Kh = 7 problems w/tank

[seaduck]

10 gal nano w/hob filter aprox 6 months old. Tank has been perfect for 6 months but now corals are slowly bleaching. I was adding about 1/4 teaspoon of kent super buffer a week and tank stayed around 12. I've been negelecting it a little because of the Holidays hence the 7. Lfs tested today and determined that the low buffer was causing the slow bleaching. Are they right?
amon 0
nitri 0
nitra 0
calci 380
sg 1.023
kh 7

 

[bertoni]

A dKH of 7 is okay, but the level shouldn't be allowed to drop any lower. Are you using a regular calcium-alkalinity supplementation scheme, or just the Super Buffer?

A 2-part like B-Ionic or a similar product is an easy way to get started with supplementation. There's a DIY recipe as well.

That SG is rather low. I target 1.026-1.027, which is more like the average natural waters. This article might help ensure that your measurement is accurate:

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

This article covers all the water parameters, and gives guidelines and references:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

Are you measuring pH?

 

[seaduck]

just using superbuffer at this point..that is all the lfs advises...after reading articles i need to start toping off tank with lime water or southdown araganite sand or something.....thx for the response

 

[bertoni]

The aragonite won't do any good. It won't dissolve. Limewater is a great approach, though, for many tanks. This article discusses dosing it:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[Mike O'Brien]

Super buffer has a high borate concentration. Long term use can cause a false reading in your alkalinity because borate contributes to alkalinity, but is not used during calcification, so it will build up over time and you'll have less carbonate and bicarbonate in the tank for a given alkalinity. If you prefer the kent brand there is another product called reef builder that is made of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate wich would be a much better way to go. Or you could just use baking soda.

What corals are we talking about here :?

 

[seaduck]

how much baking soda to use and should i add calcium at the same time? we r talking about my 10 gal nano which has 2 tennis ball sized frogs and a hammer and a torch that are about the same size...everything else are mushrooms and zenias n zoas. one frog is bleaching and 2 sets of shrooms too.

 

[Mike O'Brien]

I'd look into other issues as well. Are you running activatec carbon. In small tank's allelothapy is more of a problem.

you can use the calculator to figure dosages

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[seaduck]

Yes, im runing carbon but its a few months old...ill change it out...thx for info

 

[Mike O'Brien]

Good luck with it.

 

[bertoni]

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

That calculator will help with a dose size.