Low alk losing montipora

[brownsalt92]

So within the last week I'm losing a wwc grafted and a few green monti with purple rim.
My parameters
79.9 degrees
Salt 1.025
Ph 8.1
Mag is 1260
Alk 6.8 usually sits at a 9
Ca sits at 500-510
Po4 .08 or less
No3 20

I do weekly water changes with reef crystals
I ato with kalk 3 teaspoons to 3 gal of water.
I am at a loss what should I do skip a waterchange?? I added 2 tea spoons of reef builder to raise alk
I absolutely hate losing corals
Does everybody have such trouble keeping params stable I can't figure it out for the life of me

some sps

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[Sabellafella]

So within the last week I'm losing a wwc grafted and a few green monti with purple rim.
My parameters
79.9 degrees
Salt 1.025
Ph 8.1
Mag is 1260
Alk 6.8 usually sits at a 9
Ca sits at 500-510
Po4 .08 or less
No3 20

I do weekly water changes with reef crystals
I ato with kalk 3 teaspoons to 3 gal of water.
I am at a loss what should I do skip a waterchange?? I added 2 tea spoons of reef builder to raise alk
I absolutely hate losing corals
Does everybody have such trouble keeping params stable I can't figure it out for the life of me

some sps

Going to have to up the kalk dose, try 4-5 tspn per 3 gallon. Just get the alk above (atleast) 8. Test alk everyday, that will basically get you to the stability your looking for. Water changes will keep your mag and maybe nutrients ok

 

[brownsalt92]

Going to have to up the kalk dose, try 4-5 tspn per 3 gallon. Just get the alk above (atleast) 8. Test alk everyday, that will basically get you to the stability your looking for. Water changes will keep your mag and maybe nutrients ok

I've been in the hobby for a year and a half. I don't know everything so I will take advice as its given! I'll give it a go with the 4-5 teaspoon per 3 gallons. I feel as if this hobby you can never catch a break as soon as I get things happy something else goes goofy

 

[brownsalt92]

Going to have to up the kalk dose, try 4-5 tspn per 3 gallon. Just get the alk above (atleast) 8. Test alk everyday, that will basically get you to the stability your looking for. Water changes will keep your mag and maybe nutrients ok

Also your tank is a inspiration I love how much color you have in it

 

[Sabellafella]

I've been in the hobby for a year and a half. I don't know everything so I will take advice as its given! I'll give it a go with the 4-5 teaspoon per 3 gallons. I feel as if this hobby you can never catch a break as soon as I get things happy something else goes goofy

Yea well the "never catching a break park" is what eventually gets you to mastering the hobby!! Lolol. You said you had a alk 2 part mix right? Try upping the kalk to 4 tspn, test everyday to see where it gets you. If your alk is still dropping, do the math and add the 2 part to keep it where it should be. Then the next time you mix kalk/top off water, add another tspn and repeat. Saturated kalk stops at 2 tspn per gallon, so after 6 tspn youll need to start dosing also

 

[Sabellafella]

Also your tank is a inspiration I love how much color you have in it

Thank you, yours looks great also. Im acually having trouble with my grafted cap as well. My alk shotup, and burnt a side that just never grew back. Its ben collecting algae for a while now

 

[brownsalt92]

Thank you, yours looks great also. Im acually having trouble with my grafted cap as well. My alk shotup, and burnt a side that just never grew back. Its ben collecting algae for a while now

Wow that's crazy how it does it to the side and I will up my ato kalk dose

 

[brownsalt92]

I don't have 2 part right now I added 2 tea spoons of reef builder (raises alk ) to a cup and a half of ro. It went from a 6.8 to a 8.4 after letting the tank run for a hour befor testing. I will test it in the moring to see if the number moves.

 

[dbl]

@Sabellafella has you going in the right direction. Stability is key in my opinion. Figure out what your daily consumption is and then figure out your formulas to account for that much usage. (I'm not much help as I personally don't use the kalk in the ATO method). It may take some time, but you'll eventually get there. But remember, as you add additional livestock, your consumption of elements may change as well so you have to monitor.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Though it looks like alk is pretty low, anything changed recently? Any new corals added? Have you seen any pests? What dip do you use? Time to change bulbs? Any recent changes to flow? Do you always run no3 at 20ish? Po4 at <.1 usually?

Usually monti's are pretty tough...

 

[Catchemall]

Going to have to up the kalk dose, try 4-5 tspn per 3 gallon. Just get the alk above (atleast) 8. Test alk everyday, that will basically get you to the stability your looking for. Water changes will keep your mag and maybe nutrients ok

I agree with this and correct me if I'm wrong but it goes the same with two part up the dose of both parts and get your alk where you want it and when you do that it will balance your calcium out.

 

[brownsalt92]

Though it looks like alk is pretty low, anything changed recently? Any new corals added? Have you seen any pests? What dip do you use? Time to change bulbs? Any recent changes to flow? Do you always run no3 at 20ish? Po4 at <.1 usually?

Usually monti's are pretty tough...

This is within a week and a half's time nothing new I canned lights a few months back to halide. And have been adding 30 mins to the photo period a week I'm up to maybe 4.5 hrs a day I don't see any pest

 

[brownsalt92]

Though it looks like alk is pretty low, anything changed recently? Any new corals added? Have you seen any pests? What dip do you use? Time to change bulbs? Any recent changes to flow? Do you always run no3 at 20ish? Po4 at <.1 usually?

Usually monti's are pretty tough...

Yes my no3 has run about 20 for like 9 months now since I owned the tank have a ats running now lfs says mu no3 was at a 0 but my kit shows a .08 with 2 different kits

 

[brownsalt92]

That's for all the helpful tips