Need some experienced input, please.

[Reefer_kano]

Ok so lately ive been having some fluctuations in my tank specially with my calcium

As of today my parameters are

Temp 80.3
Salinity 1.026
Alk 168
Calcium 548 ( i know)
Nitrate 4.5
Phosphate. 26
Ph 8.3

About a week ago my calcium was at 475 then it shot up to 511 a few days ago and today its 548
My alk was 171 a few day ago and now 168.
I wanted to do a water change but my nutrients really aren't bad at all but im skeptical if i do a water change it will drop my calcium down too much causing another crqzy swing.

Should i do the water change anyways? Ive read that rasing the alk would drop the calcium levels so, should i do that instead?

Most of my corals look ok with the exeption of my wall hammer and one of my scolys.

Also its looking like im getting some dynos i think. Redish colors film around the bottom of the tank.
Isnt that a indications of low nutrients, right? So would a water change make it worst then?
I feel like a total noob asking but i don't really know alot of reefer near me and i really don't trust too much the ppl that works at my LFS .

Thank you in advance for y'all input.

 

[rsumner]

What device or test kit is telling you your Ca is that high? Do you trust it? If there’s truly a huge spike like that, check your doser.

In addition, I’m not familiar with an Alk reading that is in the hundreds. What scale is that?

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

What size tank? Also that may be cyano on the bottom, not dino. Pics will help.

 

[Reefer_kano]

What device or test kit is telling you your Ca is that high? Do you trust it? If there’s truly a huge spike like that, check your doser.

In addition, I’m not familiar with an Alk reading that is in the hundreds. What scale is that?

Im using a hanna checker

Ive checked my doser once already and it was dosing correctly but will do it again.

All my test kits are hanna with the exeption of the magnesium which it is a salifert
Alk 168 = 9.4

 

[Reefer_kano]

What size tank? Also that may be cyano on the bottom, not dino. Pics will help.

I have a reefer 425 XL 112 total water volume, 88 display

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I have a reefer 425 XL 112 total water volume, 88 display

Ok. I would do a nice big water change and retest parameters. That looks like cyanobacteria to me. Chemiclean will get rid of it quick, just follow directions. Also, what salt are you using?

 

[Reefer_kano]

Ok. I would do a nice big water change and retest parameters. That looks like cyanobacteria to me. Chemiclean will get rid of it quick, just follow directions. Also, what salt are you using?

Ok i will pick up some tomorrow?

A big water change? 50% or more? Wouldn't that be too much of a swing for the corals?

 

[Reefer_kano]

Ok. I would do a nice big water change and retest parameters. That looks like cyanobacteria to me. Chemiclean will get rid of it quick, just follow directions. Also, what salt are you

Im using red sea coral pro

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Ok i will pick up some tomorrow?

A big water change? 50% or more? Wouldn't that be too much of a swing for the corals?

Depending on what coral you have, and if your mixed saltwater parameters match your tank. If there is a big difference, then do a few smaller ones a few days in a row. Trying to correct by dosing can make the swing even greater.

 

[blaxsun]

Redish colors film around the bottom of the tank.

It's probably a tiny bit of cyano, but you're always going to get some discoloration in the form of algae right along the glass and this is be fairly normal. I've enclosed a shot of the sand bed along the front of my tank. The purple is coralline (no idea what the green, orange and dark brown are - but probably an assortment of algae).



Here's another shot a bit further down to the left where you can see a few patches of red cyano right along the bottom edge.

 

[Reefer_kano]

Depending on what coral you have, and if your mixed saltwater parameters match your tank. If there is a big difference, then do a few smaller ones a few days in a row. Trying to correct by dosing can make the swing even greater.

Hmmmm ok, i feel more comfortable doing smaller changes, last thing i want is to crash the tank while trying to fix it lol

 

[Rmckoy]

What device or test kit is telling you your Ca is that high? Do you trust it? If there’s truly a huge spike like that, check your doser.

In addition, I’m not familiar with an Alk reading that is in the hundreds. What scale is that?

Alk In ppm is hundreds .

multiply the number by 0.056 to convert to dkh

 

[Rmckoy]

What device or test kit is telling you your Ca is that high? Do you trust it? If there’s truly a huge spike like that, check your doser.

In addition, I’m not familiar with an Alk reading that is in the hundreds. What scale is that?

168ppm is 9.4dkh

 

[Reefer_kano]

It's probably a tiny bit of cyano, but you're always going to get some discoloration in the form of algae right along the glass and this is be fairly normal. I've enclosed a shot of the sand bed along the front of my tank. The purple is coralline (no idea what the green, orange and dark brown are - but probably an assortment of algae).



Here's another shot a bit further down to the left where you can see a few patches of red cyano right along the bottom edge.

Ok, thank you. Ive been staying ontop of this tank on the daily basis.
I dont want to miss something but at the same time not trying to mess with it too much smh, thank god i was bald already before i started with a saltwater aquarium lol