Mastering Reef Tank Pollutants: Are you poisoning your tank and killing your corals?

You may be killing your tank without even knowing it! Pollutants in your reef tank may not be affecting coral health and tank longevity right now, but on a long enough timeline they may lead to a total tank failure. Awareness and consideration for what might be polluting your tank and ways to reduce reef tank chemistry pollutants just might be the secret to a long tank life!
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The content contained in this video is general information on the topic and should not be relied upon as your sole source of information or safety advice for this project or topic. Each product or situation is different and has its own concerns related to successful completion and safety that must be fully researched by the individual considering the project or product.
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[@BRStv]

How do you deal with reef tank pollutants, beyond excess nutrients? Do you know what you're putting into your tank between chemical byproducts from dosing additives, water pollutants from your tap water, ingredients in foods, or even impurities from 2-part dosing or calcium reactor products?

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

What do you guys suggest i do if i have dinos but im slowly beating them by having high nutrients, issue is that now im getting a ton of algae that my tangs arent cleaning fast enough and its choking my corals.

[@absolutecarrot4191]

I get my water from a lab to make sure nothing is in it

[@NiloOtaviano]

Marcel Rodriguez try keeping your phosphates around 0.03-0.08, you won’t get much more than just film algae on your glass and dinos won’t bother you anymore.

[@TalkinSchmit]

Does Chemipure work well enough for a 40g Nano tank or should I add additional Carbon as well?

[@t.regnerus301]

Water changes religiously 10% and a small amount of carbon in a media bag in the sump changed weekly. Dilution is the solution to pollution.

[@NuggetAZ]

Maybe one of the best videos yet.. I like the 20mins of extra encouragement!

[@kellie9274]

Even after running multiple tanks including a reef tank, briny tanks, and freshwater tanks for over 20 years, I never truly understood this level of why water changes were so important. I really was never good about doing them regularly and seemed to get along just fine without doing them very often. I liked having systems that were self-contained ecosystems. I kept low stock to decrease the bioload (and maintenance, lol) on the system, used live plants or corals that lived symbiotically, had refugiums, etc. so that I didn't have to mess with the water very often. Having big tanks helped, I'm sure. But it seems that luck had to have played a role too, lol. This was the best information that I've ever gotten on what you're really doing with a water change and I'm so glad I watched it. I'm revisiting some old topics because I'm about to start a pico reef tank and I know that water quality is infinitely more important in a small tank. Looking forward to the challenge--especially now that I understand this issue so much better! Thank you so much!

[@lifebidesign]

By far the best video you guys have ever made for your beginning reefers, many are so hard headed. Thinking "I don't do water changes" "I don't use carbon" "I don't use a protein skimmer" People do your homework before you play with the big boys. Love it great share of knowledge

[@lundiboy8]

Like you state, most people start with not the highest quality materials. Over 3 years of reefing, I stepped up the salt water quality with tropic marin and have stuck with weekly water changes the whole time. I stopped chasing certain numbers and only rely on salinity,alk,nitrate and phosphate. Carbon when needed since all the water changes take care of most of it. Find a routine and stick to it that works with your life. A reef is only as good as the time you give it.

[@davestephens9463]

Is tropic Marin the best?

[@annalee7403]

This is the best source for everything reef. Thank you for all you do for us.

[@EDKsurly]

You guys literally have read my mind. Granted my husbandry isn’t great, but my numbers are good. But all my corals recently died.

[@johncamping1764]

Sorry dang

[@chrisduncan3943]

The tank in the background is looking amazing.

[@jamesgillum2382]

Awesome info!! Thank you for sharing.

[@yingyang0122]

I just recently got into this hobby with a 55g tank two months ago and decided to jump up to a 200g tank...hopefully I can maintain it

[@Angel-cp3zo]

Oh wow good luck men

[@charliem8873]

How’s it going

[@astrobear1236]

I got the fluval 13.5 in february. Set it up in march put water in it and then the rona hit. I just got two baby clowns live rock and started a fish in cycle almost two weeks ago.everything seems to be good. Clowns are thriving and seems to have paired. Good luck friend

[@tylerclontz]

Very thoughtful and thorough video. Thanks for sharing.

[@drew-shourd]

Whoa...great video, nice points. @ 8:16 is my all time fav fish, the Oxycirrhites typus....found up to 300 feet down, amazing little fishies, filled with character and personality....too bad my latest build is only 7 gallons, although 30 inches long it is WAY to small. Keep these awesome productions coming BRS.tv,.....we are all blessed, you are like a professional surfer, riding the edge of amazing videos!!!

[@CasildaChenier]

Great explanation. Some of the best information.

[@MidEnginedFan]

A ton of information but well presented. Thanks!

[@emilycooper6539]

We feed the saltwater fish ocean caught /raised stuff and there’s so much dumped into the ocean that works it’s way up the food chain!

[@mitian]

Ryan at his best once again,,, very informative Video... Thanks

[@istandwithisreal8883]

Hi Ryan I just wanted tell you that I hope you’re staying safe during this time your my favourite you tuber so don’t get sick lol

[@istandwithisreal8883]

😅😀😀😀

[@georgeschannel6168]

This video is brilliant. I watched many of your other videos but in terms of information I think it is one of the most useful ones especially for starters, new hobbyists. Well done guys! Keep up the good work!

[@abhishekkumar-nd9ps]

Please make a video on which corals act as plants of fresh water aquarium,means help to manage toxic elements just like live plants do in fresh water,and do some corals help to manage fish poop? Please make a video on this topic,it will help so many of new to this hobby. thanks in advance.

[@SanjayKumar-nr9vw]

those spotted anthias 😍

[@shallowreefing]

Not gonna lie. After watching this I went and changed out my carbon. I thought I changed it last month. Turns out when I looked at my reef log book, it had been almost 2 1/2 months 😅

[@fishanonymous3458]

I agree with the comments down below y’all are the best, and teach us new hobbiest the ropes 🤘🏽 so thank you. I even started a reef tank on my channel thanks to you guys.

[@chasewilliams2562]

Nice reef tank! I just subscribed to your channel 👍

[@jay67hype21]

Nice reef tank! I just Sub to your channel

[@sarahdogmom5533]

Wow what a unique channel @fishanonymous

[@fishanonymous3458]

Jay67 Hype thank you 💚 I appreciate It.

[@coldfreeze4425]

Thanks BRS for making this video. It has help alot on my tank.

[@remixgod6869]

Yeah I absolutely no longer use treated tap water. It’s just not worth the headache!!! Only Filtered Water 4 LIFE. 👌👌 ✌️

[@drew-shourd]

.wait, wait.......pennies kids drop in tanks?....."This ain't no wishin' well! You betta' wish you didn't!!"....hahahahaha

[@crispers702]

Do you guys have the Vortech mp 10 on stock now?

[@TheTrevor40]

Love me a daily water change! Stability and more confidence that pollutants are being removed.

[@Str8UpL4zy]

Will RedSea ABC+ raise salinity?

[@kevykevTPA]

So... What you're saying is, we need to change our water on the regular lol... Yes?

[@Umadcuzubadbrah]

i actually found a copper coin in my sump after months of looking for the cause of my elevated copper and sps struggling. still no idea how it got in...:(

[@animondyprojections149]

Check your "friends"

[@emilycooper6539]

Is it always best to wash and completely rinse/dry arms before putting them into the tank?

[@BRStv]

Washing your arms/hands is always a good idea before putting them into the tank.

[@reefing1016]

Hey @bulkreefsupply I have a issue I need help with! So specifically acro sps whenever I add a frag or Millis bleach out and die over night!! Digimatas do very well birds nests, montiporas all do super well but just those don’t and die off in 24 hours! What is the issue please help! Water parameters on point except 490 calcium.

[@BRStv]

Try dipping the freshly cut frags in a dip designed to help the frags heal. Brightwell makes a great one called FragRecover that I'd suggest trying out. www.bulkreefsupply.com/fragrecover-coral-dip-brightwell-aquatics.html

[@MrVinylistic]

What would you recommend more? A regulary 3% water change every day (will be around 90% per month) or 1-2 big water changes per month? For me it would be easier to change every day 3% than doing one or two big changes per month with 40% or 50%. May my reef tank profit in the same way (over a longer time period) than doing some big water changes?

[@BRStv]

The math says that more frequent, but smaller water changes are ever so slightly less effective vs the same % changes at one time. That said, the difference is minor, so if it's more convenient for you to do a daily water change, you should go that route. Whatever option you're more likely to actually do is going to be the best way to go. Just as an over simplified example, let's say your tank holds 100 gallon of water. Option 1 is to do a 3% daily water change. Option 2 is to do a 40% water change every other week. Your hypothetical tank starts with 100 ppm of contaminants. After 30 days, the daily 3% water changes will have reduced this number to approx. 40 ppm. If you were to do two 40% changes instead, your tank would be down to approx. 36 ppm, after that same 30 days.

[@MrVinylistic]

@@BRStv Many, thanks for your advice and the practical example. Best regards!

[@KillerKev1961]

Another very informative video-thank you. All heaters will in fact fail. Ive found that the best tool to preempt a catastrophe is to invest in an APEX controller! I have one on both of my tanks.

[@BRStv]

Redundant heater controllers definitely help. The best thing about something like the Apex is that it can notify you when something goes wrong :)

[@glennrudolph]

Geez the 160 looks smaller and smaller as I grow in the hobby...and as corals grow out.

[@glennrudolph]

And that green monti at 15:47 is really neat

[@karennation3580]

What lighting is in tis tank? I have to use alot of blues to get color like that and I notice not to much blue being used! I rea;;y hate the disco on tanks does ai prime make a diffuser? What are some good brands besides radions and kessils? THose two are both crazy expensive!

[@BRStv]

Is there a particular time stamp you're referring to? lots of tanks featured in this video, all running slightly different lighting. I've seen a few DIY AI diffusers, but nothing commercially made yet. We stand behind all of the LED brands that we stock on our website and checking out our recent lighting videos here on our KZbin channel may help you make your decision.

[@karennation3580]

@@BRStv thanks for the reply. I know your video wasnt even about lighting..haha. I am obsessed with it lately and notice the light in every tank now but I was referring to the lighting in the tank that Ryan is speaking in front of. I think thats the the brs 120 maybe or 160. I think its the one featured in 52 weeks of reefing..great series by the way! I wish you guys didi more videos on lightning besides those top 3 I mentioned though. I am not aware of any!

[@alfst5546]

Roughly How long does activated carbon last in 70gal tank run on a canister filter ?

[@BRStv]

Carbon actually doesn't last very long in a reef tank. In most cases, using less and changing it out more frequently, would be ideal. If you changed it out every 2 weeks, I'd say that's the sweet spot.

[@sinatra617]

I have a biocube 32 I was told not to get a skimmer cz it wont work cz my tank is to small and to just do water changes. Is this correct or should I get a skinmer?

[@BRStv]

It is true that most smaller skimmers aren't as effective as their larger counter parts. Everyone sees this a bit differently, but I personally agree to skip the skimmer on your particular tank and do weekly water changes instead. Given the smaller volume, a 20% water change is really quick and easy to do 🙂

[@sinatra617]

@@BRStv Sounds Good! Thank you for going above and beyond. You guys always respond to my questions and have helped me out a great deal. I wont shop anywhere else cz of that reason alone. A company that looks out for its customers is imo the only company you should support. Keep up the great work guys! I gotta try to figure out how to lower my amonia level. I had a spike this morning before work. Heading home now to try to figure out what to do to remedy the situation.

[@daeliesreef5213]

Interesting, you guys put Purit in the video, but do you even sell it?

[@BRStv]

Here's the link :) www.bulkreefsupply.com/purit-chemical-filtration-media-brightwell-aquatics.html

[@higdgy7489]

Do you know if certain chemicals are poisonous to sps specifically, I have lots of soft and lps that grow and seem happy, but sps died within weeks when I add them.

[@istandwithisreal8883]

hi gdgy I don’t really know certain chemicals that will poison SPS coral but I do know that certain macroalgaeis like calerpa can stunt SPS coral growth

[@moisesherrera9021]

If you run gac too frequent and too fast, it can strip water killing some corals slowly. I struggled with corals for years until I figured that out.

[@jasonkelsey3868]

What about pollution from tank inhabitants? Do different corals or fish have toxins that can harm other tank mates? Especially if they die

[@BRStv]

Absolutely. Some animals and inverts can release toxins not only when they die, but some can also do so when living too. In the hobby, we generally refer to this as chemical warfare.

[@philipthebong]

My alk solution looks clear when i add it to the tank is that normal?

[@BRStv]

If you're using sodium bicarbonate, then yes. Soda Ash on the other hand, will have that initial cloudy look.

[@espinozajuan8591]

What’s the cause of yellow water? And how can I solve this problem? Very interesting video, only a little bit long

[@BRStv]

Yellowing pigments are naturally occurring as we add food and the fish produce waste. Carbon is the best tool for clearing up yellow water.

[@espinozajuan8591]

@@BRStv thank you very much for your reply, just to add, my tank is cycling and theres no fish there yet. I'll try carbon

[@catonhlee]

So we all just gonna ignore that peppermint shrimp @3:19

[@BRStv]

What peppermint? Kidding! he was in there to help clear out some aiptasia in the filter sock compartment 🙂

[@ronniekregar3482]

What type of fish is that like leopard color looking cichlid in the tank?

[@BRStv]

That is actually a borbonius anthias 😁

[@ronniekregar3482]

@@BRStv sweet, thanks! I want one, lol. Not sure I have a big enough tank for it though. 😞

[@QuinnNBA]

Yoooooo

[@kasso187]

overnighting Purit one week before reef wars

[@coralreef.3349]

BRS 360 update?

[@BRStv]

Soon!

[@ASMRekt]

I hope you realize you’re better educated than western doctors about water quality and environmental contamination

[@turnerdischinger6365]

How r u guys holding up with all the riots going on? Hope all r well

[@BRStv]

Thanks for thinking of us! We're all staying safe 🙂

[@greennavy2006]

Why doesn’t BrS stop skimz ang go to bubble magus ..... bubble magus elite and their doses are decent compared to skimz

[@opethmike]

It turns out that Randy is my dad.

[@BRStv]

Well, this is awkward... 😂

[@TheGabrielberki]

Coming soon, 101 tiny tank pollutants

[@BRStv]

😂

[@jamesdemoss2895]

Stopped showing the dates of videos, eh? Unsubscribed.

[@BRStv]

Not sure I understand. This video was released Jun 1, 2020.