Major help needed

[chrissohk]

So I started a 10 gallon tank a little over a month and a half ago and decided to put corals in about 3 weeks ago. They didnt start off that well so last weekend I decided to start testing the PH, salinity and alkalinity. Having done this I discovered my PH is a bit low, so I have dosed alkalinity additives into the tank increasing the DKH by 2 as well as having 2 water changes. However, after 4-5 days, I still dont see a huge difference in the coral health with one even being closed up now.

Water Parameters:
PH: a bit low at 7

DKH: 10.5

Salinity: 1.028 - 1.030

Both corals are soft corals.

 

[dyno]

What type of corals fo you have? What about lights and filters? Can you post a picture of your tank and equipment. I can help you out have run nano reefs as small as 1 gallon. Just need to know more

p.s. B-ionic 2 part: for ph and keeping corals healthy is an amazing product

 

[Uncle99]

Until chemistry is stable, keeping corals will be a challenge.
For me, it was about 7 months before adding softies, and 13 months before SPS.

 

[Rybren]

Soft corals (I'm assuming leathers) often need a period of adjustment, and even once established will often close up and shed for days or even a week or more.

Your salinity is high. I would slowly adjust it downward. How are you measuring it?

Your pH is low. How are you testing it? If you are using a test kit rather than a calibrated meter, then I suspect that the number is wrong.

 

[chrissohk]

Soft corals (I'm assuming leathers) often need a period of adjustment, and even once established will often close up and shed for days or even a week or more.

Your salinity is high. I would slowly adjust it downward. How are you measuring it?

Your pH is low. How are you testing it? If you are using a test kit rather than a calibrated meter, then I suspect that the number is wrong.

Ive been using PH papers to test, what would you say the optimal level of salinity is cause Ive seen multiple online sources saying it should be at 1.030

 

[andrewey]

Those ph papers will not be appropriate for what you need. Can you purchase a saltwater ph test kit? If not, I wouldn't measure your pH at all and would stop dosing kH based on the results of the ph paper. Your salinity is high- aim for 1.025 or so. Bring it down very very slowly (think about a week or so). You don't need to worry about alkalinity right now with soft corals/new tank. Try and get your tank stable in terms of temperature, nitrate, phosphate, and lighting. Those will affect the corals way more than anything else you are testing.

 

[BlazinNano]

Ive been using PH papers to test, what would you say the optimal level of salinity is cause Ive seen multiple online sources saying it should be at 1.030

Salinity should be around 35ppt or 1.025\ 1.026

 

[gabrieltackitt]

Salinity should be around 35ppm or 1.025\ 1.026

I think you mean ppt, 35 ppm would be like 1.0025 sg.

 

[Mikedawg]

I think you might find this article useful in that it identifies desired water parameters and chemistry; plus, it is an easy read: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/
I would also recommend that you use valid and reliable test kits such as Salifert or Nyos
Good quality salt and regular water changes should be enough to maintain good parameters, especially in a small tank.
Good luck

 

[chrissohk]

What type of corals fo you have? What about lights and filters? Can you post a picture of your tank and equipment. I can help you out have run nano reefs as small as 1 gallon. Just need to know more

p.s. B-ionic 2 part: for ph and keeping corals healthy is an amazing product

 

[chrissohk]

I think you might find this article useful in that it identifies desired water parameters and chemistry; plus, it is an easy read: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/
I would also recommend that you use valid and reliable test kits such as Salifert or Nyos
Good quality salt and regular water changes should be enough to maintain good parameters, especially in a small tank.
Good luck

ye ive been using the salifert test kit and red sea salt just trying to adjust the parameter and make them consistent which im not sure right now how i can achieve that

 

[chrissohk]

Those ph papers will not be appropriate for what you need. Can you purchase a saltwater ph test kit? If not, I wouldn't measure your pH at all and would stop dosing kH based on the results of the ph paper. Your salinity is high- aim for 1.025 or so. Bring it down very very slowly (think about a week or so). You don't need to worry about alkalinity right now with soft corals/new tank. Try and get your tank stable in terms of temperature, nitrate, phosphate, and lighting. Those will affect the corals way more than anything else you are testing.

thank you, what test kits for nitrate and phoshate would you reccomend?

 

[andrewey]

For nitrate, I would suggest salifert or nyos. F

or phosphate, if you plan on staying in the hobby awhile and upgrading tanks or trying harder corals to grow, I would go with a hanna checker. If not, in a tank that size, you could always do a salifert phosphate test kit, but honestly at the low end they're all so hard to read, I question as to whether or not they're worth the cost. For a 10 gallon tank, you might just get away with consistent water changes and not overfeeding to control your phosphates (assuming your nitrates look good).

 

[Mikedawg]

ye ive been using the salifert test kit and red sea salt just trying to adjust the parameter and make them consistent which im not sure right now how i can achieve that
[/QUO
If you are using the RS Coral Pro you'll keep getting high alk readings, the RS blue bucket produces alk around 7.7 which is better for soft corals. Use a good refractometer to make sure you don't add too much salt and raise your salinity above 1.025/26. And as andrewey said, for a small tank regular water changes should keep your parameters steady and in line. Dosing and adjusting for a 10 gallon is too complicated; simple is much better in this case IMHO

 

[tinoracha]

I'm impressed that your on top of your testing, great habbit. However if you are just keeping soft corals I wouldn't go crazy chasing numbers on a test kit and dosing to account for the difference. Stable, consistant water changes will more often lead you to success with soft corals than anything else, go easy on the dosing.

 

[chrissohk]

I'm impressed that your on top of your testing, great habbit. However if you are just keeping soft corals I wouldn't go crazy chasing numbers on a test kit and dosing to account for the difference. Stable, consistant water changes will more often lead you to success with soft corals than anything else, go easy on the dosing.

what should do for the pH though as it is a bit low.

 

[NS Mike D]

A 10 gallon nano shouldn't need much tinkering . Water changes should maintain the tank in great shape. BRS recently did a tour of the staff tanks in the office and one staffer had two identical nanos side by side. One had all the bells and whistles to maintain precise stability while the other was getting nothing more than weekly water changes. The latter looked better.

Make sure you read up on how to make your salt water (unless you are buying it) and test it before using it. Stay consistent with your change schedule and I'd recommend 2 gals weekly. Also keep some RODI on hang to top off mid-week and just before the water change to top off what was lost to evaporation.

 

[tinoracha]

what should do for the pH though as it is a bit low.

My best adivce is continuous regular water changes. Just a good salt mix or just buy the water from your LFS. Remeber to heat your water before changes too! the corals dont like chilly h20

 

[vetteguy53081]

Alk a bit high, salinity too high and ph range 8.1 - 8.3moferate Light and water flow

 

[chrissohk]

will the ph level increase over time as more water changes occur?

My best adivce is continuous regular water changes. Just a good salt mix or just buy the water from your LFS. Remeber to heat your water before changes too! the corals dont like chilly h20