What keeps my Parameters Up would really like to figure this out.

[Dragon52]

Parameters have been like this for 2yrs

Alk Always above 9.5=10/12
Calc Always around 4=600
Mag Always above 1450-=1500/1600
PH seems to stay around 7.8-7.9 Can't seem to get it to stay above 8
Nitrate always above 20ppm
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Phos 5
I don't Dos. ANYTHING
I don't make monthly water changes because they don't help the problem
Use RODI freshwater from LFS for ATO- NO SALT ADDED
3 A360We Tuna Blue set at 10-60 Color 15-40 Intensity Over a 60x24x30" 185gl tank
Trigger Systems Sapphire 34 sump w/Refugium with sand/ruble has cheato, calurpa & other Macro
Nyos 160 Skimmer
20 Fish/Inverts
15 Corals
CUC consist of Hermits/Snails/2 fighting conchs that I haven't seen in 5 months

Fish seem to be OK, Mushrooms/ Softies seem to like what's going on, Zoas live but don't grow, can't keep anything with a skeleton for very long at all.

I recently was told at a show I went that the Liferock/Real Reef live rock seems to have this kind of an effect. Anyone else hear anything about that.

 

[Stickboy15]

have you done a icp test?

 

[Dragon52]

Not sure what that is

 

[Dragon52]

have you done a icp test?

If that's a Mail off test No

 

[Dragon52]

I've also tried using many of the additives like Prime, instant ocean etc for the Nitrates but that doesn't work for very long.

 

[Stickboy15]

are you using rodi water?

 

[Dragon52]

are you using rodi water?

Use RODI freshwater from LFS for ATO- NO SALT ADDED

 

[Stickboy15]

have you tested your water for tds and what salt mix are you using

 

[NY_Caveman]

It is a mail off test. It can confirm the measurements you are taking and show results for untestable parameters. An ATI ICP-OES test also tests your RO/DI water.

If you are not changing the water or dosing and have levels that high, it would seem to indicate there is little to no uptake. Do you have any coral growth? How about a tank shot to show how stocked you are. How new is the tank?

 

[Dragon52]

I don't use any salt mix. Have not tested for TDS, don't have a tester

have you tested your water for tds and what salt mix are you using

Use RODI freshwater from LFS for ATO- NO SALT ADDED except in the past when I did make changes which only lasted a day or 2 then retired to high numbers
. I keep my Salinity @ 1.25 I trust the LFS where I get my Water

 

[Dragon52]

It is a mail off test. It can confirm the measurements you are taking and show results for untestable parameters. An ATI ICP-OES test also tests your RO/DI water.

If you are not changing the water or dosing and have levels that high, it would seem to indicate there is no uptake. Do you have any coral growth? How about a tank shot to show how stocked you are. How new is the tank?

I will have to look into this.
Thanks

 

[Stickboy15]

so what salt mix are you using to do your water changes

 

[Softhammer]

Don’t bother with the voodoo tests. Start making your own water. Spring for a bag of salt and an RO unit. It is absolutely mandatory for success. Don’t assume your store is testing water. They aren’t. Buying mixed water is 100% for beginners so up your game. I promise you won’t regret it.

 

[Dragon52]

Don’t bother with the voodoo tests. Start making your own water. Spring for a bag of salt and an RO unit. It is absolutely mandatory for success. Don’t assume your store is testing water. They aren’t. Buying mixed water is 100% for beginners so up your game. I promise you won’t regret it.

I really have been thinking about this for awhile but have to budget it in,

 

[Dragon52]

so what salt mix are you using to do your water changes[/QUOTE





Whatever the store used but have used Tropic Marin Pro Reef when I made my own at home. I used tap water which wasn't a good idea so went to using store water.

 

[Dragon52]

so what salt mix are you using to do your water changes

Whatever the store used but have used Tropic Marin Pro Reef when I made my own at home. I used tap water which wasn't a good idea so went to using store water.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

High levels in the salt mixed used by the LFS you get your water from, low demand from you corals for alk, cal and mag along with water evaporation increasing mineral content. I am shocked you dont know what salt mix the store uses. Never just trust that their RODI water is 0 tds always test it yourself, most LFS neglect their RODI system. Better yet get your own 4 or 5 stage system and make your own 0 tds water.

 

[Matt Carden]

He gets saltwater premixed @LFS

 

[Dragon52]

It is a mail off test. It can confirm the measurements you are taking and show results for untestable parameters. An ATI ICP-OES test also tests your RO/DI water.

If you are not changing the water or dosing and have levels that high, it would seem to indicate there is little to no uptake. Do you have any coral growth? How about a tank shot to show how stocked you are. How new is the tank?

My corals don't seem to grow much at all except the Mushrooms. The tank has been setup for 3 yrs.

 

[Dragon52]