Help

[Jzndvd]

okay guys just got home from work and the tank doesn’t look happy. I think the main culprit is the PH. Currently low around 7.4 ( been having issues with keeping it higher.

Current levels checked

PH 7.4
Am 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 30ish

Working on the rest but it looks like it’s snowing so I’m sure alk and cal are gonna be jacked.

What’s my next move guys.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How are you testing ph.
What are you dosing?

Sounds like your doser went boom.

Ph should be high if it was an alk dose.

 

[Jzndvd]

The rest of my water tests.

Phosphate between 1&2 ppm
Cal 380
Alk 11 dKH

 

[Jzndvd]

Only thing I’m dosing is cal once a week

 

[Jzndvd]

I have been keeping the return aimed at the top to keep turning the surface of the water. Trying not to ‘dose’ to much. Mainly depend on weekly water changes of about 15%

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok. Kinda stumped.

I’d look inthe sump if you have one and around the tank and see if something got eaten or dug a hole.

For ph to be effected would be chemical. Alk kalk etc.

 

[Jzndvd]

Could low mag along with the lower PH be causing the ,what I’m am assuming, is calcium precipitate. I’ve order a mag test but it has yet to arrive. Don’t want to dose something I can’t test for

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It’s usually the mag that précips. When you add kalk or or alk it snows for a minute.

You don’t have auto dosing so I’d rule that out.

 

[Jzndvd]

Well I’m blasting the water surface with the return to assist with gas exchange. Seems to be helping. Hairy mushroom is already looking better. Decided to go ahead and run some carbon. The toadstool leather is putting off some mucus, not sure if he’s fighting or if it’s stress related.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Really weird man.
Can you catch the snow ?
Is it like slime ?

 

[Jzndvd]

It’s almost like dumping a bag of crush coral into water but not as milky.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

And it made the corals mad right?


#reefsquad I’m missing something here. Ideas?

 

[Jzndvd]

The only ones that don’t look mad are the zoas and my blasto frag.

 

[Crabs McJones]

If alk is 11 and calcium is 380 calcium precip makes sense. Now the question is why is it happening.
When you say you're trying not to dose to much, what is it you are dosing? Low ph mixed with high alk and low calcium is likely what's causing your issue, what's mag at?

 

[Jzndvd]

It’s Kent liquid calcium. Recommend dosage is 1/2 to 1 tsp daily per 50g I dose 1 tsp to 65g once a week on the flip side of my weekly water change.

 

[reeferfoxx]

And it made the corals mad right?


#reefsquad I’m missing something here. Ideas?

Missing a lot of information, imo.

What size tank, is it hand dosed or kalk in ato? Mag? What kind of sand? Skimmer? Frequency of water changes? Type of salt? Tap water or rodi? List of corals. Any recent changes?

Typically calcium carbonate like sand or rock will usually buffer the water once it reaches 7.6 pH.

 

[Jzndvd]

So that’s a 15% water change on Sunday and then 1 tsp liquid calcium on Wednesday.

 

[NY_Caveman]

You probably thought of this, but is the house sealed up tight for AC? That could cause an increase in CO2 levels which would directly lower pH.

 

[Breadman03]

I’d halt the dosing for now. How much do your parameters fluctuate from the water change to right before your water change?

Also, what is your magnesium at? Magnesium is what keeps the cal and alk from precipitating.

 

[Jzndvd]

65 gallon
Hand dosed on Wednesday
Mag test is on order. Not dosing
Crushed coral
15% wc on Sundays
Currently using Instant Ocean sea salt
rodi from lfs

Favia frag
Zoa frag
Blasto frag
Duncan frag
Trumpet frag
1in hairy mushroom
Hammer coral

Added a lta 2 weeks ago
Added toadstool leather and ‘acan’ frag on Wednesday.

Fish
Juvenile Sailfin Tang (1 & 1/2in)
Juvenile maroon clown(1 & 1/4 in)
Sm Flame Angel(2in)
Very small 6line wrasse
Sm lawnmower blenny
Various cuc

Last fish was added about three weeks ago.

And yes I know the tank will not accommodate the tang and clown once they grow. Already planned this out with lfs.

Best info I can give. However tank is starting to clear and corals are recovering. But any info to prevent this would be much appreciated.