Trouble on the tips!!

[Diesel]

Some of mine SPS are getting tip burn and when I touch the end it will crumble easily.
Don't get it as my Alk is steady at 8.5/8.7, Cal at 440 mag 1350 and PH at 8.05 in the morning and early evening close to 8.3
Now my PH always was in the morning 7.8 and in the early evening 8.00.
I dose two part and my light schedule didn't change in the last 6 months.
Only change I made was a new sump 6 weeks ago.

You would think alk burn but I test with Redsea and Hanna.

 

[mike007]

Are you carbon dosing? Is this a low nutrient system?

 

[Diesel]

Are you carbon dosing? Is this a low nutrient system?

Nope, PO4 is around 0.12.
Dosing 50% on Acro power and Potassium only when level drops below 370.
Never seen this, that the tips just crumbling.

 

[mike007]

My tank Is a low nutrient system (dosing). I keep my alk around 7-7.5 You might trying backing it down a bit.

 

[Reefnjunkie]

I have had similar issues Ben and not sure what it was-I recently went through this when I switched to my new Ca Rx and thought I had some type of swing in KH but I doubt .30 made that happen.

Hmmm common thread acro power

Hahaha

Just kidding (but not 100%), its a new condition for me and I've had a few sticks do that. Nothing else is new in my tank, and ALL my params are were they always are.


I will say when my pumps were off I noticed a slight film, like am oil slick over the top of a sump- I mixed a 100 gallons for a water change, scrubbed the sump and did a real thorough maintenance (as well I added carbon which I NEVER use) and all seems better. I will get algae built up in my overflow (coast to coast 4' long) teeth and I scrubbed all the teeth clean as well, it was a little mucky in some teeth.

I couldn't and still can't put my finger on what the cause was-I'm hoping what ever it was is gone-I stopped using the acro power too, last Friday was my last bottle, I'm not going to crack open the last two.

If you get an idea of the cause post up-I'm subscribed

Good luck bud

 

[Diesel]

I have had similar issues Ben and not sure what it was-I recently went through this when I switched to my new Ca Rx and thought I had some type of swing in KH but I doubt .30 made that happen.

Hmmm common thread acro power

Hahaha

Just kidding (but not 100%), its a new condition for me and I've had a few sticks do that. Nothing else is new in my tank, and ALL my params are were they always are.


I will say when my pumps were off I noticed a slight film, like am oil slick over the top of a sump- I mixed a 100 gallons for a water change, scrubbed the sump and did a real thorough maintenance (as well I added carbon which I NEVER use) and all seems better. I will get algae built up in my overflow (coast to coast 4' long) teeth and I scrubbed all the teeth clean as well, it was a little mucky in some teeth.

I couldn't and still can't put my finger on what the cause was-I'm hoping what ever it was is gone-I stopped using the acro power too, last Friday was my last bottle, I'm not going to crack open the last two.

If you get an idea of the cause post up-I'm subscribed

Good luck bud

Thanks Brad,
It just blows my mind, you go from a awesome healthy growing reef system into something that you have no control over.
This morning I think I lost some of my latest frags that been in the system about 2 months now.
They were encrusted on the rocks already and put up maybe another 1/4" growth.
The lights are not on yet but I can see the color is changed since yesterday.
Will test again today as I reduced my dosing schedule.
Might pickup another ALK and CAL test kit, just to double check my # and to see if my Red Sea and Hanna are spot on.

 

[Reefnjunkie]

A local to my parts posted this up in our local forum that he found on RC, its for testing Alk ( which I convert to KH :wacko but the accuracy is unequaled and at roughly 45.00 for ~1350 tests how can you say no-granted it requires a good PH probe but I added a second to my APEX since I don't test ORP

Its something I recommend to anyone who has a reliable PH probe-sorry to hear about your loss. Its been a while since I have a total white out (RTN) but stil just floors me, especially when its a piece you have had for a long time


Anyway here is that read

This was worth a repost-Madmike posted this in March of 2011-its the best-IMO

The best alk testing is doing your own acid titration down to a ph of 4.2, super accurate and super cheap because you have to buy the acid by the gallon so you will have enough for years of use . Initial investment is a ph meter and the gallon of acid...good for years of testing!

here is a clip from rc chemistry guys

You can buy 0.1 N Sulfuric acid standard used as the titrant from:

LABCHEM Sulfuric Acid,0.1N (0.05M),4 L,NIST - Standards and Solutions - 4YNA6|LC256804 - Grainger Industrial Supply Base-_-Test Instruments-_-Laboratory Supplies-_-4YNA6[/url] also sells 0.1 N sulfuric acid standards.

It may be best to calibrate your pH meter using a 4 & 7 standard before you start the test.


Easy part; Testing

Now take a sample of your aquarium water, you can use any volume but I like to use 100ml because my pH meter sits nicely in the cup without me holding it at this level. Stick in your pH meter to your sample. You should get the same reading you do when you stick it directly in your tank. If not start over with a clean sample container. Now draw up some 0.1 N HCl solution in to your 5ml syringe. And start dropping into your sample 0.5 mls at a time and watch your pH meter. You are adding a strong acid so your pH should fall rapidly. Once your pH hits 5 start to slow down and add a drop at a time until your pH hits 4.2 . The reason we are shooting for 4.2 is because this is the point where all available carbonates have been converted to carbonic acid. You would think this would be pH 7 but it's not as carbonic acid is a weak acid and you have to really saturate it etc. Anyway, once you have reached pH 4.2 you are done and now can calculate your total alkalinity.


Alk mg of CaC03 /L = A x N x 50,000 / mL of sample

Where A = ml of acid added

N = normality of your HCL

So if you added 4ml of 0.1 HCL before you hit a pH of 4.2

4*0.1*50,000 / 100 = 200 ppm CaC03 equivalents or your total alkalinity is 4 meg/L (mg/L / 50 = meg/L).


The above information was taken and corrected from this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ion+alkalinity

Randy provides further details in this article:

What is Alkalinity
Chemistry and the Aquarium: What is Alkalinity? ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog



__________________
Cliff Babcock

I know this seems a little "geeky" at first and difficult but it really is not... It takes about a minute to perform and if you do all the calculations and make a chart ( xml used = 10dkh and so on) it makes it very easy with NO math. If anyone would like to see how this is done you are welcome to come to my place and I can show you.