Are my corals sick?

[Todd White]

But now that I look, I agree. Alk a little high. Po4 a little high. Ca a little low.
What is current SG?
We will get to the bottom of it after only 300 more questions. Lol

What is Sg? I dont remember tbe name of the lighting but its set to lunar cycle except i changed the on time to 10am, it goes off at 7 pm then follows what the lunar cycle is.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Specific gravity. Salinity is another form of measuring same parameter as well.

 

[Todd White]

Specific gravity. Salinity is another form of measuring same parameter as well.

Duhhh, my mind what thinking chemical. 1.022

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

All good. That's a little low. 1.025-1.026 is ideal. I run 1.026 personally. Not sure why, just what I had imbedded in me when started and stuck with. I would slowly try and bring that up first while addressing the high alk. (Test fresh saltwater alk to make sure not raising the alk as well) The lowering of alk should put your Ca up a little higher. Once set the SG and alk stable, bring the Ca up a bit to 380ish. Can add seachem phosguard to the sump in order to bring the PO4 down a bit as well. Ideally to .03. Don't chase the numbers though. Keep it stable and make slow adjustments. Once where it needs to be, just try and maintain there. Chasing numbers can do more harm than good compared to stability.

 

[Todd White]

All good. That's a little low. 1.025-1.026 is ideal. I run 1.026 personally. Not sure why, just what I had imbedded in me when started and stuck with. I would slowly try and bring that up first while addressing the high alk. (Test fresh saltwater alk to make sure not raising the alk as well) The lowering of alk should put your Ca up a little higher. Once set the SG and alk stable, bring the Ca up a bit to 380ish. Can add seachem phosguard to the sump in order to bring the PO4 down a bit as well. Ideally to .03. Don't chase the numbers though. Keep it stable and make slow adjustments. Once where it needs to be, just try and maintain there. Chasing numbers can do more harm than good compared to stability.

Will do thank you

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Very welcome !

 

[Todd White]

Very welcome !

I wake up to this. Calcium is 420 and i havent dosed, so thats up, kh is 214.8, the chart states its high

 

[Elementalj]

The high alkalinity is probably the culprit. I'd wager you're using reef crystals! Have you balanced magnesium?

 

[Todd White]

The high alkalinity is probably the culprit. I'd wager you're using reef crystals! Have you balanced magnesium?

I do believe that the Aquarium guy uses Reef Crystals. I don't balance magnesium and don't know how. Can't even find a test kit in this hell hole. I live in Fayetteville, NC and the only pet stores we have are Pestsmart and Pet Supermarket. So if my aquarium guy doesn't have it I have to order it. He runs out of his house and only has fish, coral, clean up crews, sand, live rock and a few supplements. no tanks or parts or anything like that. This is my third sw aquarium but first for corals. I am seriously thinking of switching to making my own water (I did with my previous 2 sw tanks) and switching salt to AquaForest Probiotic Reef salt, I am liking the research on it that I have found.

 

[Elementalj]

Grab a salifert magnesium kit. They're cheap, And test. If magnesium is balanced with the proportions of calcium and alkalinity it'll balance itself out. Aqua forest is good salt no doubt but instant ocean could accommodate you and cost a little less

 

[Todd White]

So my hammer died and my other coral don't look good. So I'm changing my paid water change service and going to start doing it myself, going to try ProBiotic salt. Haven't got the magnesium test kit as I have to orders those, should I get an iron test kit as well?

 

[Elementalj]

So my hammer died and my other coral don't look good. So I'm changing my paid water change service and going to start doing it myself, going to try ProBiotic salt. Haven't got the magnesium test kit as I have to orders those, should I get an iron test kit as well?

Unless you've got specific instinct to look for heavy metals, I'd stick to magnesium.