Looking to Stabilize My Parameters

[jmadden]

Looking for ways to get my parameters in check. Tank is crammed full of most every type of LPS, a RBTA and a large peice of jedi mind trick montipora. All of which are doing well with the exception of my bubble coral which looks to be receding, a rainbow acan colony that isn't as inflated as usual and one head on my frogspawn (see picture below).

Here's my tank setup...

I've got a 60 Gallon (4ft tank) with around 80lbs, give or take, live rock that has been up and running for 15 months. Sand bed is maybe two inches or so. Flow and filtration I've got two MP10 ES W's, CPR overflow rated up to 600GPH that empties into my sump/fuge. The refugium (added9/22/2011) has a four inch deep sand bed made of two inches of non live sand on the bottom with two inches of miracle mud on top of it. There is coral rubble in the fuge along with a large ball of cheato like vollyball size. I have a AquaC EV180 skimmer being fed by a mag 9.5. I've also got a two little fishes phosebane reactor full of rowaphose fed by a maxijet 1200. Return pump is a mag 7.

I used to have 7 fish. I've reduced the number to just three with in the last two weeks. Two clowns and a mystery wrasse.

I've been getting a light dusting of cyano on the tips of the highest rocks in my tank.

Parameters (tested today).

Temp 76 +/- .5 degree F
Sal. - 1.025
pH - 8.0
Nitrate 20ppm which is down from over 80 after an auto feed disaster while away on vacation.
Nitrite - Undetectable
Calcium - 440 ppm
dKH - in the range of 143 - 161ppm range
PO4 - Undetectable
Mag - 940 ppm

Frogspawn...
<a href="http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/Fish%20Tank%20Stuff/?action=view&current=IMG_5280.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/Fish%20Tank%20Stuff/IMG_5280.jpg" border="0" alt="tissue loss Euphyllia"></a>

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What parameters are you looking to change?

What salt mix are you using?

 

[jmadden]

The pH and Mag seem to be a little bit low. Are my parameter where there need to be for continued good health of my system aside from the high nitrates? I've been bring those down over the last month and a half or so.

I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals exclusively and mix with RO/DI water that I make myself.

I also failed to mention that I do have an auto top off with RO/DI water.

I've recently been experiencing good coral growth. I feel that my tank isn't where it should be.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't know if I believe that magnesium result (try the kit on some fresh IO), but if it is, I'd raise it with a magnesium additive.

pH 8.0 is fine.

These have more:

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

 

[jmadden]

Thank you for the info Randy. The kit is use to test the Mg is the Red Sea pro titration kit. I went ahead and retested my Mg. Numbers seem to be closer to 1160.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, that's more believable. I might still boost it to 1300 ppm or so.

 

[jmadden]

I've got the Kent Marine Tech M Magnesium supplement. I'm not sure how much to add to get it up the the 1300 ppm mark. Any experience with the product?

 

[fishchef]

Add a dose slowly based on the total water volume of your system. Wait 24 hours and test again. Your Mg should be brought up slowly and a time period may be indicated on the product. Some say Mg should be X3 of CA.

 

[jmadden]

I've heard of this as well, the whole Mg being 3x the Ca. My concern is adding too much too fast. The bottle says to add 1mL/gal per day until the desired level is reached. How many ppm will this change per day?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Forget that recommendation.

This shows how much to use. Try raising it by 50 ppm per day.

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

 

[jmadden]

Thanks a lot Randy. Appreciate the quick responses and the material to back up your suggestions.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.