HELP! Alk & Ca adjustments.

ANNIESREEF · 04/28/2006, 06:32 AM

I have a toadstool leather and 1 acan that are not doing well. the leather has not opened in 3 days and the acan is deflated and beginning to recede. I decided to test para's which are as follows. I am no chemist so please help.(I have a small tank with no sump, fuge, only a cpr skimmer).
Ca=440
PO4=0-0.03
Alk(kh)=70 mg/L (hope I read it right,7 drops and it changed colors-used a Hagen test kit)
Ph=8.1 to 8.3
Nitrate=10-20 ppm
nitrite=0ammonia=0

I have some Kent Products such as liq calcium and probuffer.
I dont add them-just stock it. should I use it?

willyreef · 04/28/2006, 08:21 AM

I have a 54 Gal. corner bow tank and I have been using ESW
B-Ionic 2 part Alk and Cal. I add about 22ml of each and my Alk and Cal are nice and stable. Just start by using the suggested starting point and adjust over time for your size tank.

Willyreef

Travis L. Stevens · 04/28/2006, 08:23 AM

Actually, if your readings are accurate, they are fine.

Calcium: Natural Sea Water-380-420; Home Aquarium- up to 480. 440 is fine.
Alkalinity: Most likely you have the wrong measurement. Alkalinity is the measurement of Carbonate. Their are two measurements used; meq/L and dKH. Most likely your test measures it in dKH. Acceptable ranges-7-11dKH. I prefer 9-11 dKH
pH: This varies for many different reasons. If your Calcium and Alkalinity are balanced, it could be the presence or absence of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). A heavy bioload of CO2 producing animals (IE over stocked with fish or large fish) will cause the reading to be lower. But pH readings aren't an accurate way of telling how ionically balanced your aquarium is when you test it by itself. This is why you test Alk/Ca. So, as long as you're ionically balanced and the pH isn't too far off (8.0-8.4) then you should be fine.
Nitrates in that range shouldn't effect anything but possibly Acropora species. Acanthastrea and Sarcophyton should actually be thriving.

I do believe that it's something besides tank chemistry that is your problem. What lighting do you have and how long has it been since you changed your bulbs?

ANNIESREEF · 04/28/2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
Actually, if your readings are accurate, they are fine.

Calcium: Natural Sea Water-380-420; Home Aquarium- up to 480. 440 is fine.
Alkalinity: Most likely you have the wrong measurement. Alkalinity is the measurement of Carbonate. Their are two measurements used; meq/L and dKH. Most likely your test measures it in dKH. Acceptable ranges-7-11dKH. I prefer 9-11 dKH
pH: This varies for many different reasons. If your Calcium and Alkalinity are balanced, it could be the presence or absence of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). A heavy bioload of CO2 producing animals (IE over stocked with fish or large fish) will cause the reading to be lower. But pH readings aren't an accurate way of telling how ionically balanced your aquarium is when you test it by itself. This is why you test Alk/Ca. So, as long as you're ionically balanced and the pH isn't too far off (8.0-8.4) then you should be fine.
Nitrates in that range shouldn't effect anything but possibly Acropora species. Acanthastrea and Sarcophyton should actually be thriving.

I do believe that it's something besides tank chemistry that is your problem. What lighting do you have and how long has it been since you changed your bulbs?

Hi Travis. I thought about lighting...I need new actinics, ordered them but ordered wrong size. I do have a new MH I put in about 1 week ago. I went from 10k, 150w to 15k 150w. I like the blue color effect better. Could that be why the acan and toadstool aren't doing well? I have a tank mixed with corals and e'thing else is fine. (except xenia-never can keep those)

Travis L. Stevens · 04/28/2006, 09:48 AM

The actinics really don't do much for your corals except add a little extra light pretty light. It does emit a needed light, but it's not a desperate need. There are many people that run tanks with absolutely no actinics for years.

That will most likely be your problem right there. You are actually burning your corals. The new light is burning at a drastically more intense light. If you either raise your light/canopy up about 4-6" it will help reduce the intensity. If you can't raise it, you can take some window screening from your local hardware store (or even walmart). Take a few sheets to cover over your tank and slowly remove the sheets one by one over the course of a few weeks to a month so it gives the MH time to burn in and gives the corals time to adjust to the new, bright, intense lighting.

Ken-21 · 04/28/2006, 09:54 AM

"I'm no chemist!" Yes you are, or you will be. We all start of as people who think we can do this hobby and stay as we were but this hobby changes us all! We're Biologists, Researchers, investigators, architects and yes Chemists!
We start off doing this hobby to have a beautiful piece of nature in our houses to share with family and friends and all of a sudden we become slaves to the craft. We become researchers when we go on-line and check out what raw materials we need, we become architects when we construct the reef skeleton, we become biologists when we chose our live stock, corals and invertabrates and we become chemists for the rest of the time we do this hobby checking and maintaining water parameters and dealing with unforseen changes. This hobby is really a labor but as any true reefer knows (Stop laughing, I know that sounds like a line from the 70's!) it's a labor of love.

In the time it took me to write this my water temp went up two degrees, two corals closed a little my green leather was stung by a purple mushroom and my wife nagged me three times for spending too much time on the internet talking to other dead head reefers. You have to be one of us to understand why we love this so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANNIESREEF · 04/28/2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
The actinics really don't do much for your corals except add a little extra light pretty light. It does emit a needed light, but it's not a desperate need. There are many people that run tanks with absolutely no actinics for years.

That will most likely be your problem right there. You are actually burning your corals. The new light is burning at a drastically more intense light. If you either raise your light/canopy up about 4-6" it will help reduce the intensity. If you can't raise it, you can take some window screening from your local hardware store (or even walmart). Take a few sheets to cover over your tank and slowly remove the sheets one by one over the course of a few weeks to a month so it gives the MH time to burn in and gives the corals time to adjust to the new, bright, intense lighting.

thanks Travis...I will have to make a trip to the hardware store this afternoon. My husband and I have a little left over screen but it won't be enough. Will the other 2 corals come back maybe? I hope so. I have had the acan about a year now and my son gave me the toadstool when his broke off.

Travis L. Stevens · 04/28/2006, 10:10 AM

Oh yes, they will come back just fine (or should). You might want to reduce your photoperiod as well. It will take longer for your MH to burn in, but at least they corals aren't going to get too much light.

ANNIESREEF · 04/28/2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken-21
"I'm no chemist!" Yes you are, or you will be. We all start of as people who think we can do this hobby and stay as we were but this hobby changes us all! We're Biologists, Researchers, investigators, architects and yes Chemists!
We start off doing this hobby to have a beautiful piece of nature in our houses to share with family and friends and all of a sudden we become slaves to the craft. We become researchers when we go on-line and check out what raw materials we need, we become architects when we construct the reef skeleton, we become biologists when we chose our live stock, corals and invertabrates and we become chemists for the rest of the time we do this hobby checking and maintaining water parameters and dealing with unforseen changes. This hobby is really a labor but as any true reefer knows (Stop laughing, I know that sounds like a line from the 70's!) it's a labor of love.

In the time it took me to write this my water temp went up two
degrees, two corals closed a little my green leather was stung by a purple mushroom and my wife nagged me three times for spending too much time on the internet talking to other dead head reefers. You have to be one of us to understand why we love this so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Ken-21! I didn't look at from your point of view. I know I should be an excellent researcher-however, that is something you can never do enough of. When I think I am a little better educated something in my display tank goes array...
A chemist? hahaha-I just attempt to follow the directions and write down the results. I post here for someone else to decipher for me!

04/28/2006, 06:32 AM	#1
ANNIESREEF Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 578	HELP! Alk & Ca adjustments. I have a toadstool leather and 1 acan that are not doing well. the leather has not opened in 3 days and the acan is deflated and beginning to recede. I decided to test para's which are as follows. I am no chemist so please help.(I have a small tank with no sump, fuge, only a cpr skimmer). Ca=440 PO4=0-0.03 Alk(kh)=70 mg/L (hope I read it right,7 drops and it changed colors-used a Hagen test kit) Ph=8.1 to 8.3 Nitrate=10-20 ppm nitrite=0ammonia=0 I have some Kent Products such as liq calcium and probuffer. I dont add them-just stock it. should I use it? __________________ "I don't need a remote control, I rather watch my tank!" Current Tank Info: using Remora Pro HO skimmer ,maxi-jet 900 powerhead & 2-400 powerhead, 45 lbs tonga live rock and 40 lbs live sand

04/28/2006, 08:23 AM	#3
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Actually, if your readings are accurate, they are fine. Calcium: Natural Sea Water-380-420; Home Aquarium- up to 480. 440 is fine. Alkalinity: Most likely you have the wrong measurement. Alkalinity is the measurement of Carbonate. Their are two measurements used; meq/L and dKH. Most likely your test measures it in dKH. Acceptable ranges-7-11dKH. I prefer 9-11 dKH pH: This varies for many different reasons. If your Calcium and Alkalinity are balanced, it could be the presence or absence of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). A heavy bioload of CO2 producing animals (IE over stocked with fish or large fish) will cause the reading to be lower. But pH readings aren't an accurate way of telling how ionically balanced your aquarium is when you test it by itself. This is why you test Alk/Ca. So, as long as you're ionically balanced and the pH isn't too far off (8.0-8.4) then you should be fine. Nitrates in that range shouldn't effect anything but possibly Acropora species. Acanthastrea and Sarcophyton should actually be thriving. I do believe that it's something besides tank chemistry that is your problem. What lighting do you have and how long has it been since you changed your bulbs? __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

04/28/2006, 09:48 AM	#5
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	The actinics really don't do much for your corals except add a little extra light pretty light. It does emit a needed light, but it's not a desperate need. There are many people that run tanks with absolutely no actinics for years. That will most likely be your problem right there. You are actually burning your corals. The new light is burning at a drastically more intense light. If you either raise your light/canopy up about 4-6" it will help reduce the intensity. If you can't raise it, you can take some window screening from your local hardware store (or even walmart). Take a few sheets to cover over your tank and slowly remove the sheets one by one over the course of a few weeks to a month so it gives the MH time to burn in and gives the corals time to adjust to the new, bright, intense lighting. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

04/28/2006, 10:10 AM	#8
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Oh yes, they will come back just fine (or should). You might want to reduce your photoperiod as well. It will take longer for your MH to burn in, but at least they corals aren't going to get too much light. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

04/28/2006, 08:21 AM	#2
willyreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 94	I have a 54 Gal. corner bow tank and I have been using ESW B-Ionic 2 part Alk and Cal. I add about 22ml of each and my Alk and Cal are nice and stable. Just start by using the suggested starting point and adjust over time for your size tank. Willyreef

04/28/2006, 09:54 AM	#6
Ken-21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the edge of sanity Posts: 140	"I'm no chemist!" Yes you are, or you will be. We all start of as people who think we can do this hobby and stay as we were but this hobby changes us all! We're Biologists, Researchers, investigators, architects and yes Chemists! We start off doing this hobby to have a beautiful piece of nature in our houses to share with family and friends and all of a sudden we become slaves to the craft. We become researchers when we go on-line and check out what raw materials we need, we become architects when we construct the reef skeleton, we become biologists when we chose our live stock, corals and invertabrates and we become chemists for the rest of the time we do this hobby checking and maintaining water parameters and dealing with unforseen changes. This hobby is really a labor but as any true reefer knows (Stop laughing, I know that sounds like a line from the 70's!) it's a labor of love. In the time it took me to write this my water temp went up two degrees, two corals closed a little my green leather was stung by a purple mushroom and my wife nagged me three times for spending too much time on the internet talking to other dead head reefers. You have to be one of us to understand why we love this so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!