Rastas turning black. Low alk?

[Salty.Reefer]

Hey all. Hope everyone is having a great day so far.

I noticed about 6 days ago some of my rastas in a mini colony were not doing so well. Not opening very much and losing some color. I had other Zoas right next to it and they are doing great and popping out new heads.
4 days ago I dipped them in iodine and it caused them to open up the next day but sense then more and more of them have been turning black. I don't believe any have melted yet but I have never seen this before. Could it have to do with my low alk?

Amonia: .01
Nitrite:0
Nitrate: 3
Calcium: 420
Alk: 5-5.5
Salinity: 1.025
Phosphate: 0
Two days ago

Today

You can see the ones turning black on the left hand side.

 

[cjd]

Alk is definitely low , bottom out low. Would get that up, and daily dose to keep at optimal levels. Swings in alkalinity would make anything unhappy. Color turning is probably because of lighting . I would guess too much at first . Move them to the shade and leave them alone for a couple of weeks and just watch for changes .

 

[Salty.Reefer]

thank you. I bought some Reef builder and kalk yesterday. Now I just need to learn how to dose safely

 

[CodyRVA]

How often are you doing water changes? What test kit gave you that reading? Do you have other corals, if so I find it hard to believe your ALK is truly that low. What's your PH at?

 

[cjd]

I would double check my test results with a good test kit (not API please )Seachem has a table on their web page on the product of how much to dose according to your water volume . I would suggest going slow to get alk to the proper level . If you plan on getting the alk to the proper level and then using kalk to maintain those levels I would start by adding 1 teaspoon of kalk per gallon of fresh water and use that as your daily top off or my preferred method is a continuous drip (just don't exceed the daily evaporation rate). test again in a couple of days to see if its maintaining and adjust as needed. MAX Kalk is 2 teaspoons per gallon. If the max doesn't keep up with the daily consumption you will have to supplement with a 2 part system. I use E.V.S. B ionic 2 part system with great results . Its a no brainer once you learn you tanks consumption rates . Just dose equal parts alk and calcium . Alk first wait about an hour or so then cal.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

How often are you doing water changes? What test kit gave you that reading? Do you have other corals, if so I find it hard to believe your ALK is truly that low. What's your PH at?

I am doing water changes every 10 days. Usually 5 gallons at a time. The bad part is that I am using NSW from Southern California which naturally has low ALK.
I am using a red sea test kit.
I have many corals that all seem to be doing really well and happy. SPS (Espically montis), open brains, duncans, euphyllias, rock anemone ect.
My PH is 8.3
Thank you for your help. I did not dose with my last tank and was only successful with some corals but I was happy. Now with my new tank Im trying to keep some more difficult corals so dosing is something completely new to me.

I would double check my test results with a good test kit (not API please )Seachem has a table on their web page on the product of how much to dose according to your water volume . I would suggest going slow to get alk to the proper level . If you plan on getting the alk to the proper level and then using kalk to maintain those levels I would start by adding 1 teaspoon of kalk per gallon of fresh water and use that as your daily top off or my preferred method is a continuous drip (just don't exceed the daily evaporation rate). test again in a couple of days to see if its maintaining and adjust as needed. MAX Kalk is 2 teaspoons per gallon. If the max doesn't keep up with the daily consumption you will have to supplement with a 2 part system. I use E.V.S. B ionic 2 part system with great results . Its a no brainer once you learn you tanks consumption rates . Just dose equal parts alk and calcium . Alk first wait about an hour or so then cal.

I just retested my ALK and got the same results.
Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

So I put 3 tea spoons of reef builder into 2 cups of rodi that I am going to slowly add throughout the day. According to seachem this should raise my alk form 5.5 to 6.5. Is this a good start?

 

[cjd]

Depending on what else in the tank that's fine . its better to adjust slow then to just raise it where you want it right off the bat. I personally run my alk at 8.5. opinions vary on the perfect set point . 8.5 to me gives some error of testing, 8.5 could really be 8.1 or 8.9. our test kits are not lab grade so its a happy median. Raising alk will possibly lower cal, so check that too when testing .

 

[CodyRVA]

Is your unit of ALK in Dkh? Why not use salt and make your own water to raise the ALK or dose something like Soda ash?

 

[Salty.Reefer]

Is your unit of ALK in Dkh? Why not use salt and make your own water to raise the ALK or dose something like Soda ash?

Yes I'm using Dkh. I have thought about making my own water but as an environmentalist I think I would feel too guilty using that much water in the midst of California's most extreme drought. Isn't it true that Reef Builder functions similar to soda ash?

 

[CodyRVA]

Yes I'm using Dkh. I have thought about making my own water but as an environmentalist I think I would feel too guilty using that much water in the midst of California's most extreme drought. Isn't it true that Reef Builder functions similar to soda ash?

10.4. I have no idea what reef builder is, I'm guessing it's got other elements besides sodium carbonate. I'm no chemistry wiz either but having a ph of 8.3 and ALK of 5 doesn't sound right.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

10.4. I have no idea what reef builder is, I'm guessing it's got other elements besides sodium carbonate. I'm no chemistry wiz either but having a ph of 8.3 and ALK of 5 doesn't sound right.

Yeah doesn't really sound right to me either so thats why I am here. Reef Builder is a product from Seachem that raises ALK while supposedly not having a large effect on calcium, mag, and ph. I hope I am doing this correctly haha

 

[CodyRVA]

Yeah doesn't really sound right to me either so thats why I am here. Reef Builder is a product from Seachem that raises ALK while supposedly not having a large effect on calcium, mag, and ph. I hope I am doing this correctly haha

What test kits are you using? Have you tried several? I would verify 100% what your ALK is before dosing it. If it's higher than your kit is showing your going to raise your ALK way high and do some damage.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

What test kits are you using? Have you tried several? I would verify 100% what your ALK is before dosing it. If it's higher than your kit is showing your going to raise your ALK way high and do some damage.

I wish I did but all I have is the red sea kit that includes alk. I have a calcium test kit too. I have tested alk 3 times in the past 18 hours and came back the same every time. The test kit is pretty new too.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

My birthday is in november so I will probably get some Hana checkers

 

[CodyRVA]

Do you have a LFS that will test it to confirm? Salifert is another reliable and inexpensive kit to compare to.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

Do you have a LFS that will test it to confirm? Salifert is another reliable and inexpensive kit to compare to.

I do but they are all around an hour one way. Don't have time for that today.

 

[CodyRVA]

I do but they are all around an hour one way. Don't have time for that today.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001...00_QL40&keywords=salifert+alkalinity+test+kit

 

[Salty.Reefer]

thank you

 

[Salty.Reefer]

Update: I have added all of the rodi with 3 teaspoons of reef builder. PH is now 8.1-8.2 and all is at 7 DKH so .5 higher than I expected but everything looks happy. My fat head dendros are extending the farthest I have ever seen.