My corals not opening up

[AZ_Reef]

All my water parameters look fine except for the dkh is low which I have been trying to bring it up for the last couple days using Kent marine Pro buffer DkH and it’s not working. Dkh is still pretty much same as before, little better. I am planning to switch over to BRS soda ash. FYI - I have been fighting red slime. I dosed Chemiclean on Friday to fight the red slime and they are gone! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Light setting has been the same for two years. I did make sure change the mp40, but that was after they closed up. I am very new to reef tank. Let me know what you think. Do these corals look ok? I am clueless now, don’t know what to do.

 

[fishguy242]

hi they are hardy corals must bring that alk up will also raise ph slow but steady ,watching continue to update

 

[AZ_Reef]

hi they are hardy corals must bring that alk up will also raise ph slow but steady ,watching continue to update

I am planning to bring up the dkh to 8.5. What’s good number for ph? My ph fluctuates between 7.8-8.15, low at night and high at noon.

 

[Gareth elliott]

leathers can be incredibly moody corals.

to increase alkalinity i might first try some water changes. as increasing just dkh may cause a decrease in cal and mag.

do you run carbon for the leathers?

 

[Gareth elliott]

I am planning to bring up the dkh to 8.5. What’s good number for ph? My ph fluctuates between 7.8-8.15, low at night and high at noon.

Thats fine for the ph. If wanted s touch higher can run an airline from your skimmer to a window. But your ph level is fine where it is.

 

[AZ_Reef]

leathers can be incredibly moody corals.

to increase alkalinity i might first try some water changes. as increasing just dkh may cause a decrease in cal and mag.

do you run carbon for the leathers?

No, I bought this used tank with rocks, corals and fish two weeks ago, but new sand. Previous owner didn’t run carbon too and leathers were doing great. It all started after the red slime. Corals were doing great for the first week and half.

 

[mike550]

leathers can be incredibly moody corals.

to increase alkalinity i might first try some water changes. as increasing just dkh may cause a decrease in cal and mag.

do you run carbon for the leathers?

Newbie Q — What will running carbon do for the leathers?

 

[AZ_Reef]

leathers can be incredibly moody corals.

to increase alkalinity i might first try some water changes. as increasing just dkh may cause a decrease in cal and mag.

do you run carbon for the leathers?

I did have bag of carbon in the sump, but took it out for the Chemiclean treatment.

 

[Gareth elliott]

No, I bought this used tank with rocks, corals and fish two weeks ago, but new sand. Previous owner didn’t run carbon too and leathers were doing great. It all started after the red slime. Corals were doing great for the first week and half.

The redslime was probably caused by some liverock die off.
chemiclean is an antibiotic, when treatment is done the removal water change should help with the dkh.

Newbie Q — What will running carbon do for the leathers?

Leathers produce external toxins to help them compete with other corals. The carbon helps keep those toxins in control.

 

[AZ_Reef]

The redslime was probably caused by some liverock die off.
chemiclean is an antibiotic, when treatment is done the removal water change should help with the dkh.



Leathers produce external toxins to help them compete with other corals. The carbon helps keep those toxins in control.

How much water change? It’s a Red Sea reefer 350? 20% = 15 gallon?

 

[fishguy242]

gauge ph same time every time, with kh like to see around 9,ph 7.9-8.3 peak think will level higher once kh,agree with gareth ,water changes but a little buffer added watch cal

 

[fishguy242]

would do 10 ,10 tonight ,5g as needed after but buff the mix a little teaspoon in 5 gal until goal ,imo def want to hear gareth's opinion for this one

 

[Gareth elliott]

For after chemiclean i do (2) 25% water changes a day or two apart.
for corrective water changes i use these.
First convert dkh to ppm for both current and target.

Alkalinity Conversion Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Convert alkalinity between milliequivalents-per-liter (meq/L, meql), carbonate hardness (dKH, KH), and parts-per-million (ppm).

www.hamzasreef.com

Then use this to try to spread out so its .5dkh change per water change.

Effect of Water Changes Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the effect of repeated water changes on the concentration of a given substance.

www.hamzasreef.com

 

[mike550]

For after chemiclean i do (2) 25% water changes a day or two apart.
for corrective water changes i use these.
First convert dkh to ppm for both current and target.

Alkalinity Conversion Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Convert alkalinity between milliequivalents-per-liter (meq/L, meql), carbonate hardness (dKH, KH), and parts-per-million (ppm).

www.hamzasreef.com

Then use this to try to spread out so its .5dkh change per water change.

Effect of Water Changes Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the effect of repeated water changes on the concentration of a given substance.

www.hamzasreef.com

Like those calculators! Thanks for sharing

 

[Jamesrup0411]

Newbie Q — What will running carbon do for the leathers?

Carbon will clean the water...bacteria and such. Would be a good idea to run some carbon

 

[Jamesrup0411]

Carbon will clean the water...bacteria and such. Would be a good idea to run some carbon

Toxins*

 

[AZ_Reef]

Is this calculation correct? Spread 20 gallons water change over 3 days?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Yes looks like (3) 20 gallon water changes over a week or week and half will get you back to target. As well as remove anything else in the water for you.

 

[ReefStable Verified Sponsor]

All my water parameters look fine except for the dkh is low which I have been trying to bring it up for the last couple days using Kent marine Pro buffer DkH and it’s not working. Dkh is still pretty much same as before, little better. I am planning to switch over to BRS soda ash. FYI - I have been fighting red slime. I dosed Chemiclean on Friday to fight the red slime and they are gone! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Light setting has been the same for two years. I did make sure change the mp40, but that was after they closed up. I am very new to reef tank. Let me know what you think. Do these corals look ok? I am clueless now, don’t know what to do.

Despite your alkalinity being low, the other parameters seem pretty good as long as they're stable. Reading this, however, I do see a couple of things that stand out.

1) Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like your lights ramp up for 4 hours, on for 4 hours, and ramp down for 4 hours. I would recommend 1 or 2 hour ramp times and allow the corals more light.

The post doesn't say what light you have, but it looks like a radion? Either way, take a look at the Coral lab AB+ spectrum/timing.

2) When you try to increase alkalinity, usually just adding buffers or soda ash will actually cause ionic imbalances. Your best bet is to dose equal parts of the BRS 2-part or some other 2-part product. Doing this with weekly water changes will help keep everything in line. Though your calcium will go up, that's usually not a problem. The water changes will also help bring them back down.

I hope this helps

 

[AZ_Reef]

Despite your alkalinity being low, the other parameters seem pretty good as long as they're stable. Reading this, however, I do see a couple of things that stand out.

1) Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like your lights ramp up for 4 hours, on for 4 hours, and ramp down for 4 hours. I would recommend 1 or 2 hour ramp times and allow the corals more light.

The post doesn't say what light you have, but it looks like a radion? Either way, take a look at the Coral lab AB+ spectrum/timing.

2) When you try to increase alkalinity, usually just adding buffers or soda ash will actually cause ionic imbalances. Your best bet is to dose equal parts of the BRS 2-part or some other 2-part product. Doing this with weekly water changes will help keep everything in line. Though your calcium will go up, that's usually not a problem. The water changes will also help bring them back down.

I hope this helps

1. Yes , you’re correct, lights ramp up for 4 hours and ramp down for 4 hours. I have two ai hydra 26HD using Red Sea recommended setting.

2. I am going to start with 8 gallons of daily water change for the next three days.