Corals not happy, need some help.

eahkmh

Member
Well for two weeks my corals have not been happy. Finger leather slumped, spiny shrooms not expanding much, long tenacle plate not blowing up much, zoos not fully opening. etc... Problem is all my tests come back good. ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temp, calcium, phosphates all good. Before 2 weeks ago all was great. My ph has always been around 7.8 or 8.0 so i decided to add some Marine Buffer to raise it to 8.2 and use pickling lime to keep it there. I used the buffer for 3 days and noticed that the tank was just not happy anymore so i stopped using and did a water change. I was told Marine Buffer was reef safe. Has anyone else had prolems with it? Anyone have some ideas as to what is causing most everything to not be happy. The gsp's seem to be fine. A few days the leather and plate looked almost dead but then revived some.
 
How did you add the buffer? I know that when I don't mix mine up enough anything it touches, before mixing with the tank water, looks real bad for the next day. Also, did you try raising it in one day or were you going with the gradual approach? I have seen a tank that went too high, too quickly and it had a week or so of looking like it was dying.

Just the ideas that came into my head, there are many more here with more knowledge and experience.
 
Leathers are expressive and react to change.

Your buffer addition should be thoroughly mixed with tank water and should go in through the sump. I regularly add 2 tsp a day of Kent KH buffer to my lps and sps.

Do you test for alkalinity? I find that one of the most helpful tests when dealing with cranky corals. If alk is off, ain't nobody happy.
It should read between 8.3 and 9.3 in a Salifert Alkalinity test. Don't adjust more than 2 tsp a day per 50 gallons, or the corals may complain.
 
I followed the directions to adjust slowly. I forgot about alkalinity, i will check that next. thanks for the thoughts
 
what about your salinity? Somehow mine dropped about a month ago to .17. Not real sure how it happened. I guess I sprung a leak or something in a filter and topped off with RO. But I had the same reactions. That is why I started to test everything. Salinity was the last thing I thought to check.
 
Still no change today, for better or worse. My temp is 79. salinity 1.024, but i am not getting my refractometer until next month so my test is not super accurate.
 
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