Coral Concerns

Susan Edwards · Jan 21, 2017

lol's @saltyfilmfolks Watch out, I might take you up on it

Went to lfs today to get more snails and hermits and they are temporarily closed! Electrical accident so closed until fixed. Didn't ask the guy what that meant or if someone was hurt or worse. Called the local petsmart in the same area to see if they had saltwater and no. But did tell me the lfs had a fire that morning. I didn't see any signs of fire or smell smoke. I have an appt in another city 30 mile the other direction Tue. Will check out lfs there, and also heard that a petco? there had saltwater fish. Bummed.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 21, 2017

Susan Edwards said:
lol's @saltyfilmfolks Watch out, I might take you up on it Went to lfs today to get more snails and hermits and they are temporarily closed! Electrical accident so closed until fixed. Didn't ask the guy what that meant or if someone was hurt or worse. Called the local petsmart in the same area to see if they had saltwater and no. But did tell me the lfs had a fire that morning. I didn't see any signs of fire or smell smoke. I have an appt in another city 30 mile the other direction Tue. Will check out lfs there, and also heard that a petco? there had saltwater fish. Bummed.

Aggggg. How are we supposed to impulse buy if theyre closed! UNACCEPTABLE!!

Come spring I actually am looking into cheap fast shipping. My town is coral spoiled.

Coastie Reefer · Jan 21, 2017

If you mix your own IO salt, I'd bet money your Ca and Mag levels are low because you're not mixing to 1.026... When IO is mixed to 1.026 Ca and Mag is is spot on with recommended levels, alk can run a little high though, 10-11ish. Had that issue myself...

Susan Edwards · Jan 22, 2017

@Coastie Reefer I will keep that in mind with my next wc. I usually am around 1.024 or 25 as I mix per what the tank is. I'll get it up to the 1.026 and see if that makes a difference. I did test my last wc batch of saltwater, at 1.025, maybe a hair lower (hard to sometimes tell) and got ca 350/mg 1200. I'm skipping the wc this week to let the tank get a bit "dirty"

Susan Edwards · Jan 23, 2017

Update:
I dosed the kent 2 part for 40 gal. Tank prob. has 50 gal after rock and sand, including sump (46 tank, 20 g sump). Numbers came up
Cal 380 (from 350), Mag 1350-1400 (from 1200), alk 7 (from 6)
Alk still lower. Can I dose just part 2 tomorrow. I don't want Mag higher. Was thinking another 5 mil (dosage for a 20 gal tank so just under half my tank dosage?) Will test again tomorrow

Torch, moved to sand bed looked a bit better this evening. Tentacles extended partly and waving around
Xenia, moved down about 6 inches from sand bed. No real change. Moved it to lower light, lower flow . Where it had been had been at top was high light, med flow (enough that it pulsed not waved as though shoved around) but now the flow is slightly different and it was too wind swept. Also going to, (if it survives), glue to some rubble and place either in sand bed or on rock so I can keep it contained. (it's on a frag)

Also attacked algae with bottle brush on rocks and scraper on back wall and turkey baster blowing all rocks. Will keep at that everyday to stop algae from devouring nutrients. Still have the lime green algae. It doesn't blow or scrape off but got rid of some dino's and hair. Lights cut to 10 hrs.

Skipping wc until next sun--will make decision based on numbers. Hopefully a move in the right direction.

Tahoe61 · Jan 23, 2017

Yes Susan you can just dose one part. As long as the Alk remains 7 and above all is good. I would not shot for a value over 11 dkh though.
Test, dose half the dosage, wait 12 hours and test again, you also test sooner. The utilization of magnesium is much slower, it takes awhile for that number to drift down in most newer tanks.

There is a ton of Xenia to be had in this world. It's a weird coral, trying to figure out why it thrives and dies will drive you crazy.

Congrats on getting a lot done with the tank.