Water Parameters and Coral Not Looking as Good

Curl58 · 02/06/2012, 08:49 PM

I noticed today my corals are looking as good as normal. For example my chalice is showing a small part of its skeliton and the mushrooms are not as large as normal. I checked the water parameters. Here is how they read:

Temo: 82
Salinity: 1.024
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 20 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Alkalinity: 10.1 dKH
Magnesium: 1600
Calicum: 500

I know the mag and calc is high. I unplugged the dosing pumps. I normally dose the Two Little Fishies two part. Should I look at doing a water change. I just changed about 25 gallons a week ago. It is a 120 gallon tank with a sump and refugium. Recommendations?

Thanks
Jerry

nlgill13 · 02/06/2012, 10:56 PM

Sounds like a water change might help reduce the high mag and calcium...Also doing a water change will replenish some other trace elements that might be running low

TimeConsumer · 02/07/2012, 12:40 AM

Your mag/alk/calc are high, but not too high to cause any serious problems for the time being. How stable are all of your parameters? Does your salinity, temperature, pH etc fluctuate on a daily/weekly basis? If so, by how much?

How long has your tank been set up? How old are these corals?

Curl58 · 02/07/2012, 07:02 AM

The parameters are very stable. Normally the Calc is 450 and the Mag is 1200 range. The corals and tank are 6+ months. I'm hoping they are just going through a phase.

bamf25 · 02/07/2012, 07:42 AM

How much Mg were you dosing? I rarely add mg, and water changes are usually enough to keep it around 1350. Also, how much two part (that what it looks like you are using) were you putting in, and how did you determin you need?

Percula9 · 02/07/2012, 01:03 PM

I feel that nitrates are probably causing the problem. I also suggest checking the phosphate level.

Curl58 · 02/07/2012, 01:27 PM

I'm going to do a water change in a couple hours. I have the water mixing right now. I forgot to put salt in the storage container after the last water change.

02/06/2012, 08:49 PM	#1
Curl58 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 87	Water Parameters and Coral Not Looking as Good I noticed today my corals are looking as good as normal. For example my chalice is showing a small part of its skeliton and the mushrooms are not as large as normal. I checked the water parameters. Here is how they read: Temo: 82 Salinity: 1.024 PH: 8.2 Ammonia: 0 Nitrate: 20 ppm Nitrite: 0 Alkalinity: 10.1 dKH Magnesium: 1600 Calicum: 500 I know the mag and calc is high. I unplugged the dosing pumps. I normally dose the Two Little Fishies two part. Should I look at doing a water change. I just changed about 25 gallons a week ago. It is a 120 gallon tank with a sump and refugium. Recommendations? Thanks Jerry

02/07/2012, 12:40 AM	#3
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Your mag/alk/calc are high, but not too high to cause any serious problems for the time being. How stable are all of your parameters? Does your salinity, temperature, pH etc fluctuate on a daily/weekly basis? If so, by how much? How long has your tank been set up? How old are these corals? __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

02/06/2012, 10:56 PM	#2
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	Sounds like a water change might help reduce the high mag and calcium...Also doing a water change will replenish some other trace elements that might be running low

02/07/2012, 07:02 AM	#4
Curl58 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 87	The parameters are very stable. Normally the Calc is 450 and the Mag is 1200 range. The corals and tank are 6+ months. I'm hoping they are just going through a phase.

02/07/2012, 07:42 AM	#5
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	How much Mg were you dosing? I rarely add mg, and water changes are usually enough to keep it around 1350. Also, how much two part (that what it looks like you are using) were you putting in, and how did you determin you need?

02/07/2012, 01:03 PM	#6
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	I feel that nitrates are probably causing the problem. I also suggest checking the phosphate level.

02/07/2012, 01:27 PM	#7
Curl58 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 87	I'm going to do a water change in a couple hours. I have the water mixing right now. I forgot to put salt in the storage container after the last water change.