Things just keep getting worse...

[jdeb101]

Some of you may recall my thread few weeks ago about my zoas disappearing. Well I lost a few colonies of them and that seemed to have stopped or maybe just slowed down. But then I lost my blue velvet nudibranch last week and now this week my Xenia has almost completely melted away and my favia isn't looking so great (retracted and colors not as vibrant). I don't know what's going on... Only thing I can think of is I started trying to raise my Alk since the zoas started disappearing. I've been dosing seachem reef builder no more than the recommended dosing of at most enough to raise the Alk .75 meq/l. I would dissolve in a cup of Rodi and then pour in dt. It was at 2 meq/l two days ago (though my tanks al,oat always been at that for Alk).

I'm almost ready to sell everything off and throw in the towel. This has been more frustrating an enjoyable lately... Sorry for ranting.

Any advice that can save this hobby for me?

 

[Johorocks]

Theres a storm before every rainbow...stupid but true

 

[beckbrass]

Have you tested the water with multiple test kits or taken it into a store? I have had bad results from some test kits as they age. Have you checked for stray voltage, rodi working right, people using chemicals near tank, kids around tank? All can lead to problems.

It will work out eventually and you will again have a great piece of the ocean in your house to be proud of.

 

[Pat02026]

Has your Xenia been pulsing? If it has I would bet your alk is up higher than you may think. My Xenia pulses like crazy over 3-3.25 meq- 8.5-9.5 dkh, which I am pretty solid at 4.0/11.0 alk

Alk is probably the most intrusive adjustment you can make in a reef tank, it has a large affect on other parameters as well as corals. I suspect that you may have something else going on though. Check for obvious things like malfunctioning equipment (stray voltage, or temp issues) and test for basics; check your nh3/nh4 (ammonia) and no3 (nitrate) to see if there's signs of toxins. Carbon and water changes will be your best friend if your water parameters are reasonably stable. The solution to pollution is dilution.

 

[jdeb101]

No kids or chemicals near tank. Rodi reads 0 tds (di resin changed a couple months ago). Xenia is non pulsing kind. I have two alk test kits. Both test kits are a bit old but always read the same. I can throw in a second thermometer tot est temp but how do you check for stray voltage?

Tomorrow night I will test all params, do 5-10gallon wc and start running carbon.

 

[Pat02026]

Just curious, your tank is the 40 gal in your sig. right? Is there any additional volume, sump/fuge etc.?
What type of salt are you using, and any supplement / dosing regimine keeping your parameters in check?
What do you have for filtration? Sorry for all the questions, simple as they may be it will hopefully provide a solution!

 

[jarrodsanborn]

When in doubt, big water change!
It will dilute any problem you ain't testing for

 

[don in mass]

do you store your ro water or mixed salt if so check the storeage bins for slime or flim on the walls .any hose clamps in the water you can't see if so check for rust stainless will rust over time .switch to plastic clamps. just some idea's .hth don

 

[jdeb101]

Just curious, your tank is the 40 gal in your sig. right? Is there any additional volume, sump/fuge etc.?
What type of salt are you using, and any supplement / dosing regimine keeping your parameters in check?
What do you have for filtration? Sorry for all the questions, simple as they may be it will hopefully provide a solution!

Yes, 40 gal no sump or extra volume. I use and always have used IO reef crystals. I never dose but as said earlier started dosing few week/month or so ago Seachem Reef Builder to try getting my Alk above 2 meq/L. I only started dosing to since my zoas were melting jic that may have been the cause. I wonder if perhaps I've been dosing too much and stressed the tank out since they've always lived with the level at 2. I've also been feeding slightly more the past couple weeks because I also suspected that my clown goby or maybe some cuc may have been eating the zoas. I used to feed every 2 -3 days, but have recently been alternating between flake and frozen every day now.

For filtration I only have my aqua c remora skimmer. I perform water changes once every two-three weeks (for the most part). Since the zoas melting issue I have been staying on top of w/c's every two weeks.

 

[jdeb101]

do you store your ro water or mixed salt if so check the storeage bins for slime or flim on the walls .any hose clamps in the water you can't see if so check for rust stainless will rust over time .switch to plastic clamps. just some idea's .hth don

I have a brute barrel I use to mix new sw (barrel is only used for this). As most people that use IO RC salt know, it does create a brown film in the barrel and equip in the barrel. I just have a powerhead and heater in the barrel to mix for 24 hours before use. Sometimes after a wc I have extra water in the barrel, is it safe to keep this and use it lets say two weeks later? I hope so, cuz I do that sometimes as well.

 

[PSU4ME]

I would be suspect of the alk here. Since you have been dosing, have the test kits been measuring/reading the intended increase in alk? When I have to raise alk a bit, i first start off slow to know the test kits is reading it correctly. Alk swings seems to bring a whole bunch of problems. I lost a ricordia just the other day because of an alk mistake.

 

[jdeb101]

I would be suspect of the alk here. Since you have been dosing, have the test kits been measuring/reading the intended increase in alk? When I have to raise alk a bit, i first start off slow to know the test kits is reading it correctly. Alk swings seems to bring a whole bunch of problems. I lost a ricordia just the other day because of an alk mistake.

I'm thinking you may be right. Tested few nights ago and it was still at 2 meq/L. I thought maybe the water change I did offset the dosing I was doing, but it didn't come to mind it could be the test kit like you said.

Anyone in Burlington/Woburn area willing to test my Alk for me? ;-)

 

[P-Nut]

Alk shouldn't be a problem with weekly water changes.
Are you doing water changes?
My Alk is around 2 with the same salt, and everything is growing.

 

[jdeb101]

Alk shouldn't be a problem with weekly water changes.
Are you doing water changes?
My Alk is around 2 with the same salt, and everything is growing.

Ya, since things always seemed to do fine with the alk levels of new sw mix I think I may have screwed up trying to raise it. I do water changes once every few weeks or so.

 

[stingythingy45]

Alk shouldn't be a problem with weekly water changes.
Are you doing water changes?
My Alk is around 2 with the same salt, and everything is growing.

Your alk is at 2 meq/l???

That's only a dkh=5.6
Not good if that's the case.
I never let mine slip below 7 dkh or 2.5 meq/l

 

[stingythingy45]

I'm thinking you may be right. Tested few nights ago and it was still at 2 meq/L. I thought maybe the water change I did offset the dosing I was doing, but it didn't come to mind it could be the test kit like you said.

Anyone in Burlington/Woburn area willing to test my Alk for me? ;-)

Seems to me that this salt mix is either low in alk suppliment.
Or the test kit is off.
Btw,you can just use baking soda to raise alk.
But,it must be done slowly

 

[jdeb101]

Just got finished doing everything. So my second Alk test kit must be bad because I couldn't even get a reading. I tested again with my usual kit and dt read 2 and the new batch of sw read 3. Very odd since I've been dosing in dt, I expected it to be at least at 3. Also tested nitrate at 0 and ph 8.2. I then did a 10 gal wc and started running carbon in a hob filter.

So lets see how things go I guess. I would still like to have someone with a newer Alk test kit test for me just to see if mine is bad.

 

[P-Nut]

Your alk is at 2 meq/l???

That's only a dkh=5.6
Not good if that's the case.
I never let mine slip below 7 dkh or 2.5 meq/l

I said "around 2" because I use the red seat test. The safe range is 1.7-2.8 meg/l. Mine is closer to the 2.8, but it is hard to tell if it is 2, or 2.2 or 2.5....since the color between the 1.7-2.8 are pretty close.
Mine is closer to the blue side, but a little greenish.

I ordered a couple other tests because now that I am getting more clams it will be important (it is always important, but I have had a constant reading for a while, so I dont worry about it right now) to keep an eye on Alk, CA and mag, and I want to have a nice average.

 

[P-Nut]

Just got finished doing everything. So my second Alk test kit must be bad because I couldn't even get a reading. I tested again with my usual kit and dt read 2 and the new batch of sw read 3. Very odd since I've been dosing in dt, I expected it to be at least at 3. Also tested nitrate at 0 and ph 8.2. I then did a 10 gal wc and started running carbon in a hob filter.

So lets see how things go I guess. I would still like to have someone with a newer Alk test kit test for me just to see if mine is bad.

Take it to a LFS (not Petco) and ask them to test it. then take it to a second store. Even after a fellow BRS member tests your water. You want to get a nice average.

If I was closer I would test it for you, but Im in Plymouth.

How is your calcium, PH and Mag?

 

[jdeb101]

Ya ill try to find someone to test for me. Ph was 8.2 tonight, calc was tested last weekend at 420, and sorry to say never test for mag.