No water change since 9-08

I decided to follow some advice from members that were not doing regular water changes. I have not changed water since 9-23-08, but top off with R/O water at about 3-5 gallons every one to two weeks (110 gal tank). I have only added supplements twice, once in October, and once in November. I have not added any residents since 9-08, and also have not lost anything. I believe my corals are larger, I know my fish are. I rinse my skimmer cup weekly as well as remove overflow algae, and rinse my filter media monthly. I added a heater to the sump in November (my tank is in the basement).

1. DATE 9-25-08 10-29-08 11-19-08 1-10-09
2. TEMP 78 75 76 78
3. SALINITY 1.026 1.025 1.024 1.025
4. PH 8.2 7.8 8.0 7.8
5. AMMONIA 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
6. NITRITE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
7. NITRATE 10 10 10 20
8. CALCIUM 345mg/L 570mg/L 390mg/L 375mg/L
9. ALK 16.0dKH 9.6dKH 8.6dKH 8.0dKH
10. PHOSPHATE .05mg/L 0.5mg/L .07mg/L 0.8mg/L

I have not tested MAG. I feed 1" seaweed sheets almost every day, and Rod's about 3 times a week. I was on vacation for 5 days over New Years, and my sitter fed every day, which may account for the increase in nitrates. Chemistry is not my strong suit, but does anyone see from these numbers that I would be headed for a tank failure? I'd like reassurance I can continue on this path, not only is it easier on me, but no water change is easier on the pocketbook!
(Oh, 110gal tank, 7 fish, 5 coral, assorted snails, crabs, live rock, sand)

 

I guess it all depends on how one defines tank failure. See the Phosphorus going up with each test? Nitrates have risen as well. Get ready for some algae.

 

Yes, your Alk and Ca are falling off as they are being consumed by corals and coralline algae. You will need to dose Ca and Alk.

 

Corals aren't limited until they are below 380 for Ca. It doesn't matter though. Corals can use Sr and Mg as stand-ins for Ca.

 

With the temp consistently under 80, and MH lighting 6 hours a day, with supplemental PC the other 6, isn't it a little cold and dark to get an algae bloom? Or is that not a factor? I haven't had any algae problems yet, so I'm not sure what to look for. I also did not witness the tank cycle, I inherited the tank (water sand and all) after it was up for 8 months.

 

Dont forget Mag also. Luna

 

Nope, they'll grow quite fine under 80 degrees and in 6 hours of light.

A lot of it is going to depend on how many algal spores are there. Being able to read any phosphorus at all is not good. Check your RO membrane and your DI resins.

 

I have Kent Marine Superbuffer (purchase date 10-2007?- does this expire?), and Reef advantage calcium. The people who owned the tank before me had an aquarium service, so their instructions on dosing no longer apply, I would assume. Follow the label instructions, and then retest in a week? And TEST FOR MAG- I'm listening, Luna!

 

I havent done a WC in months. I dont do them anymore, unless I want to clean the LS. As long as you have a good/great filtering system(refugium) and you dose the elements that are being depleted by the corals, you really dont have to do a WC. I dose Cal, Mag, Alk and trace elements when needed. I also dose Marine Snow as a source of food. Luna

 

How often do you test? And since Reef Advantage says it has Mag and Strontium, is that enough or do you add individual elements as needed?