reefgeezer
Active member
+1. Water changes might just be adding alk. You might try a low alk salt like original Red Sea (not Pro).
Help me figure out my tank issues
- Thread starter inktomi
- Start date
+1. Water changes might just be adding alk. You might try a low alk salt like original Red Sea (not Pro).
inktomi
Aviator
That's a really good point.
I'm using Reef Crystals, but perhaps I should get a box of normal instant ocean and use that for a bit to reduce the levels. I hadn't even considered that. A+ recommendation reefgeezer. Is the red sea salt the best option for lowering Ca/Alk?
Sort of an odd problem to have haha
I'm using Reef Crystals, but perhaps I should get a box of normal instant ocean and use that for a bit to reduce the levels. I hadn't even considered that. A+ recommendation reefgeezer. Is the red sea salt the best option for lowering Ca/Alk?
Sort of an odd problem to have haha
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inktomi
Aviator
From a Google is seems like AquaForest and TropicMarin reliably have KH lower around 6/7. AquaForest is cheaper, so I picked up a box of that off Amazon to use for water changes to reduce KH and Calcium.
I should point out that I don't even get coraline algae in this tank. It doesn't grow, even though frag plugs come in with it.
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I should point out that I don't even get coraline algae in this tank. It doesn't grow, even though frag plugs come in with it.
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Pittsburgh
New member
That was my next question. Your Alk drop without dosing is rather slow. ~1dKh/month. Not having any coraline algae certainly explains some of it.
How often and how much water do you change? Salt, even at 11dKh doesn't affect the water much if it's only a 10% change. Although, it would certainly slow down the natural drop.
How often and how much water do you change? Salt, even at 11dKh doesn't affect the water much if it's only a 10% change. Although, it would certainly slow down the natural drop.
inktomi
Aviator
I've been doing a 30 gallon or so change every other week though I've missed a couple over the holidays.
30g is not much in my tank. I use a gravel vac to clean up deutrius until a brute can is full and then pump the fresh water in to replace.
I can do a bigger one time change but my containers are only 32g brute cans
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30g is not much in my tank. I use a gravel vac to clean up deutrius until a brute can is full and then pump the fresh water in to replace.
I can do a bigger one time change but my containers are only 32g brute cans
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inktomi
Aviator
Wow, tapatalk really goes crazy with image sizes. Sorry about that!
I'm seeing a trend here now with off-the-chart high nitrates. I'm over 4 again today on the red sea tests. I think this is problem #1 worth looking into.
Today's test results:
Hannah ULR Checker: 9ppb phosphorus
Nitrates 4+
Calcium 475 ppm
Alk 10.36 dKH
Mg 1400
I do have a BRS doser. Maybe it'd be easier to get rid of biopellets and dose vodka instead.
I feed both frozen and pellets, a little bit several times per day. I have the following fish:
7 Carberryi Anthias
Achillies Tang
Yellow Tang
Kole Tang
Bluespotted Angelfish (the fattest angelfish you'll ever see!)
A pair of Potters Angelfish
Once I have this tank back online, I'd like to double the anthias and add some Alleni Damsels as well as a pair of clownfish.
I'm seeing a trend here now with off-the-chart high nitrates. I'm over 4 again today on the red sea tests. I think this is problem #1 worth looking into.
Today's test results:
Hannah ULR Checker: 9ppb phosphorus
Nitrates 4+
Calcium 475 ppm
Alk 10.36 dKH
Mg 1400
I do have a BRS doser. Maybe it'd be easier to get rid of biopellets and dose vodka instead.
I feed both frozen and pellets, a little bit several times per day. I have the following fish:
7 Carberryi Anthias
Achillies Tang
Yellow Tang
Kole Tang
Bluespotted Angelfish (the fattest angelfish you'll ever see!)
A pair of Potters Angelfish
Once I have this tank back online, I'd like to double the anthias and add some Alleni Damsels as well as a pair of clownfish.
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inktomi
Aviator
After having my house's windows open all day the tank PH is at 8.13
I did make an appointment with an HVAC company to come look at adding a fresh air intake to my system. It currently is simply recirculating air.. I'm sure bringing in some outdoor air will do a lot for the PH. Maybe not as much as windows all day.. but it'll help!
I did make an appointment with an HVAC company to come look at adding a fresh air intake to my system. It currently is simply recirculating air.. I'm sure bringing in some outdoor air will do a lot for the PH. Maybe not as much as windows all day.. but it'll help!
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Pittsburgh
New member
The tank doesn't look too bad, aside from the algae.
Do get an API nitrates kit and double check. If it shows anything but a perfect yellow, you have a problem. My bet is that it will be pretty dark orange.
Awhile back I switched from biopellets to vodka/vinegar. One things I would certainly recommend, regardless of the carbon dosing method, is to continuously supplement some bacteria into the tank. I've been using zeobak for a loooong time with carbon dosing with great results. The theory there is that some types of bacteria mutate over time and denitrification stops. Have no idea if this is accurate, but my biopellets completely stopped working after awhile without adding fresh bacteria.
Do get an API nitrates kit and double check. If it shows anything but a perfect yellow, you have a problem. My bet is that it will be pretty dark orange.
Awhile back I switched from biopellets to vodka/vinegar. One things I would certainly recommend, regardless of the carbon dosing method, is to continuously supplement some bacteria into the tank. I've been using zeobak for a loooong time with carbon dosing with great results. The theory there is that some types of bacteria mutate over time and denitrification stops. Have no idea if this is accurate, but my biopellets completely stopped working after awhile without adding fresh bacteria.
Pittsburgh
New member
Well then, me thinks mystery solved.
I would say it looks closer to 40 than 20. This API test kit will now be your best friend for awhile, until it starts showing that perfect yellow color, at which point you will be able to go back to red sea low range again. Otherwise, pick your poison. Pellets, vodka/vinegar, etc. For long term success, I would recommend balancing a couple of different export methods. Personally, I run a small chaeto fuge and vodka/vinegar dosing. Just in the right proportions you can maintain both at the same time and always have a back up in case one of the two fails on you. But for now, just pick one and get those nitrates down.
I would say it looks closer to 40 than 20. This API test kit will now be your best friend for awhile, until it starts showing that perfect yellow color, at which point you will be able to go back to red sea low range again. Otherwise, pick your poison. Pellets, vodka/vinegar, etc. For long term success, I would recommend balancing a couple of different export methods. Personally, I run a small chaeto fuge and vodka/vinegar dosing. Just in the right proportions you can maintain both at the same time and always have a back up in case one of the two fails on you. But for now, just pick one and get those nitrates down.
Pittsburgh
New member
Long term adding bacteria is not all that expensive. I don't like prodibio primarily because it comes in annoying vials and is rather expensive. Zeobak, aquaforest pro bio s, etc are much cheaper options and more convenient. Now that my system is stable, I dose 4 drops twice a week as recommended and so I need about 3x10ml zeobak bottles per year, which comes to a whopping $35/year when bought on sale. Aquaforest is even cheaper. This doesn't come close to the price of any single frag I put in my tank.
inktomi
Aviator
OK, update.
I got my aquaforest reef salt this Sunday (wow, it's a giant bag of salt in a box, sort of surprised!). OF COURSE my salt mixing pump decided now was the perfect time to break, so I've got that salt mixed up but no way to pump it into my tank as I need to order a fitting to attach a Mag 5 to my mixing pump line..
In other news, my biopellets are stuck together (again) so I turned them off and switched the carbon source to vodka. I'm using my BRS dosing pump, and dosed 1.58mL today. Water tests tonight for the baseline, then probably wednesday when I up the dose and again on Saturday when it increases again.
I got my aquaforest reef salt this Sunday (wow, it's a giant bag of salt in a box, sort of surprised!). OF COURSE my salt mixing pump decided now was the perfect time to break, so I've got that salt mixed up but no way to pump it into my tank as I need to order a fitting to attach a Mag 5 to my mixing pump line..
In other news, my biopellets are stuck together (again) so I turned them off and switched the carbon source to vodka. I'm using my BRS dosing pump, and dosed 1.58mL today. Water tests tonight for the baseline, then probably wednesday when I up the dose and again on Saturday when it increases again.
Elricsfate
New member
Have you tried running the Skimmer line through a C02 scrubber?
