Alk levels...in need of advice

[SeaDeezCorals]

My tank is almost a complete crash and I think it might be my alk. I have been mixing redsea blue bucket with redsea pro at a 1:4 ratio resulting in an alk of 11.3. I have been keeping my tank stable with dosing but my corals continue to get worse. My parameters I think are solid. I am running a xr15gen3 in a redsea 170 with sump. I am using the spsphx program with a taper to 35%. Here are my parameters:

Sal 1.025
Temp 78 degrees
Alk 11.3
Cal 460
Mg 1320
Nit 15
Pho .03
Should I ditch the redsea pro and stick with blue bucket?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It's fine to switch to a different salt, but those parameters will not cause a crash.

 

[BoxKing]

Personally Im not a fan of running ALK higher than 9, but like Randy said, your numbers are more than workable.

Im going to suggest running your lights to acclimation up to 55% - I have XR30 PRO G5 on AB+ running my schedule at 55%, and I only get ~175 PAR 13" under my light - running on a XL200 - you have to be sub 100 Par or less at the 35%, and that would be the best figure at the top of your waterline.

Hows your flow?
Whats your PH?

 

[SeaDeezCorals]

Flow is good. I am running two mp40 on opposite sides with sync. I am just running the preprogrammed cycle. It might be ph. That is the only parameter I havent been hawking.

 

[Potatohead]

My opinion - Your phosphate is too low, shoot for .08

Mix the salts 50/50 for an alk around 9.5, but I don't think that's why your corals are dying.

 

[BoxKing]

#1 LIGHTING - your PAR is TOO LOW. Guaranteed

Check your flow... I have to MP10s in my tank running with a wide flow attachment on both, and its overkill above 30% - I run Anti Sync. You can have too much flow, which is causing the corals to be irritated.

 

[SeaDeezCorals]

Lights up, flow down. Giving it a try. If it doesn’t work you might see it on Craigslist in DC.

 

[ChaosAquaculture]

Those parameters wouldn’t cause a crash, but the alk of 11.2 is a bit high. Personally I feel most comfortable with the highest being 8,8.6. I also noticed your phone is a bit low as some one else mentioned, that could be raised as well - kali

 

[Pntbll687]

My tank is almost a complete crash and I think it might be my alk. I have been mixing redsea blue bucket with redsea pro at a 1:4 ratio resulting in an alk of 11.3. I have been keeping my tank stable with dosing but my corals continue to get worse. My parameters I think are solid. I am running a xr15gen3 in a redsea 170 with sump. I am using the spsphx program with a taper to 35%. Here are my parameters:

Sal 1.025
Temp 78 degrees
Alk 11.3
Cal 460
Mg 1320
Nit 15
Pho .03
Should I ditch the redsea pro and stick with blue bucket?

Are you dosing to keep the alk stable? or just water changes?

 

[SeaDeezCorals]

Just to keep

Are you dosing to keep the alk stable? or just water changes?

Just keeping mg, alk and calcium stable. I do a 10% wc weekly.

 

[SeaDeezCorals]

Those parameters wouldn’t cause a crash, but the alk of 11.2 is a bit high. Personally I feel most comfortable with the highest being 8,8.6. I also noticed your phone is a bit low as some one else mentioned, that could be raised as well - kali

I think you are right even tho high stable alk shouldn’t be the problem I think bringing it down to a 9.5 won’t hurt.

 

[SeaDeezCorals]

Oh lordie, lord, I owe you guys big. This is day 2 of my lights up and flow down and everything is starting to look good again. Everything is opening and color is looking bright. Not all heroes wear capes. Thanks