water quality

zzman · 07/19/2006, 10:48 AM

I have had my 120 gal up and running about 2 years, My water checks out o.k according to tests. I have lost two colt corals in the last couple of weeks. Button corals look o.k Is there anywhere I could send a water sample to find out exactly whats wrong with my water? R/O water with a turbo twist in line at the sump. Something is not right and I can't find it. Only three fish in tank

Thanks - RZ

outy · 07/19/2006, 10:50 AM

what kind of test?

zzman · 07/19/2006, 11:13 AM

Is there anywhere that tests tank saltwater quality - all specs -

My tests show the water parameters look good but something is off !

theop · 07/19/2006, 11:32 AM

Your descriptions are a bit too vague.

Please post your values of the following:
Temp
Spec. gravity
pH
Alkalinity
Ammonia/nitrite (optional as they should be zero)
Nitrate

Leather corals sometimes don't do well due to chemicals put out by other corals. It would be helpful to know what your filtration is, if you have a skimmer, and if you run carbon. I had several leather corals in my tank at the same time and none would open up unless I was running carbon.

zzman · 07/20/2006, 07:02 AM

As of July 18,2006:

PH - 7.8
Cal - 400/420
Am - 0
N3 - 40ppm
N2 - 0
Alk- 3.5
SP. Gravity - 1.022

I do run a skimmer, also I am running a Fluval w/charcol

I have well water that I run through an R/O. I do water changes every 7th day, about 12 gal. I allow the new water to sit the entire week prior to the water change ( powerhead used to keep mix). I know my well water has a lot of algae in it. It is filtered prior to going into the R/O but I get a gut feeling this has something to do with my problem.

Thanks for the help !

RZ

ADA33 · 07/20/2006, 07:42 AM

well it looks to me that the n3 at 40 could be an issue and also the Alk seems low
FWIW my SP. Gravity in my tank is 1.026 so that I get better production out of my skimmer.

zzman · 07/20/2006, 08:01 AM

I had the alk at 4.0 and lowered it on purpose hoping that would make a difference. I did more freq. water changes to lower the n3 but this tank has always run in that area. prob. over feeding the few fish I have in there. I will again attemt to lower the n3 and raise the alk back up.

Thanks - I have noticed that since I added the Turbo twist that my algae has slowed way down.

Thanks - RZ

theop · 07/20/2006, 08:13 AM

Here are some thoughts:

1. Your nitrate (NO3) is 40 ppm. That is much too high for a reef. That is probably your whole problem. Ideally it should be zero but certainly 10ppm or less.

2. pH is low at 7.8. Some people do ok at that low if it is stable, but about 8.3 is ideal. I'd try to get it up to at least 8.0.

3. Salinity is a bit low, but probably ok. I keep my reef at 1.024-1.025. I doubt this is causing any of your coral troubles.

Well water may or may not be your problem. It could be contributing to your nitrate problem as well water can have nitrates in it. The RO process should remove most of this, but the only way to know is to test. I'd recommend testing your R/O water for nitrates and TDS (total dissolved solids). If your TDS is >5 then consider adding a DI unit to your water filter. Ideally your TDS should read zero.

zzman · 07/20/2006, 11:33 AM

Thank you for the response, I am in the process of raising my alk and ph. I will feed less and watch the N3

I have been thinking about getting a new r/o system, so I guess this will help push me in that direction !

Thanks - RZ

FB · 07/20/2006, 12:16 PM

What else do you have in the Fluval besides carbon. When was the last time you changed the carbon.

FB

zzman · 07/21/2006, 06:18 AM

Fluval has the media things and the carbon was changed about three weeks ago. Others have told me I need to get rid of the bio balls in the sump, I guess it's time to start replacing them also

_RZ

07/19/2006, 10:48 AM	#1
zzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57	water quality I have had my 120 gal up and running about 2 years, My water checks out o.k according to tests. I have lost two colt corals in the last couple of weeks. Button corals look o.k Is there anywhere I could send a water sample to find out exactly whats wrong with my water? R/O water with a turbo twist in line at the sump. Something is not right and I can't find it. Only three fish in tank Thanks - RZ

07/20/2006, 07:02 AM	#5
zzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57	water conditions As of July 18,2006: PH - 7.8 Cal - 400/420 Am - 0 N3 - 40ppm N2 - 0 Alk- 3.5 SP. Gravity - 1.022 I do run a skimmer, also I am running a Fluval w/charcol I have well water that I run through an R/O. I do water changes every 7th day, about 12 gal. I allow the new water to sit the entire week prior to the water change ( powerhead used to keep mix). I know my well water has a lot of algae in it. It is filtered prior to going into the R/O but I get a gut feeling this has something to do with my problem. Thanks for the help ! RZ

07/20/2006, 08:13 AM	#8
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	Here are some thoughts: 1. Your nitrate (NO3) is 40 ppm. That is much too high for a reef. That is probably your whole problem. Ideally it should be zero but certainly 10ppm or less. 2. pH is low at 7.8. Some people do ok at that low if it is stable, but about 8.3 is ideal. I'd try to get it up to at least 8.0. 3. Salinity is a bit low, but probably ok. I keep my reef at 1.024-1.025. I doubt this is causing any of your coral troubles. Well water may or may not be your problem. It could be contributing to your nitrate problem as well water can have nitrates in it. The RO process should remove most of this, but the only way to know is to test. I'd recommend testing your R/O water for nitrates and TDS (total dissolved solids). If your TDS is >5 then consider adding a DI unit to your water filter. Ideally your TDS should read zero. Last edited by theop; 07/20/2006 at 09:05 AM.

07/20/2006, 11:33 AM	#9
zzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57	water issues Thank you for the response, I am in the process of raising my alk and ph. I will feed less and watch the N3 I have been thinking about getting a new r/o system, so I guess this will help push me in that direction ! Thanks - RZ

07/19/2006, 10:50 AM	#2
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	what kind of test?

07/19/2006, 11:13 AM	#3
zzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57	Is there anywhere that tests tank saltwater quality - all specs - My tests show the water parameters look good but something is off !

07/19/2006, 11:32 AM	#4
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	Your descriptions are a bit too vague. Please post your values of the following: Temp Spec. gravity pH Alkalinity Ammonia/nitrite (optional as they should be zero) Nitrate Leather corals sometimes don't do well due to chemicals put out by other corals. It would be helpful to know what your filtration is, if you have a skimmer, and if you run carbon. I had several leather corals in my tank at the same time and none would open up unless I was running carbon.

07/20/2006, 07:42 AM	#6
ADA33 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 3,131	well it looks to me that the n3 at 40 could be an issue and also the Alk seems low FWIW my SP. Gravity in my tank is 1.026 so that I get better production out of my skimmer.

07/20/2006, 08:01 AM	#7
zzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57	I had the alk at 4.0 and lowered it on purpose hoping that would make a difference. I did more freq. water changes to lower the n3 but this tank has always run in that area. prob. over feeding the few fish I have in there. I will again attemt to lower the n3 and raise the alk back up. Thanks - I have noticed that since I added the Turbo twist that my algae has slowed way down. Thanks - RZ

07/20/2006, 12:16 PM	#10
FB Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Georgetown, ON Posts: 1,305	What else do you have in the Fluval besides carbon. When was the last time you changed the carbon. FB

07/21/2006, 06:18 AM	#11
zzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57	Fluval has the media things and the carbon was changed about three weeks ago. Others have told me I need to get rid of the bio balls in the sump, I guess it's time to start replacing them also _RZ