Okay, sooooo......
I got a new yellow tang for Christmas. I have no delusions that he will solve my algae problem, and I AM working in other fixes at the same time as my body allows, but hopefully he will help me keep the corals from getting choked until I get things in line. I have almost all my test reagents replaced (waiting on NO3 and PO4, since I have been working out how to handle my my calcium, mag, and alk properly.) My RODI prefilters will be changed shortly, as well. Bad news? Skimmer pump broke its impeller and a new one is $50. Does anyone have a used one in good condition that I could buy off you for less?
Something happened, though, that will leave a lasting impression on me. I got a yellow tang for Christmas, and decided to test the quarantine water before releasing him. I was shocked. Despite the salinity being perfect, the KH was 6 and calcium and magnesium were both overly low as well. I tried to fix it and spiked it off the map. I ended up mixing up a new batch with a fresh bag of salt, since the original one I used had been damaged by moisture (probably why it wasn't mixing up properly.) I changed half the water, then acclimated him. He ate the day after being released, then suddenly stopped. The last time that happened, I woke up to a dying fish (my butterfly) and was not about to repeat that experience. I tested again. The water had spiked back up to an alk of 13.6, and that's assuming I turned the sample the right color before noting the number. I changed half the water again, and he is now eating (from what I can tell, anyway. Can't be 100℅ because he hides if I get too close.) Whew! That was entirely too close for comfort. When using that 10g tank I will always test the water before adding it from now on. I suspect that it explains what happened to my Klein's Butterfly.
