the issue?
Thanks for expert input only, no opinions please.
There are far too many element's that we can't test for that can alter the water chemistry in unknown ways if depleted or allowed to build up in our systems.