Corals not doing so hot.

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

So my corals were fine one day then the next day they were shrunk up. At night my hammer opens up but as soon as the lights turn on it shrinks up. Also my mushrooms, xenia, gsp are all shrunk up and my chalice is looking pale. Any ideas why all my corals are unhappy? Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
Ph 8
Alk 12.1
Magnesium 1320
I am waiting on the calcium test to come and I need to pick up a phosphate test tomarrow.
Lights are 70% blue and 10% white.

Nigel35 · Feb 28, 2021

Pictures? Your nitrates/nutrients are pretty low. Softies are quite comfortable with higher nitrates in the 10-20ppm range. Alk is a little high I would lower to around 8-9. How is your salinity?

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

Nigel35 said:
Pictures? Your nitrates/nutrients are pretty low. Softies are quite comfortable with higher nitrates in the 10-20ppm range. Alk is a little high I would lower to around 8-9. How is your salinity?

1.024

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

I am right in the middle of a water change so the water is pretty murky. I'll get pictures when I am finished.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 28, 2021

keep lights down to blue for now. Have you changed lighting recently?

You have a few zero readings although not impossible is unusual. What test kits are you using ?
Alk, very high. . . range should be 8-9

Moderate water flow also.

Duffer · Feb 28, 2021

Nitrates low like that I would get your alk down to around 8

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
keep lights down to blue for now. Have you changed lighting recently?

You have a few zero readings although not impossible is unusual. What test kits are you using ?
Alk, very high. . . range should be 8-9

Moderate water flow also.

I raised the blues by 10% a couple of weeks ago. Api for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Salifert for alk and magnesium and ordered a hanna checker for calcium. And yes I have moderate flow.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 28, 2021

Clownshow said:
I raised the blues by 10% a couple of weeks ago. Api for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Salifert for alk and magnesium and ordered a hanna checker for calcium. And yes I have moderate flow.

Reason I asked what test kits as I suspected API which is notorious for false readigs hence the Low price if $21 for a master kit and has disappointed many reefers. I would suggest taking a good water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API test kits and see what readings they come up with. You may be mighty surprised to find what the numbers actually are

1guydude · Feb 28, 2021

What salt r u using?
U do a lot of wcs?
D

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Reason I asked what test kits as I suspected API which is notorious for false readigs hence the Low price if $21 for a master kit and has disappointed many reefers. I would suggest taking a good water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API test kits and see what readings they come up with. You may be mighty surprised to find what the numbers actually are

Closest store is 200 miles away so I can't really take in a sample. I always thought it was only api's ammonia test was faulty.

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

1guydude said:
What salt r u using?
U do a lot of wcs?
D

Instant ocean salt and I shoot for a water change once a week.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 28, 2021

Clownshow said:
Closest store is 200 miles away so I can't really take in a sample. I always thought it was only api's ammonia test was faulty.

For a few years, ammonia and Nitrate (all part of the nitrogen cycle) Any clubs in your area where someone can test for you? )

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
For a few years, ammonia and Nitrate (all part of the nitrogen cycle) Any clubs in your area where someone can test for you? )

Nope no clubs. There are only around 5 thousand people in my town and they focus on catching fish rather than keeping fish.

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

Is my hammer expelling zooxanthellae?

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
For a few years, ammonia and Nitrate (all part of the nitrogen cycle) Any clubs in your area where someone can test for you? )

I calibrate my refractometer with distilled water could that possibly be throwing off the salinity test?

vetteguy53081 · Feb 28, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
For a few years, ammonia and Nitrate (all part of the nitrogen cysle)

Clownshow said:
I calibrate my refractometer with distilled water could that possibly be throwing off the salinity test?

Yes. Best is calibration solution

ReeferLou · Feb 28, 2021

Clownshow said:
I calibrate my refractometer with distilled water could that possibly be throwing off the salinity test?

My LFS told me using distilled or RODI to calibrate I would be off as in reading HIGHER by .003 - and I confirmed it with my 2 hydrometers which I always thought read LOW . I did buy the 35ppt solution and had to dial my refractometer DOWN so it was reading high with the 0 point calibration. So using this logic you would be at 1.021 which is not bad enough to cause rapid death IMHO

Rmckoy · Feb 28, 2021

Any time I think of corals opening after lights out and closing when they come on .
I lean towards the lighting being too strong .

invest in a few good test kits

Hanna is good for alk , ULR phosphorus

I use Hanna salinity checker , but still confirm it with a refractometer

salifert ( alk , cal , mag , nitrate , )
I was thinking of picking up a Hanna calcium test but have not heard any reviews yet

Clownshow · Feb 28, 2021

Rmckoy said:
Any time I think of corals opening after lights out and closing when they come on .
I lean towards the lighting being too strong .

invest in a few good test kits

Hanna is good for alk , ULR phosphorus

I use Hanna salinity checker , but still confirm it with a refractometer

salifert ( alk , cal , mag , nitrate , )
I was thinking of picking up a Hanna calcium test but have not heard any reviews yet

How would I go about experimenting with the light?