Current- how much is enough

[RTV]

Last week I switched from a hob filter to the remora protien skimmer, it seems that the current in my 46 gallon tank is not very strong anymore- I have 1 maxijet 1200 along with the one that attaches to the skimmer. Yesterday when I got home from work, my star polyp that I've had for about 6 weeks and it had been looking great was all closed up. I had a friend drop by to look at it a few minutes ago and got the same story- is this because there is not enough flow or could there be other reasons.

I checked water quality yesterday- amonia, nitrates and nitrites are all good but, i'm still fighting high ph- aprox 8.8.

Any adivce? Should i get another powerhead?

 

[malkore]

You're at half circulation of what it should be. Skimmer current doesn't get counted at all.

I run two MJ1200's on a 40gallon breeder tank, and it's just about right.

 

[RTV]

I was thinking this could be my problem- I'll be stopping at the lfs on the way home today- hope its not too late for my star polyp.

Thanks for your input

 

[tecwzrd]

Do you know why your ph is high? What is your kh, sg, no3 & ca readings? How often/much do you do pwc? What type of lighting do you have on your tank?

Polyps prefer medium currents and as malkore said the addition of another Maxi-Jet 1200 should get you closer to the 10-20 times turnover you need in the tank.

 

[RTV]

well- as for the ph, I followed your advice and took a water sample to the lfs to have them check it on their ph meter- they said it was 8.25- so if this is correct, then I must just have a bad kit. I have been doing pwc once a week- purchased another maxijet 1200 today and positioned it on the opposite side of the tank hopefully to create enough turbulence- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will do the trick and hopefully the star polyp will come back out soon.

 

[tecwzrd]

Do you use pc lighting as well for your corals? Polyps like medium lighting as well in the 4-6 wpg area.

 

[RTV]

sorry you asked that before didn't you? I have a 96 watt 10,000K and 96 watt True Actinic Coralife light fixture-the polyp is about medium high in the tank-had been doing great until about 2 days ago (seemed to be growing) then all of a sudden just didn't open one day. Yesterday, I added a 2nd powerhead - but still closed up today.

 

[demodiki]

Give the GSP some time. They do that sometimes.

 

[RTV]

star polyp is back!!!! looks better than ever- I still have concerns about ph- not sure how my readings can be so totally off- but for now all looks good.

Thanks for the support!

 

[dorian965]

what test kit are you useing for your alk? i had a couple of kits that were just hard to match up the colors.

 

[RTV]

Using a Hagen ph test kit. The highest measure (8.7) should be a royal blue color- my water turns deep purple.

 

[dorian965]

ive heard that hagen are amung the easiest to match up. maybe it is old?

 

[tecwzrd]

If in doubt then I’d also get a cheap AP ph test or a quality test like Salifert ph.

Your lfs should be able to check it for you also.

Glad your star polyp perked up