1.0 dKH reduction over a 3 day period

[ReeferWarrant]

I'm running a Biocube 32 and I noticed my candy cane corals were shriveled up, so I read that the Alkalinity would probably be the problem. I do a quick test and see that it has dropped from 10 dKH to 8.9 dKH. I recently added 2 monti' frags and 2 zoanthids (all fairly small), would this increase in bioload cause such a shift? Going to run the other tests and start dosing to get the Alkalinity back to where I keep it. I will add the other parameters in a second.

Salinity - 1.026
Ca - 420
Alk - 8.9
Mg - 1280
PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0

 

[WIReefer]

I'm running a Biocube 32 and I noticed my candy cane corals were shriveled up, so I read that the Alkalinity would probably be the problem. I do a quick test and see that it has dropped from 10 dKH to 8.9 dKH. I recently added 2 monti' frags and 2 zoanthids (all fairly small), would this increase in bioload cause such a shift? Going to run the other tests and start dosing to get the Alkalinity back to where I keep it. I will add the other parameters in a second.

Salinity - 1.026
Ca - 420
Alk - 8.9
Mg - 1280
PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0

I keep my Alk around 7.5-8 and my sps love it! Also what is your PO4?

 

[ReeferWarrant]

@WIReefer, I think that's the problem. Just used the Salifert test and it looks like .25, and read about how that high levels negatively affect SPS and LPS. I'll add the PhosGuard I bought a bit back and see if that helps, any other advice?

Thanks by the way!

 

[WIReefer]

@WIReefer, I think that's the problem. Just used the Salifert test and it looks like .25, and read about how that high levels negatively affect SPS and LPS. I'll add the PhosGuard I bought a bit back and see if that helps, any other advice?

Thanks by the way!

Once you get your Alk where you want it try and keep it stable that will do wonders. And make sure you have detectable levels of phosphates. Stability is key. I would bring them down to below .1 and above 0. My phosphates now are .04

 

[andrewey]

I wouldn't worry about 0.25 phosphate right now. You're likely to do more damage dropping it quickly then anything else. The 1dkh drop may be from the sps, but my money is on coraline algae growth/other calcifying organisms, abiotic precipitation, and testing error/testing resolution.

I'd focus on maintaing stable alkalinity and test repeatedly to see what your tank's consumption is and match it (changing as the consumption increases).

 

[ReeferWarrant]

What would be your tips on maintaining stability? I just started religiously doing water changes every week. I bought a dosing pump and food grade additives to supplement Ca, Alk and Mg when the time comes. The tank is about 9 months old now and all of my LPS and Soft corals are thriving. These are my first goes at SPS and I'm starting to get nervous I'm going to mess it up.

 

[WIReefer]

What would be your tips on maintaining stability? I just started religiously doing water changes every week. I bought a dosing pump and food grade additives to supplement Ca, Alk and Mg when the time comes. The tank is about 9 months old now and all of my LPS and Soft corals are thriving. These are my first goes at SPS and I'm starting to get nervous I'm going to mess it up.

Keeping up with your weekly water changes and if you don’t have one invest in a ATO.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

That was the first thing I bought, absolutely worth it

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I think I'm going to upgrade my Hydor pumps to Vortech MP40's so I get better flow for the Monti's

 

[WIReefer]

That was the first thing I bought, absolutely worth it

Perfect! I couldn’t agree more, just keep doing what your doing and your tank will only get better! I have two mp40’s and one mp10 and love them

 

[andrewey]

Assuming you are running your alk tests correctly, the reagents aren't expired, and your testing at the same time, I would start monitoring your alkalinity levels. If you are consistently losing 1dkh/3 days, I'd use the reef calculators and start dosing your alkalinity/calcium and test to dial in your dose.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Brand new Salifert Alk test, the calculator website I found is what inspired me to go with food grade additives.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I just feel like Walter White in my basement weighing and mixing chemicals in my basement....

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm running a Biocube 32 and I noticed my candy cane corals were shriveled up, so I read that the Alkalinity would probably be the problem. I do a quick test and see that it has dropped from 10 dKH to 8.9 dKH. I recently added 2 monti' frags and 2 zoanthids (all fairly small), would this increase in bioload cause such a shift? Going to run the other tests and start dosing to get the Alkalinity back to where I keep it. I will add the other parameters in a second.

Salinity - 1.026
Ca - 420
Alk - 8.9
Mg - 1280
PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0

Alkalinity will normally drop in a reef tank, but the alk levels you have (before or after the drop) are not the cause of the coral issues.