no progress, going backwards......

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 06:11 AM

here are some pics from 10 months ago and pics from yeaterday. ive lost color and size. ive been battling ALK/CAL/ for a while and cant seem to get it figured out. just thought i would share my poor coral pics.

trinidiver · 10/13/2012, 06:18 AM

Need a bit more info............................

whats your parrameters?
how often do you do water changes?
What size tank?
Whats your lighting?
What skimmer?

sponger0 · 10/13/2012, 06:25 AM

Agreed. If your looking for some help, we need more info on your system.

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinidiver

Need a bit more info............................

whats your parrameters?
how often do you do water changes?
What size tank?
Whats your lighting?
What skimmer?

this is what it was yesterday.

Cal 480
KH 12.02
pH 8.0
Salinity 1.025
Amonia 0
nitrates 0
nitrites0
temp 78degrees
75 Gallon DST with 25 Gallon sump, not sure the name of my skimmer but seems to work pretty good, no fish, 5 snails and 2 peppermint shrimp.
lights, 48 3 watt cree leds dimmable. just got the optisc on 2 days ago. i was given the wrong info on the optics as far as needing or not needing them.

sponger0 · 10/13/2012, 06:27 AM

Your alk does seem a bit high. How often to you change your water? What are you using to dose alk with?

What salt are you using?

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

Your alk does seem a bit high. How often to you change your water? What are you using to dose alk with?

What salt are you using?

i change 14 gallons every 3 weeks or so, salt is instant ocean and im not dosing anything. the only thing is i cant check the mag, dont have the test kit for it.

sponger0 · 10/13/2012, 06:32 AM

It would be a good idea to get a mag test.

Also try doing a water change more frequently until the water quality gets better.

What about dosing alk? What are you dosing with for alk?

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

It would be a good idea to get a mag test.

Also try doing a water change more frequently until the water quality gets better.

What about dosing alk? What are you dosing with for alk?

im not dosing anything, i have in the past but havent in a while. i was using an all in one (sali fert) i believe.

Im going to do another water change today, just did one last weekend also.
My LFS dont keep a mag test in stock and they told me that they were crazy exspensive, for me to keep the ALK and Cal in order and the mag should fall inplace. i dont believe that is true myself.

sponger0 · 10/13/2012, 06:50 AM

Lmao....that is hilarious. Mag tests are crazy expensive? Seriously? They are the same price as all other test. Just order one online somewhere. A quality mag test shouldnt cost you too much more than $35

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

Lmao....that is hilarious. Mag tests are crazy expensive? Seriously? They are the same price as all other test. Just order one online somewhere. A quality mag test shouldnt cost you too much more than $35

i thought they were feeding me some BS...... Ill get one orderd and on the way. they also told me that epsom salt is a good thing to fix the mag level with. Is that true or false???

sponger0 · 10/13/2012, 06:57 AM

Wow...you got one hell of a LFS lol

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

Wow...you got one hell of a LFS lol

i take that as a NO on the epsom salt.
I wont be asking them for any onfo anymore, i think i would like to give them a few choice words that I know also. LMAO

sponger0 · 10/13/2012, 07:03 AM

Epsom salt would be better used in quarantine for a fish that has any cuts or scrapes.

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 07:08 AM

^^^^^^^^^^lmao!!!!!!!^^^^^^^^

jerpa · 10/13/2012, 07:21 AM

Epsom salt, or Magnesium Sulfate, is used in many DIY magnesium supplements. Generally it's mixed with other sources of magnesium but it can be used alone if sufficient water changes are done. The info wasn't bogus and I'm actually surprised they didn't try to sell you an expensive bottle of mag supplement. I'm not saying to trust your LFS as I believe I am responsible for verifying anything I do to my tank myself.

cephalotus · 10/13/2012, 07:51 AM

Epsom salt is fine to use alone to raise Mag as long as you do not have to use so much as to raise your sulfate

trinidiver · 10/13/2012, 08:18 AM

how long have you had the corals?
To me, seems like the lights are the problem. I'm thinking its not sufficient lighting. I could be wrong. I'm a T5 supplimented with LED kinda guy......lol

ajcanale · 10/13/2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinidiver

how long have you had the corals?
To me, seems like the lights are the problem. I'm thinking its not sufficient lighting. I could be wrong. I'm a T5 supplimented with LED kinda guy......lol

Usually with LED's its the issue of having TOO much light. Looking at the pictures, and comparing with my experiences, I believe this to be the case.

Also, FWIW, with that few stony corals water changes should be plenty enough to keep up with proper parameters. Maybe a touch of calcium here and there.

Sith2095 · 10/13/2012, 10:21 AM

Iwould get a little more agressive with the water changes for a little while and see if that clears the problem up. If not then i would think it probably something with the lights.

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinidiver

how long have you had the corals?
To me, seems like the lights are the problem. I'm thinking its not sufficient lighting. I could be wrong. I'm a T5 supplimented with LED kinda guy......lol

ive had them 10 months

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajcanale

Usually with LED's its the issue of having TOO much light. Looking at the pictures, and comparing with my experiences, I believe this to be the case.

Also, FWIW, with that few stony corals water changes should be plenty enough to keep up with proper parameters. Maybe a touch of calcium here and there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sith2095

Iwould get a little more agressive with the water changes for a little while and see if that clears the problem up. If not then i would think it probably something with the lights.

ive had the LED's 10 months also, at first i didnt have the optics on but i got them on 2 days ago. there is alot of light now thats focused down in the tank now. at first i didnt have enough light and now im thinking i have to much light. Live and learn i guess

disc1 · 10/13/2012, 12:44 PM

I say pour bleach in it. Bleach will fix all of your problems. It will fix all your parameters at once. Great supplement.

Oh, did I mention I'm a Razorback fan.

(Tough year for us. Gotta get some licks in where I can)

disc1 · 10/13/2012, 12:47 PM

On a serious note...

How did your alk get so high if you're not dosing anything and using IO? Have you been adding some sort of pH buffer?

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disc1

I say pour bleach in it. Bleach will fix all of your problems. It will fix all your parameters at once. Great supplement.

Oh, did I mention I'm a Razorback fan.

(Tough year for us. Gotta get some licks in where I can)

Ummm yea, im getting the bottle out now. Thanks for the help on the perfect fixer that will get it all straight for me........

wood0691 · 10/13/2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disc1

On a serious note...

How did your alk get so high if you're not dosing anything and using IO? Have you been adding some sort of pH buffer?

havent used anything in I know 3 months. your guess is as good as mine Razorback fan.....LOL

disc1 · 10/13/2012, 01:08 PM

Sorry man, saw the avatar and couldn't resist. We've been sitting around whining about the Hogs all morning. We've got to play at Tuscaloosa and at LSU next year, so it will be at least two years before we can come back.

I'm going to agree with the others here who have said check the mag and get aggressive with the water changes.

Have you looked at the phosphate levels? Are you having any algae?

10/13/2012, 06:11 AM	#1
wood0691 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Birmingham Alabama Posts: 329	no progress, going backwards...... here are some pics from 10 months ago and pics from yeaterday. ive lost color and size. ive been battling ALK/CAL/ for a while and cant seem to get it figured out. just thought i would share my poor coral pics. __________________ im good at alot of things, but this saltwater reef hobby is a tough one for me....... patience is a must. Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 27G sump 48 rapid led's 24RB's 12NW's 12CW's

10/13/2012, 06:18 AM	#2
trinidiver Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sweet Trinidad & Tobago. (West Indies) Posts: 1,141	Need a bit more info............................ whats your parrameters? how often do you do water changes? What size tank? Whats your lighting? What skimmer? __________________ Always expect anything from your friends......they will shoot you down as they get a chance. Current Tank Info: Its a 220gal reef.......LPS/leathers/zoas. Check my album.

10/13/2012, 07:08 AM	#14
wood0691 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Birmingham Alabama Posts: 329	^^^^^^^^^^lmao!!!!!!!^^^^^^^^ __________________ im good at alot of things, but this saltwater reef hobby is a tough one for me....... patience is a must. Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 27G sump 48 rapid led's 24RB's 12NW's 12CW's

10/13/2012, 07:21 AM	#15
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	Epsom salt, or Magnesium Sulfate, is used in many DIY magnesium supplements. Generally it's mixed with other sources of magnesium but it can be used alone if sufficient water changes are done. The info wasn't bogus and I'm actually surprised they didn't try to sell you an expensive bottle of mag supplement. I'm not saying to trust your LFS as I believe I am responsible for verifying anything I do to my tank myself. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

10/13/2012, 08:18 AM	#17
trinidiver Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sweet Trinidad & Tobago. (West Indies) Posts: 1,141	how long have you had the corals? To me, seems like the lights are the problem. I'm thinking its not sufficient lighting. I could be wrong. I'm a T5 supplimented with LED kinda guy......lol __________________ Always expect anything from your friends......they will shoot you down as they get a chance. Current Tank Info: Its a 220gal reef.......LPS/leathers/zoas. Check my album.

10/13/2012, 06:25 AM	#3
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Agreed. If your looking for some help, we need more info on your system.

10/13/2012, 06:27 AM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Your alk does seem a bit high. How often to you change your water? What are you using to dose alk with? What salt are you using?

10/13/2012, 06:32 AM	#7
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	It would be a good idea to get a mag test. Also try doing a water change more frequently until the water quality gets better. What about dosing alk? What are you dosing with for alk?

10/13/2012, 06:50 AM	#9
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Lmao....that is hilarious. Mag tests are crazy expensive? Seriously? They are the same price as all other test. Just order one online somewhere. A quality mag test shouldnt cost you too much more than $35

10/13/2012, 06:57 AM	#11
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Wow...you got one hell of a LFS lol

10/13/2012, 07:03 AM	#13
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Epsom salt would be better used in quarantine for a fish that has any cuts or scrapes.

10/13/2012, 07:51 AM	#16
cephalotus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 123	Epsom salt is fine to use alone to raise Mag as long as you do not have to use so much as to raise your sulfate

10/13/2012, 10:21 AM	#19
Sith2095 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Moore, OK Posts: 65	Iwould get a little more agressive with the water changes for a little while and see if that clears the problem up. If not then i would think it probably something with the lights. __________________ I dont always do water changes, but when I do I change 20%. Ca 425, dkh 8.7, Mag 1360

10/13/2012, 12:44 PM	#21
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	I say pour bleach in it. Bleach will fix all of your problems. It will fix all your parameters at once. Great supplement. Oh, did I mention I'm a Razorback fan. (Tough year for us. Gotta get some licks in where I can) __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

10/13/2012, 12:47 PM	#22
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	On a serious note... How did your alk get so high if you're not dosing anything and using IO? Have you been adding some sort of pH buffer? __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

10/13/2012, 01:08 PM	#25
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Sorry man, saw the avatar and couldn't resist. We've been sitting around whining about the Hogs all morning. We've got to play at Tuscaloosa and at LSU next year, so it will be at least two years before we can come back. I'm going to agree with the others here who have said check the mag and get aggressive with the water changes. Have you looked at the phosphate levels? Are you having any algae? __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...