Problem with Frogspawn and Hammer Corals

[LydG]

We have a 10 gallon innovative marine tank run with Kessil lighting and a Mighty Jet pump with an oscillating head that gives the whole tank a pretty even flow.
Our tank is now 9 months old and we have been having some problems with our hammer and frogspawn lately, however our acans and zoa’s are flourishing. The hammer and frowspawn’s tentacles have been shortened for about 1 month, no signs of dying, just more closed up. A LFS told us to check our Alk, and it was at 8dKH so we raised it last week by dosing Red Sea Foundation Alkalinity. It’s been about a week and today it’s a bit high at 13.4dKH. And still not much of a change in the frogspawn and hammer. Here are the rest of my readings from today:

Alkalinity 13.4dKH
Calcium 425
Magnesium 1600
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 30
Salinity 1.026

We have always had a problem with our Nitrate always being high, between 20-40. Possibly from over feeding. We do weekly water changes at about 30-40% each time. We have 2 clowns, 1 purple fire fish, and a skunk cleaner shrimp, and CUC, all thriving. What could be the issue? We want our plump hammer and frogspawn back! I attatched and up close photo of the hammer and frogspawn about 3 months ago and one of the tank last week.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Your alk and mag are way too high. That can be an issue. 8-11 Dkh is ok and 1350 mag will be good. My alk went over 20.0 recently and I lost a couple of heads on my frogspawm and a torch.

 

[LydG]

The Mag has always been super high 1600-1800 on average since I’ve had the tank, and my alk is usually mid 8dKH but we dosed and that’s what caused it to spike to 13.4dKH. What methods do you use to bring down the Mag and Alk? Should I do a water change to bring down the Alk today?

 

[Ruben's Reef]

The Mag has always been super high 1600-1800 on average since I’ve had the tank, and my alk is usually mid 8dKH but we dosed and that’s what caused it to spike to 13.4dKH. What methods do you use to bring down the Mag and Alk? Should I do a water change to bring down the Alk today?

That's what I did, several water changes but I your case I will stop dosing and then do a WC to bring down the alk where you want it. Then do a few daily Alk test to see what is the consumption and then dose to keep that level. That's what I did and is working properly.

 

[BigGimp77]

Following this as well. I have a similar issue. The coral are branching out but our tentacles are also pretty short compared to how they were at the fish store.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

You can do a 50% w/c @ 1.026 about 4-5 gallons and then wait like 20 min and then test your alk. Then don't do anything else until tomorrow at the same time do another Alk test and see what is the difference. But don't dose anything.

 

[IKD]

Do you have a phosphate reading?

 

[LydG]

Ok I’ll do a 50% water change today. Also- could it be the salt water source I am using that is causing the high Mg levels? Should I switch to another LFS for salt water? I just tested the Mg of the saltwater straight from the LFS and it’s 1640ppm. I have used this LFS’s water since we started the tank.

 

[LydG]

I don’t have a phosphate test, I need to get one.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Ok I’ll do a 50% water change today. Also- could it be the salt water source I am using that is causing the high Mg levels? Should I switch to another LFS for salt water? I just tested the Mg of the saltwater straight from the LFS and it’s 1640ppm. I have used this LFS’s water since we started the tank.

Well, that was another reason why I got an RODI system to make my own water. I was getting the water from my LFS and was fine until I start growing algae for no reason. Then I test their water and it was at 38 TDS. Now I do my water and is always at 0. Get a RODI system and do your own mix and that will be one less headache.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Mag high, alk extremely high as others indicated. After water change, do not dose alk and Mag for at least a week based on corals you have in pic.

 

[LydG]

Alk is definitely high (self inflicted) by dosing too much last week. Will do a 50% water change and monitor for it to drop back down. But I feel that the root of our high Mg issue is the water source. Might change to water from another LFS until we can do an RODI system of our own. Is it safe to switch over, I don’t want big swings in anything as our tank is pretty small.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

This is what I have and work perfectly, only $60

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Also @LydG , do you know what salt brand your LFS are using cuz if is Red Sea Coral Pro its around 11dkh when mix new water so basically you don't need to dose on a 10g tank, just keep a 10g w/c weekly and will be good. Just find out what salt brand they are using for the water they sell.

 

[LydG]

Ok I’ll ask them the brand..we have never dosed before but the LFS where we get our corals from mentioned that 8dKH was a bit low so we should dose a little Alk, but we are not experienced with dosing and that’s what caused the OD. Thanks for the info, I’ll look into that RODI system! I just finished my 50% water change so we will go from there!

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Ok I’ll ask them the brand..we have never dosed before but the LFS where we get our corals from mentioned that 8dKH was a bit low so we should dose a little Alk, but we are not experienced with dosing and that’s what caused the OD. Thanks for the info, I’ll look into that RODI system! I just finished my 50% water change so we will go from there!

Ok. Keep us updated.

 

[King Turkey]

The issue is nitrate should be 5 max phosphate needs to be .03 I agree all was fine at 8 I would bump to 9 maybee. Mg should be 1350 as previously stated. I suspect the alk and nitrate are the issue. Your phosphate most likely is to high also. I would suggest some dr Tim's waste away and a water change. How often do you feed and water change

 

[LydG]

The issue is nitrate should be 5 max phosphate needs to be .03 I agree all was fine at 8 I would bump to 9 maybee. Mg should be 1350 as previously stated. I suspect the alk and nitrate are the issue. Your phosphate most likely is to high also. I would suggest some dr Tim's waste away and a water change. How often do you feed and water change

Ok, Dr Tim’s waste away is good for nitrate reduction? What should I do about lowering the Mg? We will get a kit to test phosphate. We feed once daily with small pinch of bionautic granules for the clowns and fire fish and 2-3 crab cuisine sticks for cleaner shrimp, and then once-twice a week instead of doing the normal feed we thaw a small brick of mysis shrimp and broadcast feed.

 

[King Turkey]

Hum sounds like a export issue sorta. It does not sound like you over feed but dr Tim's will help alot. For mg water changes is the only way what salt do you use? Some salts have high mg have you ever tested water you use for water change?