My aquarium parameters

[karenvas2]

I tested my water before my recent water change and was surprised to find a few parameters were out of line. My amomnia was .25, my ph was 7.8, ca was 520, and phosphates were .75. I did a 10 gallon water change on my 55 waited to days and tested again. These are the numbers: Ammonia was 1.0, Nitrates was 10, ph was 8.2, Ca was 560, phosphates was .25, and Mg was 1500 or so using Salifert for Mg and API for everything else. Should I do another water change? I checked to see if there were dead critters in tank. I could not see anything, but something is throwing off numbers. Any suggestions?

 

[glb]

You're right, you need to find the source of ammonia asap. There should never be any in the tank. Also, it might help to add some nitrifying bacteria to eat up the ammonia. You can also neutralize the ammonia with seachem Prime to protect your fish. Check about corals. I'm pretty sure it's reef safe but check.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[glb]

Plus your calcium and mg are super high. What's the alk?


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[bct15]

How old is your tank? Sounds like its cycling.


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[karenvas2]

The tank is 4 months old. I have two firefish, two green chromis, a maroon clown, and a lawnmower blenny. The alk is at 13. Is Prime okay for corals?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Old Salt mix?? Those numbers went nuts after the WC.
You can let the MAG, CA and ALK lower themselves.
But how did the Ammonia go up after the WC?? What is your water source? All critters accounted for? I doubt its a snail ofr something small. I'd throw in Chemipure or Macrobe Lift to boost your bacteria. Or you can do a bunch of water changes if using RO/DI to get that ammonia out. Doing 50% changes every 2 days.
Check your water supply and check your salt mix.

 

[glb]

I don't know if Prime is ok for corals. Let me find out for you.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[glb]

I did a quick search and it's supposed to be reef safe, but if I were you I'd ask someone more experienced with corals than me. I've been an aquarist for years and have used prime but just started with coral. It's generally better to do water changes rather than add chemicals IMHO.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[TrialandError]

I use prime and I have corals. All it does is make tap water safe to use.


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[bct15]

Did you add any new liverock? If the ammonium went up a few days after your wc then the ammonia is being created inside the system... Unless it came in with our water change.


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[karenvas2]

I use ro/DI water from LFS. I will do more water changes starting tomorrow.