Maybe this is a stupid question but can someone help

[Me No Nemo]

Some things to consider would be phosphates, magnesium, alkalinity and flow. What brand of test kit are you using? The best polyp extension I get is in strong flow (I have Barracudas on about 220 gallon tanks). Often times, especially in a small tank, phosphates can become a problem fairly quickly. What type of protein skimmer do you have? How much flow from your pump? It's not just moving water...it's also filtering and skimming. Patience and slow adjustments, when possible are best. I like to keep my calcium at 440-460 and magnesium at 1350-1500. Could be also that your alkalinity is off and not allowing the calc to rise. If you want to bring a piece in I'll "scope" it for pests. Is there a lot of sliming?

 

[reeffreak9]

No Marcye no sliming. I am using a tetra tesy kit for testing as well as individual seatest kits. I tried to pm you back but your pm box was full. I cant come up til next saturday but will bring up a frag and water sample then if thats ok with you? I am using a fisson skimmer.Thanks.

 

[plumb]

yup, you need a calcium reactor. and i need a phos reactor

 

[chrisstie]

I am curious to see how your water checks against Marcyes test kits.

Though expensive i tend to lean toward salifert because of the ease of use as well as the accuracy many seem to find in them. I'm not sure i've heard of tetra unless its the sort of generic kind you can get at a chain store.

Hopefully a more accurate test will reveal something you aren't seeing so if there is indeed a problem and your polyp extension is trying to tell you you'll be able to find out

 

[reeffreak9]

Your probably right the test kit I use is probably just generic. I got a gift cert. for christmas to a lfs and when I went in hexedagain and I saw them cleaning their aquarium glass with windex. It was dripping down in the tanks. So to get some use out of the gift cert. I bought this test kit. Probably not the best or smartest move but it seems to test pretty accurate. I guess we'll find out next sat.

 

[Me No Nemo]

Alkalinity reading...

Alkalinity reading...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9712618#post9712618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefworkschris
Test your alkalinity also....should be about 180 dkh. More than likely if you can't keep your calcium up it's because alkalinity is low. Use DKH buffer to get it under control and dose your two part as needed.

Hmmm...what scale are you using to reference 180 dkh?

The most common measures Salifert, etc. are as follows:
KH value in dkh 8.0-11.2
or alkalinity in meq/l 2.9-4.00

 

[reeffreak9]

Well I solved part of the problem. At least I think I did. I HAD a flameback angel in the tank and noticed today that he kept picking at the sps, so he is now in my sons tank. Hope that was part of the problem. I am still going to bring a water sample to you saturday Marcye.

 

[Me No Nemo]

K...see you then.