Current Tank Parameters - Feedback Requested

[Michael Hull]

So I have been adding some corals over the last month or so and everything seems healthy but not quite at "full extension" so to speak. I tested my basic parameters last week and noticed that my dKH was at 6.8. I've been using blue bucket Red Sea salt.

I went ahead and added some sodium bicarbonate to my ATO and over the last 3 days, dKH is up to 8.2. I now see my Duncan coral not extending much at all. Trying to understand if that is the result of the sudden rise. I've got a mix of Zoas, LPS and SPS.

Other parameters are as follows:

Nitrates - 0.0 (Red Sea test)
Calcium - 371 (Hannah)
Alk - 8.2 (Hannah)
pH - 8.2
Salinity - 1.024 at 79.5 temp

Light schedule is attached. 3 Hydra 26 on Red Sea Max S500.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Retro Reefer]

What’s your Mg levels?

 

[Michael Hull]

Here are a few more coral shots.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I would say that your salinity is a little low. It should be closer to 1.026. That could be the cause of the lower Alk in your tank using the blue bucket salt. If you mix that salt to 1.026 salinity, you should get Alk closer to 8.0.

Edit: Lol, you posted pictures as I was posting. Your corals look ok. Just give them time. I wouldn't do anything rash. Slowly bring up the salinity. I would stop dosing buffer while bringing up the salinity and just keep an eye on things. A dKh reading of 6.8 isn't bad. Once you mix your water with more salt mix, I bet your dKh will be in the high 7 range.

 

[Michael Hull]

Have not tested Mg....

Good to know on the Salt. I did order a bucket of the Red Sea Coral Pro (black bucket) salt... as I'm running out of my first bucket.

That might help a little bit too.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Have not tested Mg....

Good to know on the Salt. I did order a bucket of the Red Sea Coral Pro (black bucket) salt... as I'm running out of my first bucket.

That might help a little bit too.

Knowing your Mg levels is critical, you need to have it in the proper range before trying to set Cal and Alk levels.

 

[Michael Hull]

Test kit recommendation?

 

[Retro Reefer]

Test kit recommendation?

Salifert for Mg

 

[Michael Hull]

Salifert for Mg

Great, I’ll know my Mg levels tomorrow. What do I want it to be?

 

[Vanquishxxx]

Those parameters and that small rise in alk should not affect your Duncan’s. Could be your mag levels. You don’t seem to have a lot of corals so watever your salt mix is, is probally where you are sitting with mg

 

[Retro Reefer]

Great, I’ll know my Mg levels tomorrow. What do I want it to be?

I shoot for 1350-1400

 

[Michael Hull]

Mine is in the 1230-1290 range after first test. Salinity still a little low.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Mine is in the 1230-1290 range after first test. Salinity still a little low.

That’s not to bad, get your salinity up to 35ppt and check it again.. everything else looks ok except you want some nitrates 10ppm or lower is a good number to shoot for, feeding a little more or adding more fish will help get your nutrients up.

 

[Michael Hull]

Updates for a little more feedback.

pH: 8.2
Salinity: 35ppm @ 80 F
NO3: 0.0 (some light hair algae/brown algae) - likely consuming what I have
dKH: 8.6
Mag: 1400
Tank seems to be pretty happy.

Thanks!

Mike