Saltwater & Reef

kdpuffer · 03-21-2014, 05:19 PM

So I just did a check on line and mg/l basically converts direct to ppm. So your 10 nitrates and 2 phosphates is 10 and 2 ppm. Being as you have coral that isn't happy and what is listed above I say it's time for water changes. 300 calcium is low as is 5 KH, combine that with your nitrates and phosphates and I think we have the answer. Calcium is ideal around 400-450, KH should be 8-12, nitrates and phosphates ideally 0-0. What are you using for salt and what kind of water are you mixing it with?

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-21-2014, 05:43 PM

did a water change on sunday and due again sometime sunday.using sera salt and RO water.the sera salt has more CA in it.have phosguard and carbon in sump.phosphates and nitrates have been 0 for ages, and the calcium was very high for some time.kh and ca go hand in hand have been adding ca and a buffer, not both on one day.but just not getting there. off to bed now (11:45 pm here) will check the replies in am.thanks for the help

**Sniperhank** · 03-21-2014, 05:55 PM

Stop dosing. This is likely the source of your issues and imbalances. Do water changes to level things out.

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 04:20 AM

only started dosing the last week or so as our weekly water change is not helping to get things back to normal.

**Sniperhank** · 03-22-2014, 05:45 AM

Stir up your salt mix and test the water. I'm sure things are fine. A large water change will start getting things back in line. All dosing does is throw things further out of whack 9/10 times.

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 06:01 AM

thanks sniperhank will do.and iff all is in order why on earth will my coral be dying:-(

**Sniperhank** · 03-22-2014, 06:10 AM

If things get back on track, hopefully not. Keeping coral is pretty simple. Minimize parameter issues, supply proper flow and lighting. Ro/di water is an amazing help to this process.

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 07:38 AM

just not sure what through their ngs a bit haywire.corals are obviously absorbing the calcium.can I keep the phosguard with carbon in at the bottom to assist with the phosphates? how else do you keep phosphates under control?

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 01:16 PM

ok did water change, parameters now:
PO4 : 0, 25 mg/L
KH: 3ºdKH
NO3: 0mg/L
PH: 9
CA: 300 mg/L

just cannot get the Calcium and KH up, do you still suggest we dont put any buffers in? put 1 teaspoon of seachem reef calcium in when we mixed the salt?

**Sniperhank** · 03-22-2014, 02:19 PM

You stirred the salt?

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 02:28 PM

jip we put it in a bucket with a powerhead and wait till its dissolved properly before we add to tank

kdpuffer · 03-22-2014, 03:03 PM

It appears that your KH went down with the water change. Was it not at 5 yesterday and now it's 3?

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 03:32 PM

jip true dont know what would have caused it though. as we did water change the membranes opened very big as if they just absorbed all the new nutrients. I waited about an hour or so before I tested.

BigRedsReefs10 · 03-22-2014, 04:35 PM

What salt are you using? What test kit also?

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 04:40 PM

sera salt and test kits.went over from red sea salt to sera, much of a muchness red sea just super expensive

BigRedsReefs10 · 03-22-2014, 04:47 PM

If the hammer was in the tank when you were using rscp it may just be a matter of it getting used to the new params. Rscp mixes very high in trace element levels so it may just take a while to adjust to your tanks new levels

Eileen van Zyldob · 03-22-2014, 04:55 PM

negative unfortunately. been using sera for quite some time.have no idea what could be causing the hammer to not do well, and lost the lawnmower and goldenback.really weird . everything else looking good.took this photo today