2 part, a new test kit and dying coralline

[klongo]

So I've followed the new directions for starting to dose Randy's two part. For the past week I've been dosing 5 ounces of Recipe 1 to get my alk up to 3.5 on a daily basis. I've tested daily and it's 2.5 before dosing and 3.5 an hour afterwards - so, success (I thought).

I'm running out of the alk test kit, so on my way home I picked up a new one and used that to test tonight. Alk is 4.5 BEFORE dosing. So, I used the old test kit and the Alk is 2.5. I repeated the new test kit and still 4.5

And, the drops of the new test reagent are smaller?

On to the second part of my problem. For the past week my coralline has been receding drastically. So tonight I tested all of my parameters -

Alk 2.5 OR 4.5, depending upon the test kit
calcium 325
Amm 0
nitrite 0
nitrate <10
phosphate between 0.03 and .1 (closer to 0.3)
temp 80
pH 8.2
sg 1.023


I'm going to assume that my CA/Alk are way out of wack if it's truly 4.5 and I've been dosing it up higher. Any suggestions for where to go now?

 

[Sindjin]

Im no chemist.... but... somewhere in the mix of Ca, ALK is also Mg and strontium. All are important to maintain from what I've been learning. I dose small amounts of Strontium on occasion (I dont test for it yet...bad, I know). Strontium is very good for Coraline growth...especially if your other parameters are off.

 

[klongo]

mag was 1200 when I tested a couple of weeks ago. I had planned on dosing it with Randy's third part when I fnish up Parts 1 and 2 this week.

 

[bertoni]

If the phosphate level is 0.3 ppm, that might be high enough to inhibit coralline algae. 0.1ppm might be bad enough as well, although I'm not certain about the limit for coralline algae specifically.

A macroalga refugium is one way to reduce the PO4 level in the tank. Feeding and the type of food can be an issue as well. This article talks about methods of dealing with phosphorus problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm

I am a bit worried about the alkalinity test kit issue. 2.5 is acceptable, but it might be worthwhile to doublecheck a sample at a fish store, or with another hobbyist.

I generally target 1.026 for salinity. This article might be useful:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

That salinity might be low enough to cause some problems, although I think the problem is phosphate.

 

[klongo]

John,

typo in my readings - phosphate is 0.03, not .3

That phosphate reading and salinity have been stable for over 6 months. I run a Phosban reactor. I don't think that phosphate is the issue, I'm leaning towards the calcium dropping - it's been consistently above 400 for the past year.

Kathy

 

[bertoni]

Could be. That calcium is a bit low, IMO. I would try to keep it in the 400ppm area, too. The alkalinity could be an issue as well.

 

[klongo]

any idea which test kit I should trust? Should I assume that the newer one with smaller drops is correct and start over with my dosing regimen?

 

[bertoni]

That's a tough question. I would buy another test kit or get a store or hobbyist to help. That's more trouble, though. I can't really guess which one is accurate. I've had good luck with Salifert and FasTest-SeaTest alkalinity kits.

 

[klongo]

These are FasTest kits. I think I'm going to test one more time and then I think assume that I've been overdosing alk due to faulty test kit readings. The constant 2.5 never made sense to me in the first place, especially as my calcium was remaining fairly constant. Overdosing alk would explain the massively lowered calcium (it was 440 last week, I've repeated that test also and it is 325 now).

I'm going to follow the Reefkeeping article's advice and raise the calcium level something more normal, adjust my Mg and then start over again! Hopefully, third time's a charm and I can get my dosing schedule down without killing everything in my tank.

 

[bertoni]

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree that getting a new alkalintiy kit is a good idea. Salifert, Hach, Seachem, and LaMotte should all be fine.

Boosting the calcium is a good next step.

 

[klongo]

Thanks for the

I'm going to have to stick with the Fastest for now as I'm working 15 hour days for the next four days. I've started bumping the Ca, it's up to 375, alk is down a tad to 3.5. It's almost water change time also, so hopefully by this weekend I can have things a little more normal.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good. Good luck!