Black dots popping up, corals not happy

[busichio]

Hey reefers,

Just noticed my anemones acting a bit weird and noticed some black dots on other corals. Parameters are mostly good. Salanity is down to 1.023 after a consistent 1.026 for 6 weeks. Nitrates have dropped from 5ppm to 1ppm over the last month with this new clam. Also starting dosing ati essentials after noticed the big 3 dropping post clam I introduction. Also 15 percent water changes weekly but just started the switch from Salinty to TMPR and I'm only 1 water change in.

Alk has been steady 7.4 for since dosing started 2 weeks ago.

Not sure what the frags are exactly, wife picked some out at RAP.

I'm new to the hobby so please let me know if you have any suggestions. I've had this reef for 2 months and it was active for over a year before I bought it. All fish seem normal.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I don’t think the dots are the problem. Mostly look like retracted polyps from here.

Grumpy coral Could be from the dino and possible chrystophytes.

 

[Maritimer]

... Also low salinity and nitrates. Your Acropora and green birdsnest will be happier if you can pull those numbers up - just don't try to do it all at once.

~Bruce

 

[busichio]

Thanks guys, this was a classic case of an uncalibrated ph probe. My ph was showing 8.5-8.6 prior, which caused me to start dosing vinegar. After recalibration, my Ph is 7.6-7.7, which means my vinegar dosing would have put the ph into the sub 7.5 range, hence my issue.

I also notice a decent salinity drop over a week period where 1.026 will dip to 1.023 with my ATO using RO/DI. I really don't know when this is happening. I know its not recommended but I have been doing 10% water changes with 1.028 to try and bring it up, but didn't want to go more extreme than that. Refractometer is calibrated and I'm using 2 different ones to validate. Thinking about mixing RO/DI and new saltwater into the ATO...

I have been testing a lot, so unless that water volume being removed can make a dent in salinity, not sure how to combat this. Its happened 4 consecutive weeks now.

 

[Maritimer]

Your skimmer may be removing a little salt as well...

~Bruce

 

[WVNed]

There is something screwy here. You mix saltwater and put it in the tank. Water evaporates and the ATO replaces it. Your SG should go up with evaporation and then back down when the ATO operates. The only way the ATO could drop the SG is if it is increasing the volume in the tank instead of holding a set level..

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Or your skimmer is removing small amou ts of water all the time and it can add up quixk on a smaller tank. If you skim wet it will happen even faster. You can add some salt water to you ato until sg comes back up then go back to rodi, rinse and repeat as needed. As for your black dots that is just the polyps retracted, the acro is not doing well at all looks dead on the tips. Looks like your tank is having some issues and battling algae. How old is the tank and was is set up with dry rock?