Weekend Ruined! Lesson Learned!

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, nitrate at 100 ppm doesn't by itself kill corals. If it really got boosted that much somehow, potassium might also be too high.

 

[specialk]

I would go slow. Don't add anything else to the tank. Keep up with the water changes. Adding NoPox may create additional stress to the system

Noted. Thx.

BUT ... what method should I use to get these nitrates down because right now they are still high and will ultimately cause my sps to die (as they are doing right now) ... so should I do water changes or get a media to lower the nitrates?

I was using nopox before and had some pretty good results with it. ...but again last thing I want to do is cause even MORE issues.

 

[specialk]

FWIW, nitrate at 100 ppm doesn't by itself kill corals. If it really got boosted that much somehow, potassium might also be too high.

hmmm ok. Thx Randy ... any idea as to why I am all of a sudden getting bleaching on tips of sps all of a sudden as soon as I started dosing this stump remover? (and it for sure is not growth) my water paramters have been pretty stable.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Maybe excessive potassium, or maybe too fast of a rise of nitrate is an issue. I'm not sure. Maybe the nitrate now is test error.

Did you work through the math to see what you actually added as someone did above? If it was a max of 15 ppm, then I wouldn't focus on it.

 

[specialk]

Maybe excessive potassium, or maybe too fast of a rise of nitrate is an issue. I'm not sure. Maybe the nitrate now is test error.

Did you work through the math to see what you actually added as someone did above? If it was a max of 15 ppm, then I wouldn't focus on it.

I have all the notes at my desk, and when I get back I am going to double check and will post. In the meantime, should Iplan for more water changes to get some healthy, good water in there? Like a 50% water change or something like that??

 

[GoVols]

I have all the notes at my desk, and when I get back I am going to double check and will post. In the meantime, should Iplan for more water changes to get some healthy, good water in there? Like a 50% water change or something like that??

Bump

 

[Flippers4pups]

Maybe excessive potassium, or maybe too fast of a rise of nitrate is an issue. I'm not sure. Maybe the nitrate now is test error.

Did you work through the math to see what you actually added as someone did above? If it was a max of 15 ppm, then I wouldn't focus on it.

Based on what the OP stated and the math I did, there would have to be an error somewhere. I suggest taking a water sample to the LFS and have them test all parameters before doing anything else, to rule out a bad test kit/s.

 

[GoVols]

Based on what the OP stated and the math I did, there would have to be an error somewhere. I suggest taking a water sample to the LFS and have them test all parametng anything else, to rule out a bad test kit/s.

+1
Crosscheck

 

[specialk]

This is bizarre. So I tested with API (just cause why not) and Salifert.

The API was straight yellow... not even close to any orange in there, indicating it was near 0 ppm. Then, I went to the Salifert, and once again it is showing a high reading, near 100. Very purple.

Also, again, this is about 5 hours after changing out 35 gallons of water with new healthy water.

I dont get it. Each test kit is at the total opposite ends of one another. Something has to give. The LFS across the street only uses API to test ... very general testing. So not sure that will help. I may have to go to the saltwater specific store which is quite a distance away if I want to get an accurate cross check.

In the meantime ... im about as help less and clue less as you can possibly be. Gazing at my tank watching stuff die (or is it getting better !?!?? ) without knowing what to do.

 

[specialk]

Also, double checked the math and notes... was dosing 40 ml for 3 to 4 days. Not good. dang. Used the calculator as well ... yikes.

 

[GoVols]

Also, double checked the math and notes... was dosing 40 ml for 3 to 4 days. Not good. dang. Used the calculator as well ... yikes.

specialk,
We all feel your pain and we are "all" human beings!
Please don't give up hope.
I've had SPS in the past that I thought where sure goners from my error's too. It took along time but some came back to full health, and are thriving

Any of us could be in your shoes tomorrow.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Take some of your new seawater and test it with the Salifert test kit. If it doesn't give you a reading of 0 then take some DI water and test it with your salifert test kit. Is it 0?

I think you've got a bad salifert test kit. You are doing the NO3 test correctly... 1 ml tank water, 4 drops of A swirl 10 seconds, and 1 scoop of powder mix and wait 3 mins. Correct? (I'm not suggesting you aren't, but sometimes when we freak out we do things wrong).

Don't feel too bad, bad test kits have crashed many tanks. Things will bounce back, don't be too hard on yourself.

 

[specialk]

specialk,
We all feel your pain and we are "all" human beings!
Please don't give up hope.
I've had SPS in the past that I thought where sure goners from my error's too. It took along time but some came back to full health, and are thriving

Any of us could be in your shoes tomorrow.

Thanks my friend .. appreciated. I guess that is the one good thing about this hobby ... seems everyone has been down the road you are going down, and if they have not, chances are that they will at some point!

Gonna keep pushing thru this today with your help and the help and advice of others on here ... get this figured out one way or the other!!

 

[specialk]

Take some of your new seawater and test it with the Salifert test kit. If it doesn't give you a reading of 0 then take some DI water and test it with your salifert test kit. Is it 0?

I think you've got a bad salifert test kit. You are doing the NO3 test correctly... 1 ml tank water, 4 drops of A swirl 10 seconds, and 1 scoop of powder mix and wait 3 mins. Correct? (I'm not suggesting you aren't, but sometimes when we freak out we do things wrong).

Don't feel too bad, bad test kits have crashed many tanks. Things will bounce back, don't be too hard on yourself.

yes sir! Although I am going to follow your advice and test all the sea water and DI water. Thats a good idea. Going to do that this morning right away! I will post as soon as I get the results back!!

 

[specialk]

So yah I just tested my RO/DI water and got a reading of 0!

I do not have any new saltwater mixed up so I can't test that right now ... but so far early indications are that it is not a bad test kit. (Unfortunately)

 

[specialk]

Ok ok ok .... hoooolllllld on.

SO.... question.

When looking at the test results and measuring/comparing the color. Do I:

A. Hold the color chart with my left hand in the air in front of me (almost like looking at an x-ray) and with my right hand hold the vial with the water in the air as well in front of me and up against the white part of the chart?

OR

B. Place/ lay the color chart on the table and then place the vial (with the cap OFF) down and standing straight up, (so that I am looking down into the vial, thru the liquid and "on top" of the liquid and then compare the colors?

Because there is a DRASTIC difference in the 2 colors. When doing it the "A." way ... it is very purple. Now when I look down on "top" of it, and compare the colors ... I am ok, in the 5- 10 range.

I am praying and hoping this is it ... because the difference is either really good or really bad!!!

 

[specialk]

WOW! Thats it .. there was my problem. !!!

Well now while I said before I was a moron, maybe not a moron but apprently a very serious blonde moment.

I WAS holding the vial up against the color chart and looking THRU the SIDE of it, which of course magnifies it 10 fold. So what I thought was 100, was really 10. !!!!!

Wow. wow. wow. Lesson learnd and what a relief.

BUT... still have to figure out why I am getitng some bleaching all of a sudden in some areas of sps. (and again, this started when I oddly enough, started dosing stump remover)

 

[GoVols]

Yes, You figured it out.
Looking side ways and / by 10 is for low readings.
Holding it up and looking straight down vial on top of card is for a regular readings.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Well there's one thing cleared. Glad to hear.

 

[specialk]

Im telling ya ... lol.

So I played college football and always was told and knew that it was a game of inches. THIS hobby is an even BIGGER game of inches!!! Wow. I have bene at this hobby for 5 plus years and still and always will be learning .... and even the smallest thing makes such a PROFOUND, tank crashing potential, difference on your tank.

Incredible