WVfishguy
New member
Since I’ve set my latest display last February, I’ve had rapid growth in the montiporas and scroll corals. I’ve had fingernail-sized frags grow to ten inches around nearly before my eyes, as well as other corals and octocorals and a very healthy, rapidly-growing derasa clam.
The display is 90 gal, the sump is a 75 with two mag 9.5s and a large skimmer, socks, & ‘fuge.
Suddenly, about a month ago, growth stopped. The clam is doing well, but the montiporas seemed to die in the center, and the outside part where growth was rapid has stopped. I thought it may be temperature related at first, because there were several days when the temps were around 85.
I lowered the temps with fans, and replaced all three halide bulbs - two 175 SEs, and a center 250 DE. Didn’t seem to make a difference.
I should ad that I performed ALL tests twice with exact results each time.
I’ve been ill lately, but have still done my share of bi-weekly water changes.
Because I’ve been a ill I did not check parameters for a month or so. I tested yesterday, and I was surprised to find my calcium down to 380 ppm. I did a 50 gallon water change with Instant Ocean two days ago, and I really expected a higher calcium number. It usually runs around 400+.
I then checked the Instant Ocean mix left over, and found it was at 340! The water has been mixing with pumps for about 10 days.
I have actually been lowering my calcium by doing water changes.
Other parameters are:
• Kh - 9 dKH
• ph - 8.4-8.5
• No3 - 0
• No2 - 0
• Salinity is .1025
• Temp is staying near 80.
• I didn’t test for mag as yet, but it’s usually very high with IO mix.
• Replacement water to display is from kalkwasser drip.
I’m using an API test. I have good reason to believe the test is accurate because I’ve used it quite a bit on both my displays over the months.
I’ve read about “bad batches” of salt mixes, but is this common? Do we now have to test each batch of freshly mixed salt water?
I’m afraid my large montiporas are already lost. Would a sudden drop in salinity cause them to wither?
The display is 90 gal, the sump is a 75 with two mag 9.5s and a large skimmer, socks, & ‘fuge.
Suddenly, about a month ago, growth stopped. The clam is doing well, but the montiporas seemed to die in the center, and the outside part where growth was rapid has stopped. I thought it may be temperature related at first, because there were several days when the temps were around 85.
I lowered the temps with fans, and replaced all three halide bulbs - two 175 SEs, and a center 250 DE. Didn’t seem to make a difference.
I should ad that I performed ALL tests twice with exact results each time.
I’ve been ill lately, but have still done my share of bi-weekly water changes.
Because I’ve been a ill I did not check parameters for a month or so. I tested yesterday, and I was surprised to find my calcium down to 380 ppm. I did a 50 gallon water change with Instant Ocean two days ago, and I really expected a higher calcium number. It usually runs around 400+.
I then checked the Instant Ocean mix left over, and found it was at 340! The water has been mixing with pumps for about 10 days.
I have actually been lowering my calcium by doing water changes.
Other parameters are:
• Kh - 9 dKH
• ph - 8.4-8.5
• No3 - 0
• No2 - 0
• Salinity is .1025
• Temp is staying near 80.
• I didn’t test for mag as yet, but it’s usually very high with IO mix.
• Replacement water to display is from kalkwasser drip.
I’m using an API test. I have good reason to believe the test is accurate because I’ve used it quite a bit on both my displays over the months.
I’ve read about “bad batches” of salt mixes, but is this common? Do we now have to test each batch of freshly mixed salt water?
I’m afraid my large montiporas are already lost. Would a sudden drop in salinity cause them to wither?
