Concerned about corals

[saturn13]

Hey everyone, really getting concerned about my favia and a couple zoas. My Favia of the gods seems to be shrinking, and the zoas (rainbow inciarators, Space Chaos, Purple Ponds) all doing the same, the skirts don't look good. My ph dropped recently (though I notices these issue before this), was at 8.4, now 7.8 and the only change was I added a small skimmer. I am bringing up my calcium and alkalinity slowly.

salinity 1.024
temp 77.5
calcium 395
alkalinity 8.4
ph7.8
nitrate .2
mag 1275
phos .50-1.00

 

[Retro Reefer]

If those numbers are correct your phosphate is really high and nutrients are out of balance.. I would get your phosphate down to around .05 - .1 and your nitrates should be higher. IMO your Alk is fine, 7.8 is where I run my tanks on average

 

[Brandon Smith]

Definitely your nutrients are not where they need to be. You want to have more nitrates then phosphates as well.

 

[Hemmdog]

Raise salinity to 1.026, drop phosphate.

 

[Natescorals]

What test kit are you using that seems way off

 

[saturn13]

API test kit, just noticed it expired 2019

 

[Mikedawg]

API test kit, just noticed it expired 2019

Yeah, you'll want to retest before you consider making any adjustments; may not need to.

 

[intricate_reefer]

Everything people have mentioned also if your using a refactometer be sure to calibrate it often with 35ppt solution.

 

[saturn13]

Thanks everyone, I'll see where this goes