Birdsnest issue

[tidefanjam]

my birdsnest has been looking bad the last couple of weeks, can’t figure out why because nothing has changed. Current parameters are
Alk 8.9 ( this does usually run about 8, could this be the issue?)
Cal 425
Ph 8.25
Mag 1350
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0 ( this isn’t new, I have been trying to dose trisodium phosphate but still can’t raise it...)
All my other corals seem happy except my leptastrea which also hasn’t had polyps out like normal

 

[tidefanjam]

Everyone else looks good...

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

Looks like your parameters are fine. Did the Alk change suddenly?

 

[tidefanjam]

Looks like your parameters are fine. Did the Alk change suddenly?

It could have, was 8.2 on the 6th, then 8.9 yesterday and I was dosing reef builder every other day

 

[tidefanjam]

I’ve been adding kalk to my ato for several months and have always had to dose still to keep it at 8, so I was surprised when it was 8.9

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

Hmm, your calcium is ok, so I would prob stop dosing for a few days and let it come back down on its own to what was normal for your tank. I have had a alk spike twice in the past and the corals looked unhappy for a day or two but then bounced right back. Hope that's the case with you once you let it fall a bit.

 

[MnFish1]

I have always have had problems with these corals (despite the fact that they are supposedly 'Easy'. Recently - my alk rose while we were gone for 3 weeks (no testing from its average of about 8 to 14 (or so). Nothing 'died' but the one birds nest that I have (and its that type) looked ike yours - its now better.

For me there are 2 possibilities (and I think both are as likely for me) - and perhaps you. 1. The alk change (gradual) caused the problem. 2. Something else happened to cause the rest of the coral to 'stop growing' and thus the alkalinity rose.

Don't take this the wrong way - I do not think your LPS necessarily look like they are in top form. To me they shoudl be more extended.

Anyway - sorry for the long post - I dont think its your alk - but rather another toxin.

Do you run carbon? etc etc - the other usual suspects (stray voltage, chemicals - I think these are overrated as problems - b ut always mentioned)? Any other change in lights, filtration, etc. Anything die that might have released toxins>?:

 

[Mykawl]

saw a similair thread yesterday people were suggesting lack of light from shadowing and so the base bleaches so maybe a light issue

 

[tidefanjam]

I have always have had problems with these corals (despite the fact that they are supposedly 'Easy'. Recently - my alk rose while we were gone for 3 weeks (no testing from its average of about 8 to 14 (or so). Nothing 'died' but the one birds nest that I have (and its that type) looked ike yours - its now better.

For me there are 2 possibilities (and I think both are as likely for me) - and perhaps you. 1. The alk change (gradual) caused the problem. 2. Something else happened to cause the rest of the coral to 'stop growing' and thus the alkalinity rose.

Don't take this the wrong way - I do not think your LPS necessarily look like they are in top form. To me they shoudl be more extended.

Anyway - sorry for the long post - I dont think its your alk - but rather another toxin.

Do you run carbon? etc etc - the other usual suspects (stray voltage, chemicals - I think these are overrated as problems - b ut always mentioned)? Any other change in lights, filtration, etc. Anything die that might have released toxins>?:

Nothings died, I don’t run carbon, I have been using vibrant the past few weeks but have used it before with no issues I have had a small amount of cyano but just 2 small patches and probably from the vibrant.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Alk a little high and will affect PH. Also add amino acids as well as iodine and potassium ( just a bit and bump the water flow a notch.
Bring down whites 10% and see how things look after 24 hours

 

[tidefanjam]

Alk a little high and will affect PH. Also add amino acids as well as iodine and potassium ( just a bit and bump the water flow a notch.
Bring down whites 10% and see how things look after 24 hours

Don’t have any amino acids, but I do have some lugols iodine

 

[tidefanjam]

Update, I believe high phosphate was the problem, I have the hardest time comparing the colors on the test kits I have, so I got the Hanna ulr phosphate text, and apparently it was over .10, working on getting it down now, and things are looking better

 

[Aswswild]

How do you fthink this one looks