Monti Help.

[t.priscu]

Okay so bought a mag test today
If im reading it right it looks like im @ 1280 and i tested it 2x
Ph = 8.1
calc 450
alk 9

i have a calc reactor , does this affect mag?
Thanks guys

 

[tew47]

upgrade to MH, are you running carbon in your filter? I have a 40B with 4x39w ATI bulbs and a 175w 14k MH and all my SPS are growing like crazy

 

[smoothdog]

Okay so bought a mag test today
If im reading it right it looks like im @ 1280 and i tested it 2x
Ph = 8.1
calc 450
alk 9

i have a calc reactor , does this affect mag?
Thanks guys

Your mag should be between 1300 and 1500, so you are just a little low. Boost it up some. I don't run a reactor but I though mag was released from the reactor as well, somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

If you are really in doubt about your lights, go to the club site and find the thread for the club par meter and arrange to get it from whoever has it. Unless of course you are just looking for an excuse to upgrade.

 

[El Diablo]

Keep the fixture but I would replace the bulbs! I would look at you alk and your mag as the problem. That fixture always grew monti's for me. Make sure you are not having alk swings because that looks like what is happening to me.

 

[jtrasap]

There are very few water companies that add phosphate to water. Also nitrate do not come from bad filters.


Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

It's more of a question as to whether or not the phosphates have been removed by the treatment plant, and 'YES', "bad filters", are often a source of high nitrate levels.

 

[t.priscu]

Thanks for all the help guys i really appreciate it.
Alright plan of action.

1 . Raise Alk & Mag (i need to figure out if Calc Reactor will also add Mag)

2. I did a large water change but i still need to get my high nitrates down. I tested my RO unit and its 0 TDS so they are coming from me somehow. I don't feel like I'm overfeeding but i guess thats the problem.

I'm going to be giving these biopellets a shot. I have read up on this stuff for several hours and am aware of the possible bacteria bloom and the worst scenario of a crash, but that seems to be rare and if i start out very slow it hopefully will not be an issue.

<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/?action=view&current=0223011954.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/0223011954.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/?action=view&current=0223011953.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/0223011953.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

3. Buy new bulbs for the fixture, which i need to do anyways but i feel like its more likely its water quality instead of lights from the responses i have received.

Thanks again for all the help guys, I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Aqua Man 07]

did they have any more of the bio beads

 

[t.priscu]

SS did when i was there

 

[t.priscu]

Update:
I replaced the bulbs in my t5 12 bulb(39w) fixture In hopes to save the monti.
Hope this improves my Monti. He stopped his 'bleaching' and is holding steady at a very light purple so i dont think he's all that healthy.
. After alot of reading in the lighting forums it looks like the advice people were giving out for new bulbs were.

8 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Purple Plus
2 GE Daylight 10,000

Tank is alot more blue and im not sure if that's really my thing but im going to try it in hopes of saving the Monti's.

Here is the tank before/after.
(please dont pay attention to the very unclean room)

<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/?action=view&current=beforenewbulbs.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/beforenewbulbs.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

after bulbs.
<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/?action=view&current=afternewbulbs.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/tpriscu/afternewbulbs.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I still plan to do MH bulbs but i wanted to research them more.
I'll probably stick the t5 fixture over frag tanks or something in the future so the new bulbs wont go to total waste.

Anyone think this will make any difference or just to hard to say?

Also does my fixture look like its to high off the water possibly?
(Yes i know i need a new hood it doesn't have doors =P , i just want to make sure i can keep everything alive before making it all pretty)

Thanks guys.