Having problems. New to saltwater

[GeorgeT]

Even though I have been doing this for the last three years, I am a newbie. I have taken my 55 gallon tank and increased to a 75 gallon tank, but now I am having problems. I have taken all of the live rock out of the tank, added new live sand, using all of the water, and adding new water. Thinking, of course, everything would be fine. My PH is 8.2, ammonia 0.25, nitrite is 0, nitrate is 5.0, calcium is 360-380, KH twice normal, salt level 1.024. I have tried to soften my water by using alkaline 8.8 and reef calcium to no avail. I added two fish, a blue tang and yellow tang, both died within a day. What am I doing wrong, and how do I fix it?

 

[skinz78]

How long has it been since you've done the tank upgrade?

BTW Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[ritter6788]

Sounds like you're having a little cycle. Also stop dosing and get your alk under control.

You said alk is twice normal? What is your exact reading?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Stop messing with the water. By upgrading your threw your new tank into a cycle. Now it too must cycle. Dont add fish at this point. Use Muriatic Acid to get that ALK down, if it is indeed twice normal. Once you get that in line, then work your Calcium up to 420. But one at a time. The PH is affected by the CO2 in the tank and your ALK being so high.

 

[GeorgeT]

About a month and a half.

 

[GeorgeT]

Sounds like you're having a little cycle. Also stop dosing and get your alk under control.

You said alk is twice normal? What is your exact reading?

I have tried, how do I do that?

 

[GeorgeT]

Stop messing with the water. By upgrading your threw your new tank into a cycle. Now it too must cycle. Dont add fish at this point. Use Muriatic Acid to get that ALK down, if it is indeed twice normal. Once you get that in line, then work your Calcium up to 420. But one at a time. The PH is affected by the CO2 in the tank and your ALK being so high.

Alright, I will try that and let you know.

 

[skinz78]

What is twice normal for the alk?

 

[GeorgeT]

of what the book says it should be

 

[Reefing Madness]

Normal Alk readings would be between 8-12Dkh
Or use this to convert other numbers:

Alkalinity Conversion Chart


Lowering ALK using Muriatic Acid
Be very careful with straight muriatic acid. It can easily burn you, especially your eyes.

The "acidity" (that being essentially negative alkalinity) of muriatic acid straight from the bottle is about 11,000 meq/L.

So adding 1/11,000 of the water volume as this acid will drop alkalinity by 1 meq/l (2.8 dKH).

You want a drop of 13-7 = 6 dKH, or 2.1 times that amount, so you'd add 1/5,100th of the water volume.

13 gallons ~ 49 L

1/5100 of 49 L = 9.6 mL

So I'd add 5 ml and stir well for a few minutes and see what alkalinity you get. Then dose again assuming it seems on the right track.

You'll need to aerate well after adding the acid to blow off the excess CO2 and bring up the pH.
Table compliments of Randal Holmes-Farley

 

[ReeferBob]

That tank is too small for one Tang let alone two. You should never add fish with any ammonia readings at all.

 

[GeorgeT]

Thank you

I thank all of you with your information will try it and get back