Trying to get my reef back in line

[HeyLookItsCaps]

So I am trying to figure out what is going on with a couple sps Corals. The first thing I found was my calibration was out and my mag is far too low. After recalibrating :

salt - 35.1 ppm
Temp 77.8
Alk - 8.52
Cal - 502
Mag - 1217

So I did a 30 gallon water change on a 120 DT/ 30g sump-fuge expecting to see a large change with tropic Marin pro, only went up to 1226 alk and cal were single digit changes (I am happy at 8.5 dkh though).

so I busted out my Hanna testers

nitrate 7.6

okay good

phosphate ULR - over range .90

diluted it down 1 mil sample 9 mil R/O and it returned with :

phosphate - .14

Okay so 1.4 phosphate is obviously high and not good. This is after the water change by the way. I have ZERO algae growing in my tank, sand is clean, corals are looking good minus 2 digitata a which is why I started all this….

I did just do a huge macro fuge harvest that was overgrown but I can’t figure out why it would be so high. I have a Neptune auto feeder set at the lowest pellet amount, I did a huge macro harvest…. But I can’t get to the bottom of it. Shouldn’t a 30 gal waterchange do something? Plus I am not seeing any typical phosphate algae problems. Can post pics but I’m stumped. Maybe another 30 tonight?

even after 15 years sometimes I’m still lost

 

[Utubereefer]

Trace elements running low?

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Trace elements running low?

I haven’t tested that, and wouldn’t be sure how to outside on an ICP, but I’ve always been a “if you don’t like it waterchange” and that’s not doing it this time

 

[Utubereefer]

Icp will only hurt the wallet a little. Might as well give it a try. Do you dose coral aminos?

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Icp will only hurt the wallet a little. Might as well give it a try. Do you dose coral aminos?

I have the full PolypLab outfit and have used them on and off with negligible if any differences in my opinion. Currently I micro water change 2gal/24 hours on dosers, I was running 8-12 ml of b-ionic 2 part and feeding live home cultured ohyto/reef roids. I cut the micro changes during this to mix and change bigger amounts, and now that I have my trident recalibrated I pulled my 2 part dosing so I can get my mag up without alk/cal jumping any more.

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Icp will only hurt the wallet a little. Might as well give it a try. Do you dose coral aminos?

Just ordered a Triton test, definitely worth it at this point.

 

[Rmckoy]

So I am trying to figure out what is going on with a couple sps Corals. The first thing I found was my calibration was out and my mag is far too low. After recalibrating :

salt - 35.1 ppm
Temp 77.8
Alk - 8.52
Cal - 502
Mag - 1217

So I did a 30 gallon water change on a 120 DT/ 30g sump-fuge expecting to see a large change with tropic Marin pro, only went up to 1226 alk and cal were single digit changes (I am happy at 8.5 dkh though).

so I busted out my Hanna testers

nitrate 7.6

okay good

phosphate ULR - over range .90

diluted it down 1 mil sample 9 mil R/O and it returned with :

phosphate - .14

Okay so 1.4 phosphate is obviously high and not good. This is after the water change by the way. I have ZERO algae growing in my tank, sand is clean, corals are looking good minus 2 digitata a which is why I started all this….

I did just do a huge macro fuge harvest that was overgrown but I can’t figure out why it would be so high. I have a Neptune auto feeder set at the lowest pellet amount, I did a huge macro harvest…. But I can’t get to the bottom of it. Shouldn’t a 30 gal waterchange do something? Plus I am not seeing any typical phosphate algae problems. Can post pics but I’m stumped. Maybe another 30 tonight?

even after 15 years sometimes I’m still lost

By changing 30% water you will only raise mag 30% which I believe it would be 30% of the difference between the new salt and current tank levels Which would be minimal

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

By changing 30% water you will only raise mag 30% which I believe it would be 30% of the difference between the new salt and current tank levels Which would be minimal

Wonder if I should keep rollin then, I keep 55 in a constant mix. I can theoretically do it until I run outta salt…. Thoughts?

 

[Rmckoy]

Wonder if I should keep rollin then, I keep 55 in a constant mix. I can theoretically do it until I run outta salt…. Thoughts?

I’d like to see if someone else chimes in to validate or correct my comment prior to making suggestions

 

[Shirak]

Wonder if I should keep rollin then, I keep 55 in a constant mix. I can theoretically do it until I run outta salt…. Thoughts?

Would only work if you could do a massive water change. First.. 30g on a 120g system with 30g sump is only 20%. The problem with your plan is every time you do a change you up the system Mg a little.. so the next time you do it it is closer to the TM Pro level and the same amount of water change has less effect because the difference between the two is less and less each time. Only real solution is to dose what is missing up to the level you want.

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Would only work if you could do a massive water change. First.. 30g on a 120g system with 30g sump is only 20%. The problem with your plan is every time you do a change you up the system Mg a little.. so the next time you do it it is closer to the TM Pro level and the same amount of water change has less effect because the difference between the two is less and less each time. Only real solution is to dose what is missing up to the level you want.

I do have a bottle of mag on order, guess I will wait for that, my questions is dual fold though, shouldn’t 20% changes be putting a dent in 1.4 phos? I can always mix up more I have multiple barrels for emergency/house

 

[Rmckoy]

Would only work if you could do a massive water change. First.. 30g on a 120g system with 30g sump is only 20%. The problem with your plan is every time you do a change you up the system Mg a little.. so the next time you do it it is closer to the TM Pro level and the same amount of water change has less effect because the difference between the two is less and less each time. Only real solution is to dose what is missing up to the level you want.

So 30% of the difference .. I was correct

 

[Rmckoy]

I do have a bottle of mag on order, guess I will wait for that, my questions is dual fold though, shouldn’t 20% changes be putting a dent in 1.4 phos? I can always mix up more I have multiple barrels for emergency/house

The problem with phosphates. .
Water changes have little effect on phosphates as they are bound to hard surfaces such as rocks and sand. .
They will build and store on those surfaces and eventually leach back into the water column .

back to mag .
look up Randy’s recipe
Save yourself some money and go to Walmart or a drug store and buy epsom salt .
essentially …. It’s magnesium sulphate

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

The problem with phosphates. .
Water changes have little effect on phosphates as they are bound to hard surfaces such as rocks and sand. .
They will build and store on those surfaces and eventually leach back into the water column .

back to mag .
look up Randy’s recipe
Save yourself some money and go to Walmart or a drug store and buy epsom salt .
essentially …. It’s magnesium sulphate

Shoot I have a bucket in my bathroom, I’ll check it out! Thanks

 

[Shirak]

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) will work in a pinch but you wouldn't want to use that exclusively long term as it should be balanced by magnesium chloride

Did you retest P04 after? Are you certain it's 1.4ppm? Would the water change make a dent? I guess.. I have heard there is a lot of P04 in your rocks and other calcium carbonate stuff like sand so when you remove some from the water with a water change the lower concentration pull some from the rock and sand.

 

[Rmckoy]

Shoot I have a bucket in my bathroom, I’ll check it out! Thanks

Don’t use the scented or such as lavender or eucalyptus .

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Don’t use the scented or such as lavender or eucalyptus .

I have major knee problems from birth so I soak in the medical grade stuff, I’ll double check to be sure though!

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) will work in a pinch but you wouldn't want to use that exclusively long term as it should be balanced by magnesium chloride

Did you retest P04 after? Are you certain it's 1.4ppm? Would the water change make a dent? I guess.. I have heard there is a lot of P04 in your rocks and other calcium carbonate stuff like sand so when you remove some from the water with a water change the lower concentration pull some from the rock and sand.

Yes I waterchanged last night, tested tonight just to make sure I waited 24hrs for a fair result, initial test was blinking .90 on ULR, which I’d gotten the last 3 tests, blamed the tester. Then texted my frag tank and it was at .06. So I pulled 9ml of RO and 1ml of the sample, that came back at .14 so multiplying puts me at 1.4 unless I’ve done it wrong. Which is possible

 

[Rmckoy]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php#14

I just found one of @Randy Holmes-Farley articles it has 3 different recipes for mag supplement . Also explaining the precautions .

His articles are Always worth reading

 

[Shirak]

Yes I waterchanged last night, tested tonight just to make sure I waited 24hrs for a fair result, initial test was blinking .90 on ULR, which I’d gotten the last 3 tests, blamed the tester. Then texted my frag tank and it was at .06. So I pulled 9ml of RO and 1ml of the sample, that came back at .14 so multiplying puts me at 1.4 unless I’ve done it wrong. Which is possible

That would be correct. Sounds like it is reading properly on the frag tank so not the tester