SPS problems....need advice

[Reefpro]

What's the resolution of your test kit? My math is a bit fuzzy, but that should have raised your tank to around 1ppm of nitrates.

Edit: 10g/1000g = .01 potassium nitrate solution. 100mL of that into 240g at 3.78*240gallons

.01*100/3.78*240*1000 = 1.1*10^-6

Man i have no idea what that all means except it should have raised me up to 1 part per million

 

[Reefpro]

One questioni have now is should i remove the large chunknof cheato. Is it drawing in all the available nutrients? Should i hook up the gfo reactor again to control po4 and bring it down slowly instead of the macro?

 

[Hans-Werner]

How do you get this nutrient imbalance? If you get your nutrients from feeding you bring in phosphate and nitrogen compounds. Then it is nearly impossible that both concentrations are correct. Check your test kits. The only common way to get phosphate in without adding nitrogen is by polluted sand or rock or with a coral gravel CO2 reactor. If you can exclude those I doubt the results, I suspect that either the phosphate test shows high results or the nitrate test shows low results.
At first I would decrease alkalinity to 7.5 °dH.

 

[Reefpro]

How do you get this nutrient imbalance? If you get your nutrients from feeding you bring in phosphate and nitrogen compounds. Then it is nearly impossible that both concentrations are correct. Check your test kits. The only common way to get phosphate in without adding nitrogen is by polluted sand or rock or with a coral gravel CO2 reactor. If you can exclude those I doubt the results, I suspect that either the phosphate test shows high results or the nitrate test shows low results.
At first I would decrease alkalinity to 7.5 °dH.

I have verified readings of both. Yes nitrate is zero and po4 ia .11. I have shut off ca reactor and letting Alk fall naturally

 

[bif24701]

I weighed it on digital scale per his instructions If i was to guess probably 4

If you use the calculator I provided you will know exactly where the nitrate should be. If your adding nitrate and it's not showing up on a test then it's possible testing error or faulty test kit.

 

[Reefpro]

Ok im on my way to get a new kit today but its still not registering after 200 mil of concentrate im using. It is randy homes farleys recipe do maybe its diluted more 40 grams of stump remover dissolved in 3.78 liters of water. Then add 1 ml of mixed solution per 2 gallons of tank water is supposed to yield .8 ppm so if my math is correct it should have rised to 1.6

 

[Mattrg02]

Ok im on my way to get a new kit today but its still not registering after 200 mil of concentrate im using. It is randy homes farleys recipe do maybe its diluted more 40 grams of stump remover dissolved in 3.78 liters of water. Then add 1 ml of mixed solution per 2 gallons of tank water is supposed to yield .8 ppm so if my math is correct it should have rised to 1.6

Don't add anymore until you get a working test. Test your nitrate water. It should "peg" the test. I'd make sure that was happening at a minimum.

 

[bif24701]

Ok im on my way to get a new kit today but its still not registering after 200 mil of concentrate im using. It is randy homes farleys recipe do maybe its diluted more 40 grams of stump remover dissolved in 3.78 liters of water. Then add 1 ml of mixed solution per 2 gallons of tank water is supposed to yield .8 ppm so if my math is correct it should have rised to 1.6

200 ml should have increased it enough to register.

Keep us updated.

Looks like your solution should raise NO3 by 1 ppm for every 100ml.

 

[NickK]

Have you checked your potassium level lately? Salifert makes a good potassium test that's pretty cheap. Some systems consume more potassium than others. I had problems with all my SPS until I figured out mine was low and started dosing.

 

[Reefpro]

Have you checked your potassium level lately? Salifert makes a good potassium test that's pretty cheap. Some systems consume more potassium than others. I had problems with all my SPS until I figured out mine was low and started dosing.

Have not tested potassium. Disclaimer here ive been reefi g for 15 tears and heavy into corals for last 5. I am no means an expert and this one has me stumped I can usually jydge my corals health by appearance but not this time!!

 

[North Borders]

200 ml should have increased it enough to register.

Keep us updated.

Looks like your solution should raise NO3 by 1 ppm for every 100ml.

I whipped up a batch of KNO3 the other night using pharmaceutical grade salt peter. (essentially the same thing)
IIRC I used 75 grams in 900 ml of RODI to give me a solution of which 1 ml will raise my nitrates by 0.2 ppm in my 65 gallon. If this helps anyone.

 

[North Borders]

Have you checked your potassium level lately? Salifert makes a good potassium test that's pretty cheap. Some systems consume more potassium than others. I had problems with all my SPS until I figured out mine was low and started dosing.

What was happening to your SPS with low potassium?

 

[NickK]

What was happening to your SPS with low potassium?

minimal growth, RTN, bland colors in all my corals but especially my red monti's

I've read that a bunch of people don't dose K and don't have an issue with it getting low, but my system sucks through it. I dose weekly now and test every few weeks.

KNO3 should bump up your K also as a bonus. I've heard you can burn the tips if K gets too high, but I've never experienced that.

 

[Mattrg02]

minimal growth, RTN, bland colors in all my corals but especially my red monti's

I've read that a bunch of people don't dose K and don't have an issue with it getting low, but my system sucks through it. I dose weekly now and test every few weeks.

KNO3 should bump up your K also as a bonus. I've heard you can burn the tips if K gets too high, but I've never experienced that.

Just ordered a Salifert potassium test kit.

My salt mix is reef crystals.

 

[Reefpro]

Ok after last test my nitrates are at 2 ppm. What should i do next? Local fish store used expensive machine and verified my po4 at .03

 

[Reefpro]

200 ml should have increased it enough to register.

Keep us updated.

Looks like your solution should raise NO3 by 1 ppm for every 100ml.

Spot on!

 

[bif24701]

Ok after last test my nitrates are at 2 ppm. What should i do next? Local fish store used expensive machine and verified my po4 at .03

Test again tomorrow and see where it is.

When you get your new filters do a water change.

 

[Reefpro]

If im zero again dose 200 ml again?

 

[Mattrg02]

If im zero again dose 200 ml again?

Test each day until you notice a rate of uptake. Don't let the tank drop your nitrates to zero each time before you dose. Try to keep it stable.

Edit: You'll also need to keep an eye on your phosphate now. Somehow, the red field ratio, or whatever it is, says that rising nitrates causes falling phosphates.

 

[Reefpro]

Test each day until you notice a rate of uptake. Don't let the tank drop your nitrates to zero each time before you dose. Try to keep it stable.

Edit: You'll also need to keep an eye on your phosphate now. Somehow, the red field ratio, or whatever it is, says that rising nitrates causes falling phosphates.

So if po4 falls what is solution? Feed more?