Coral Assistance - Receding Plate and echinata

[Tarad.nadeau]

Good evening fellow Boston Reefers. Looking for any advice on what may be going on in my tank. I, within the last month or so, got a Red Sea doser, which has allowed me to get a stable alkalinity (vs adding Seachem Fusion 1/2 every other day).
The only thing slightly different from them is my alk is been in the 9.5-10 range vs before when it was in the 7.5-8.5 range.

Current parameters tonight which are pretty similar to last week:
Alk-9.5
Ph - 8.2-8.3
Cal - 440-450
Mg - 1380-1410
Nitrate -10
Phosphate 0.10

Using Fritz RPm (which the guy I purchased
My rank from 2 years ago used too).

Photo attached of a plate coral I have had for a year or more that I just noticed tonight that is receding a lot. It did get some sand on it from watchman gobies recently but I didn’t think enough to cause it. Everything else looks to be doing great including Gino’s, hammers, mushrooms, zoas (some are struggling a bit near the bottom I think possibly due to some dynos or diatoms but have a UV now, and higher light ones are doing great on the top area of the tank.

I have had a few occasional hammer / frogspawn bailouts on one of the bigger colonies in the last month as well with everything else looking great, which has added to my frustration.

I do have a marinepure block in the sump which I have had since about when I moved the tank (from where it was purchased). Could this be causing an issue? I have read so many pros and cons on it. Could I just remove it if I have probably 50-60 lbs of live rock in the tank and sand as well. Will it cause a cycle or anything?

Just looking for thoughts. This is a water box 100.3

I did just order an ICP test for the heck of it but don’t know how believable result is that will be.

 

[Cpage101]

Current parameters tonight which are pretty similar to last week:
Alk-9.5
Ph - 8.2-8.3
Cal - 440-450
Mg - 1380-1410
Nitrate -10
Phosphate 0.10

Check salinity

 

[Tarad.nadeau]

1.026 is what it was on Sunday when I did a water change. Just checked again. And with Milwaukee (which is what I have been using) it is 1.026. With a manual refract I measured 1.028.

 

[Cpage101]

how do you calibrate and how often do you calibrate refractometer. 1.028 could cause issues and if not properly calibrating both testers it actually could be higher. I know this because I ran into similar issues with coral with unknowing high salinity. you will have to add to water to lower it. this is the dilution calculator I use for corrections.
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/SaltwaterDilution.php change variables to your tank.

 

[Tarad.nadeau]

Well I calibrate the Milwaukee every time I use it with distilled water. The standard refractometer I calibrated with distilled water right before I used it as well.
Is that what you mean?

 

[nickeg79]

Dip it in iodine. Some of the toxins from Dino die off could be messing with it. You can run some carbon or throw an hob filter and use one of its carriages.

If you decide to take out the marine pure block I would replace it and add beneficial bacteria back to the aquarium.

 

[JBendel]

Not that familiar with a Milwaukee, but a quick measure using a salinity calibration fluid can remove all doubts. I screwed up by using distilled water on my refractometer.

 

[SteveDola]

I would calibrate the salinity meter and your refractometer with a SG calibration solution. This should be performed before every use (or at least once a week). I have found that these devices deviate from calibration often and require regular attention.

Then I would double-check your testing results. Take a sample to a local fish store and request/pay for their findings. This will confirm the test results you achieved are accurate *or at least consistent within a typical deviation.

 

[Cpage101]

Well I calibrate the Milwaukee every time I use it with distilled water. The standard refractometer I calibrated with distilled water right before I used it as well.
Is that what you mean?

yes not all instruments are calibrated the same. my Veegee says to use distilled while my cheaper model notes utilizing calibration solution for that refractometer. I actually tossed my cheaper refractometer as it was actually not reading correctly when I sent my last ICP it was almost 3ppt high even though I calibrated it before. Got to love this hobby!

 

[Chris.Reef]

The most acurate SG measurement I have found is the Tropic Marin hydrometer using a 500ml graduated cylinder that fits the hydrometer. 2nd is the VeeGee STX-3 refractometer using distilled water for calibration. followed by the milwaukee refractometer calibrating with distilled water.

With everything else looking happy in the tank and it just being that one coral something is probably iritating it or it might be a problem only related to the coral and probably not a water quality issue. I would dip it and try moving it in the tank.

 

[Tarad.nadeau]

Thanks everyone!! I’m ordered up some cal fluid so I can check it out I’m also planning on hitting up a LFS this weekend and having them confirm.

I have an ICP test coming too so will have that to also check (although I struggle with wondering how they can really test so many things for the price, as some past work li did involved water testing which usually starts in the $500 for simple things. )