Can't keep SPS alive

[acrohead500ppm]

I couldn't find my notebook so I just tested it. Dkh out of the reactor was 5.6

I hope you are mistaking Dkh for meq/L , Most reactors effluent should be coming out around 20-24 Dkh, assuming you are running your reactor in the 6.5-7.0 range.

Also whats your tanks current Dkh?

 

[1fishkeeper]

After adjusting here are my readings for today.
CA 440ppm
Mg 1120ppm
Alk 9.0dKH

Looks like I still need to bring up my mag

 

[SpSChief85]

That mag needs to come way up ideally around 1360... I had the same problem corals started to get rtn mag that low is inhibited calcification from my understanding which may be the reason for the rtn.. I noticed also my coral in started to look like total crap. I'm also curious how your calcium is hold that high with mag that low maybe mine was around 1100 or a tad lower I had this problem too as well I started using gfo/carbon mix as my skimmer quit working for afew weeks and had a spike in phosphate. If you just put in new bulbs that could be the issue the coral got used to the older par values of the old burnt out bulbs. There's obvious afew factors we can look into here... I would use less vodka though you may have created a very low nutrient environment you stated your levels were undetectable if I'm right? Start first and foremost by lower the vodka dosing as suggested and feeding more and if your not put skimmer on a timer and give the tank a little break so your corals can feed. Also if using filter socks I'd remove them for now as your tank is established

 

[CHSUB]

NO3 25 salifert
.

no3 to high by factor of 10 times or greater and you're concerned about mag???.....some will say my sps' are fine with no3 of 25, well i don't believe them!!!!! and if it is true the're just lucky!!!!!

 

[cleverbs]

I agree that No3 at 25 is WAY to high...it needs to be at like 2-4 not 25. I would work on that. people keep saying you are a low nutrient issue well I am not sure how they are getting that based on the fact your NO3 is 25 AND you are carbon dosing. You need to figure out why your No3 is so high and fix it. I have never ever had more then 5 NO3 and I have gone 2 months without a water change before. I dont vodka does or wetskim. You have something causing an issue. My guess, A poorly cleaned sand bed. Thats why I dont have one

 

[DNA]

Looks a bit like dinos on the sand.
If they are, there could be your sps killer.

http://s243.photobucket.com/user/1fishkeeper/media/Oct8004.jpg.html?sort=6&o=136

 

[kenneth wolfe]

thats a flat worm

 

[1fishkeeper]

Looks a bit like dinos on the sand.
If they are, there could be your sps killer.

http://s243.photobucket.com/user/1fishkeeper/media/Oct8004.jpg.html?sort=6&o=136

That was my old tank from years ago I would have to guess 8-9 years. That tank could grow SPS faster then anything. My current readings are as follows.
Alk 8.8dkh
CA 440
Mag 1320

Right now I'm mixing up water for a water change. I'm thinking about doing 3 or 4 40 gallon water changes to bring down the NO3 this week.

 

[nashorn]

How long you had this tank up?
Also what arco you trying to keep? New wild frags or old school frags?

 

[1fishkeeper]

It has been up for almost a year and a half. As for acros 90% of them are from local reefers in my area.

 

[Icefire]

I fing that weird that ppl didn't bother to look at the numbers and just proposed Vodka/amino/phyto for no reason.

Get those numbers in checks, try to keep the alk around 8 than look for stability.

 

[1fishkeeper]

So I have decided to build a DIY sulfur reactor to help take my nitrates down to a level that it should be. This tank has always been a battle with nitrates that is the reason I started to dose vodka.