A little help please

jasonandsarah · Sep 17, 2015

renato120 said:
I do use a doser from BRS
How do I send the water for the triton test?

If your using dosing pumps then how are your numbers fluctuating so much? How often do you dose mag? Mag being low will make your other numbers fluctuate/deplete more.
You should read this http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/
I know you already know this stuff more then likely but you can never have enough knowledge. Acro's especially need very consistent Cal, Alk and Mag

renato120 · Sep 17, 2015

jasonandsarah said:
If your using dosing pumps then how are your numbers fluctuating so much? How often do you dose mag? Mag being low will make your other numbers fluctuate/deplete more.
You should read this http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/
I know you already know this stuff more then likely but you can never have enough knowledge. Acro's especially need very consistent Cal, Alk and Mag

When I was using RC salt I was dosing everyday a little, and it was fine. So I changed the salt to RSCP. I only dose once a week for ca/alk.
I never dosed Mag. For some
Reason it was reading 1600 for a couple
Of months now its 1050 on elos test kit and 1360 on redsea test kit... I dont know if dose or not... If its 1360 its not bad, but if its 1050 i need to dose. Now I dont know wich test is right... Im afraid to dose and over dose.

jasonandsarah · Sep 17, 2015

Have you considered using a salt that's more in the range of your tank parameters? I used to use reef crystals as well but with the elevated levels it is constantly causing your parameters to swing. They go down throughout the week when your not dosing or the jump up when you do your WC.
I use reg IO (I add some Mag and Cal)but there's other good choices out there as well (reg RS salt) that have closer to NSW levels witch is more consistent with your tank. Then you'll have to test every day for awhile and continually fiddle with your dosing until you get to the point where you don't even have to mess with it. Even when doing water changes because you'll figure out exactly what you need to put in you WC water to make it match your parameters exactly (or as close as we can get to exactly)

jasonandsarah · Sep 17, 2015

renato120 said:
When I was using RC salt I was dosing everyday a little, and it was fine. So I changed the salt to RSCP. I only dose once a week for ca/alk.
I never dosed Mag. For some
Reason it was reading 1600 for a couple
Of months now its 1050 on elos test kit and 1360 on redsea test kit... I dont know if dose or not... If its 1360 its not bad, but if its 1050 i need to dose. Now I dont know wich test is right... Im afraid to dose and over dose.

I would have someone else test your water just to confirm witch one it really is. I'd think if your Mag was 1050 you'd be seeing a noticable drop in cal.

renato120 · Sep 17, 2015

jasonandsarah said:
Have you considered using a salt that's more in the range of your tank parameters? I used to use reef crystals as well but with the elevated levels it is constantly causing your parameters to swing. They go down throughout the week when your not dosing or the jump up when you do your WC.
I use reg IO (I add some Mag and Cal)but there's other good choices out there as well (reg RS salt) that have closer to NSW levels witch is more consistent with your tank. Then you'll have to test every day for awhile and continually fiddle with your dosing until you get to the point where you don't even have to mess with it. Even when doing water changes because you'll figure out exactly what you need to put in you WC water to make it match your parameters exactly (or as close as we can get to exactly)

Inhave thought about that! I was thinking on switching back to Reef Crystals again... I never had problem before when I was using RC.
Now how about the lights? I have an ATI fixture with ati bulbs 6x24w. Its set at 9inches to the water... I have raised a lot in the last couple
Months... It was 3 inches to the water before, and all the corals were doing fine... Could it be bleaching because of not enough lights?.. Maybe the light its to high.

jasonandsarah · Sep 17, 2015

I don't think it has anything to do with your lights. The biggest suggestion as far as the lights are concerned for me would be to pick a spot and allow the corals to get used to it and leave it.
If it was was lighting I'd expect to see negative results in other corals as well. If the top of the tank is to bright for the sps then the mid and bottom would probably be to bright for some of those corals as well.
I would suggest a salt closer to natural sea water. Instant ocean, red sea salt or something similar. If it's a little low on a parameter is very easy to dose it up. If the salt is much higher in levels then you could cause swings. Consistency in all aspects of your tank is important for Acro's.
I probably should have asked this before but are you 100% sure there's no pest? Or fish picking?

renato120 · Sep 17, 2015

jasonandsarah said:
I don't think it has anything to do with your lights. The biggest suggestion as far as the lights are concerned for me would be to pick a spot and allow the corals to get used to it and leave it.
If it was was lighting I'd expect to see negative results in other corals as well. If the top of the tank is to bright for the sps then the mid and bottom would probably be to bright for some of those corals as well.
I would suggest a salt closer to natural sea water. Instant ocean, red sea salt or something similar. If it's a little low on a parameter is very easy to dose it up. If the salt is much higher in levels then you could cause swings. Consistency in all aspects of your tank is important for Acro's.
I probably should have asked this before but are you 100% sure there's no pest? Or fish picking?

Yes 100% sure... No pests... The coral that is bleaching now its right next to the glass and I looked for hours and didnt see anything... No fishes picking on sps's.

jasonandsarah · Sep 17, 2015

Have you considered skipping a water change or 2? Sometimes a reset of sorts can be very helpful. Allow your PO4 to creep up a little as well. I always had a lot of problems when I was keeping my Po4 to low. I honestly think 0.03 is the lowest anyone not running zeovit or something similar should consider.

renato120 · Sep 17, 2015

jasonandsarah said:
Have you considered skipping a water change or 2? Sometimes a reset of sorts can be very helpful. Allow your PO4 to creep up a little as well. I always had a lot of problems when I was keeping my Po4 to low. I honestly think 0.03 is the lowest anyone not running zeovit or something similar should consider.

I have never.