I am dosing with BRS dosing pumps on a digital timer. I've unplugged the CA pump and leaving the ALK on the same schedule to see if I can get a shift over the next few days.
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- Thread starter rwp1202
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I am dosing with BRS dosing pumps on a digital timer. I've unplugged the CA pump and leaving the ALK on the same schedule to see if I can get a shift over the next few days.
hollback
Team RC
I would also recommend this. Try to get your alk back to your desired level over the next week and a half or two weeks. The slower the better. I'd test daily to make sure you are taking it slow.
MammothReefer
Active member
alk of 7 is fine. (well depends what test kit you are using ELOS 7 is fine, Salifert 7 could be much lower (like a 5-6 on an elos)). The bigger issue is the swings then the number imop. When montis, and birdsnests start to go like that in my experience it's always been a Mag related issue. The Green boring algea on some of the acros shows signs of excess nutrients, however that could be the result of the stn/rtn.
What were your water parameters before you started doing your water change regiment? Recently I went threw something similar I had over dosed mag, it took out my montis in my effort to fix things the swing caused my all the water changes (saved some montis) but started to cause issues with some acros.
I would frag what you can and really just do your best to shot for stable "middle of the road" params where even if you test kit is off you aren't out of wack. So 8/400/1400. At least that's what I did and my STN stopped on most pieces and now i'm starting to see
regrowth.
Also what test kits are you using?
What were your water parameters before you started doing your water change regiment? Recently I went threw something similar I had over dosed mag, it took out my montis in my effort to fix things the swing caused my all the water changes (saved some montis) but started to cause issues with some acros.
I would frag what you can and really just do your best to shot for stable "middle of the road" params where even if you test kit is off you aren't out of wack. So 8/400/1400. At least that's what I did and my STN stopped on most pieces and now i'm starting to see
regrowth.
Also what test kits are you using?
Honestly I don't know what my parameters were before things went sideways. I had been doing WC every two weeks and my growth/color were amazing. I could see new growth on many of the colonies every three days so I didn't pay too much attention. Suddenly, everything changed.
I'm using Salifert test kits that are <6 month old. (most are the 'new' versions)
Which corals were you seing 'boring' green algae? This will help me understand your response and figure out if this was a contributing factor, or if it was as a result of STN.
MammothReefer
Active member
If you look at your pics, do you see the green tint to the base of them where the flesh is as opposed to pure white. Specifically in the "hawkins" like acro that is in the bottom right of the last photo. You also have cyano in that photo which is another sign of nutrient rich environment.
Ya 7 w/salifert could be bad. 7 w/an elos is like a 5 on salifert. I hate alk kits or more so the difference between all the brands so I gave up decide to stick with 1 kit type and shoot for 8. Hoping that if it's off by 1 i'm either @ 9, or 7
Ya 7 w/salifert could be bad. 7 w/an elos is like a 5 on salifert. I hate alk kits or more so the difference between all the brands so I gave up decide to stick with 1 kit type and shoot for 8. Hoping that if it's off by 1 i'm either @ 9, or 7
allsps40
New member
I had the same thing happen but I did a tank upgrade. Most corals did fine and are looking better than ever while on the flip side I lost several newer really nice frags and my oldest acro to STN. I managed to save some large frags of the large one but 5-6 1 inch frags where a total lose.
Good luck to you, make frags.
Good luck to you, make frags.
offroadodge
New member
i to did a tank upgrade and had the same STN problm. After about a month it has slowed to almost a stop, My largest colony Palmer Blue Mille (14"-16" x 8" t) realy didnt like the move. Its color and polyp ext are starting to get back to normal. In the end i decided to do as everyone else has said make sure ALK is at 7ish and not worry to much about CA. In the new tank the MG was low for me so i have spent alot of time bringing it up and watching all 3. Best of luck...
ChicagoReefOne
New member
How long have you had your salt? Red Sea Pro is supposed to have pretty high alk values from what I remember so perhaps your salt has gone bad. Its seemed to me that the alk runs down the longer the salt sits around my house.
When/if you do dose to bring up the alk, just to echo what everyone else said, go slowly and make sure the mixture is fully dissolved.
When/if you do dose to bring up the alk, just to echo what everyone else said, go slowly and make sure the mixture is fully dissolved.
MammothReefer
Active member
Red Sea pro has an Alk of 7.
I think I found the culprit for the drop in ALK over the last 10 days, but sky high CA. Something casued my GFCI to trip this afternoon. Upon resetting and investigating for stray curent I discovered that the drip hose from my dosing pump somehow got moved and it was dripping out the back of the sump, on to my pump controller.
Can't say for sure when this happened, but it MAY explain the decline after all of the improvement I had been seeing the last two weeks. Lets see what happens if I leave things alone and continue with the weekly WC. I will also see about getting a few current pictures to document the recovery/decline.
Can't say for sure when this happened, but it MAY explain the decline after all of the improvement I had been seeing the last two weeks. Lets see what happens if I leave things alone and continue with the weekly WC. I will also see about getting a few current pictures to document the recovery/decline.
offroadodge
New member
great find...hopefully controller is ok.
MammothReefer
Active member
Good catch, I had a problem with my Alk doser.. well my DC8 had a bad port. I couldn't figure out why even if I had my calc & alk @ the same amount the calc would draw so much more.. finally that port died and it all made sense.. months of fighting with an ever swinging alk. Since I switched ports i had to drop my alk by a TON as I had been compensating for a interment faulty port the whole time. Some times it's the most random stuff that catches you off guard.
Updated Pictures:
Susnset Monti is recovering. Green polyps are returning here there were none on September 17th. The Undata polyps are getting larger as well.
The Green Pocillipora in the back was looking better, but it was the first to show evidence of the most recent ALK swing. New STN around the trunk. The Birdsnest next to it is continuing to show signs of stress as well.
The unknown puddling acro is still looking great, while the Turaki in the back seem to be in serious trouble.
Frag rack and my bright green unknown acro seems to be as happy as ever. I guess this is more good news than bad at the moment.
Susnset Monti is recovering. Green polyps are returning here there were none on September 17th. The Undata polyps are getting larger as well.
The Green Pocillipora in the back was looking better, but it was the first to show evidence of the most recent ALK swing. New STN around the trunk. The Birdsnest next to it is continuing to show signs of stress as well.
The unknown puddling acro is still looking great, while the Turaki in the back seem to be in serious trouble.
Frag rack and my bright green unknown acro seems to be as happy as ever. I guess this is more good news than bad at the moment.
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