test kits gone wrong

anafranil · 01/03/2011, 12:45 PM

i was having problems with my softies,leather wasn't opening and the zoas were not looking good,i posted here several times without being able to find out what was going wrong.my salifert calcium test was showing 490 repeatedly so i tried seachem's and showed 325.i did the reference as well and it was correct

do you think that this was the problem?by the way seachem's reef status calcium is a wonderful kit IMO but their multitests are a complete crap with the worst being iodate.what do you usually do with your kits,have a couple of brands available to test each other?this is what i always did except this time

sedor · 01/03/2011, 01:12 PM

Softies and leathers do not require Calcium because they do not build Ca carbonate skeletons. My guess would be high nitrates.

Sugar Magnolia · 01/03/2011, 01:19 PM

Check your nitrates and phosphates.

Beaun · 01/03/2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Check your nitrates and phosphates.

+1, calcium is rarely the problem.

chimmike · 01/03/2011, 01:24 PM

calcium wouldn't be a reason for a polyp to not open anyways IMO, but as stated above those softies don't need calcium like SPS/LPS do.

If corals look funky, always check your ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels first.

syrinx · 01/03/2011, 01:31 PM

Indeed softies don`t need Ca in abundance- but a low Ca reading sometimes means the alk balance has shifted- and softies don`t like high Kh. I would check all parameters. On to your question today. I used sailfert tests until the quality control went down. I now usually use aquarium pharm. kits for general stuff. I have access to lab grade tests if needed- but I rarely if ever have to resort to that. I don`t keep testing the kits against each other- even though I have a set of tests for each system-but I keep a detailed log for each tank- and if there is a test result that does not fit the biorythmn of the tank- I will test the test. In your case use them, keep notes, and if something seems funky- have the lfs do a test for you.

anafranil · 01/03/2011, 01:38 PM

thanks for all the info..nitrite,nitrate and phosphate are all undetectable,sps and lps all look fine except the leather coral,im wondering if i should keep on looking for an answear or just wait and see,any other ideas?kh=8,sg=1.023 its a 100g tank with 2x150w MH,any other ideas?

syrinx · 01/03/2011, 01:45 PM

I would wait if everything else looks fine. As long as a leather is not disinigrating it is likely just moody. If it starts to disintegrate- then you need to frag it until you are well into healthy tissue. I didn`t know the history of the situation- leathers commonly go through periods of inactivity- particularly the toadstool/crowns. There can be issues if they are getting stung by other corals- so make sure you have no sweeper activities. They also can be irritated by other softies chemical emissions- so fresh carbon isnt a bad idea when they sulk.

anafranil · 01/03/2011, 01:51 PM

maybe its just a phase yes..how does it look when disinigrating?

syrinx · 01/03/2011, 01:51 PM

double

syrinx · 01/03/2011, 01:54 PM

Like it is falling to crumbs- nasty slimmy-or snotlike- for lack of a better descriptor.

anafranil · 01/03/2011, 02:00 PM

thanks a lot,i think ill wait and see..

01/03/2011, 12:45 PM	#1
anafranil Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: cyprus,Europe Posts: 42	test kits gone wrong i was having problems with my softies,leather wasn't opening and the zoas were not looking good,i posted here several times without being able to find out what was going wrong.my salifert calcium test was showing 490 repeatedly so i tried seachem's and showed 325.i did the reference as well and it was correct do you think that this was the problem?by the way seachem's reef status calcium is a wonderful kit IMO but their multitests are a complete crap with the worst being iodate.what do you usually do with your kits,have a couple of brands available to test each other?this is what i always did except this time

01/03/2011, 01:12 PM	#2
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Softies and leathers do not require Calcium because they do not build Ca carbonate skeletons. My guess would be high nitrates. __________________ Ryan

01/03/2011, 01:19 PM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Check your nitrates and phosphates. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

01/03/2011, 01:24 PM	#5
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	calcium wouldn't be a reason for a polyp to not open anyways IMO, but as stated above those softies don't need calcium like SPS/LPS do. If corals look funky, always check your ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels first. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

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01/03/2011, 01:31 PM	#6
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Indeed softies don`t need Ca in abundance- but a low Ca reading sometimes means the alk balance has shifted- and softies don`t like high Kh. I would check all parameters. On to your question today. I used sailfert tests until the quality control went down. I now usually use aquarium pharm. kits for general stuff. I have access to lab grade tests if needed- but I rarely if ever have to resort to that. I don`t keep testing the kits against each other- even though I have a set of tests for each system-but I keep a detailed log for each tank- and if there is a test result that does not fit the biorythmn of the tank- I will test the test. In your case use them, keep notes, and if something seems funky- have the lfs do a test for you.

01/03/2011, 01:38 PM	#7
anafranil Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: cyprus,Europe Posts: 42	thanks for all the info..nitrite,nitrate and phosphate are all undetectable,sps and lps all look fine except the leather coral,im wondering if i should keep on looking for an answear or just wait and see,any other ideas?kh=8,sg=1.023 its a 100g tank with 2x150w MH,any other ideas?

01/03/2011, 01:45 PM	#8
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I would wait if everything else looks fine. As long as a leather is not disinigrating it is likely just moody. If it starts to disintegrate- then you need to frag it until you are well into healthy tissue. I didn`t know the history of the situation- leathers commonly go through periods of inactivity- particularly the toadstool/crowns. There can be issues if they are getting stung by other corals- so make sure you have no sweeper activities. They also can be irritated by other softies chemical emissions- so fresh carbon isnt a bad idea when they sulk.

01/03/2011, 01:51 PM	#9
anafranil Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: cyprus,Europe Posts: 42	maybe its just a phase yes..how does it look when disinigrating?

01/03/2011, 01:54 PM	#11
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Like it is falling to crumbs- nasty slimmy-or snotlike- for lack of a better descriptor.

01/03/2011, 02:00 PM	#12
anafranil Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: cyprus,Europe Posts: 42	thanks a lot,i think ill wait and see..