Degener8
Active Member
So I have had some algae issues for a while in the tank.
Purchased new skimmer. Restarted carbon use and increased water changes amount and frequency.
I did all this over the course of a month as to not make to many changes all at once.
I changed my heater to a different one I had while redesigning my sump (no real reason why other than it was there..) It had an issue.. shorted and stray voltage leaked into the tank for a night..
I ended up losing over 1/2 of my coral. The tank is basically bare now aside from a few acans and zoas.
I have done 50 total gallons of water changes last week (70g flat hex tank with 15g in sump 85g total water volume)
SO ...
I take some water to the LFS and have them confirm my readings because they are not adding up to me.
Basically this is the reading..
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 40ppm
Alk = 11kh
PH = 8.8
CA = 25 (not sure 25 what but he said it was high and there was some conversion to ppm but he didn't have the formula on hand anyone know what this 25 may be or the formula?)
Phosphate = 1.0
The big concern to me was the PH since my test seemed to always show around 8.4 which isn't horrible but a little high.
I bought a new PH kit. (i will be buying all new kits in about a month)
So anyways I tested the water myself once i got home with the NEW api test kit and it read 8.4.. hmm so I read up a bit more on ph and what effects it.
This morning I test it again and its around 8.1 to 8.2 on the NEW kit. overnight .. no fuge on reverse light cycle etc this is an expected result.
I purchased a phosphate pad to start removing the PO4.
My concern is the huge swing I might be having in PH. I am working on getting the algae issue taken care of and I hope this will reduce the swing in PH as its directly related to CO2 in the water night vs. day etc.
I have yet to determine where the PO4 is being introduced. I use RO/DI water.. mix Reef crystals .. Feed Silversides to the Snowflake eel and a lil chunk to the acans or Brain coral periodically.
So please post thoughts/questions etc. I need to determine where my introduction is, and a long term plan to deal with the PO4 and PH stability.
Nitrates being 40ppm right now is not alarming with the die off I have had recently due to the heater issue. I know I will get this undercontrol in time as things get metabolized and water changes continue.
I plan to take a sample of my mix to the LFS to have them test everything and make sure I don't have an issue from the start before introduction to the tank.
Purchased new skimmer. Restarted carbon use and increased water changes amount and frequency.
I did all this over the course of a month as to not make to many changes all at once.
I changed my heater to a different one I had while redesigning my sump (no real reason why other than it was there..) It had an issue.. shorted and stray voltage leaked into the tank for a night..
I ended up losing over 1/2 of my coral. The tank is basically bare now aside from a few acans and zoas.
I have done 50 total gallons of water changes last week (70g flat hex tank with 15g in sump 85g total water volume)
SO ...
I take some water to the LFS and have them confirm my readings because they are not adding up to me.
Basically this is the reading..
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 40ppm
Alk = 11kh
PH = 8.8
CA = 25 (not sure 25 what but he said it was high and there was some conversion to ppm but he didn't have the formula on hand anyone know what this 25 may be or the formula?)
Phosphate = 1.0
The big concern to me was the PH since my test seemed to always show around 8.4 which isn't horrible but a little high.
I bought a new PH kit. (i will be buying all new kits in about a month)
So anyways I tested the water myself once i got home with the NEW api test kit and it read 8.4.. hmm so I read up a bit more on ph and what effects it.
This morning I test it again and its around 8.1 to 8.2 on the NEW kit. overnight .. no fuge on reverse light cycle etc this is an expected result.
I purchased a phosphate pad to start removing the PO4.
My concern is the huge swing I might be having in PH. I am working on getting the algae issue taken care of and I hope this will reduce the swing in PH as its directly related to CO2 in the water night vs. day etc.
I have yet to determine where the PO4 is being introduced. I use RO/DI water.. mix Reef crystals .. Feed Silversides to the Snowflake eel and a lil chunk to the acans or Brain coral periodically.
So please post thoughts/questions etc. I need to determine where my introduction is, and a long term plan to deal with the PO4 and PH stability.
Nitrates being 40ppm right now is not alarming with the die off I have had recently due to the heater issue. I know I will get this undercontrol in time as things get metabolized and water changes continue.
I plan to take a sample of my mix to the LFS to have them test everything and make sure I don't have an issue from the start before introduction to the tank.
