some pointers needed

[maukings]

My tank has been up and running for about 2 years. 90 gal with 500w of metal halide. I've been able to keep various lps but can't seem to get sps to last. I'll admit that I haven't done water changes in a long time but water seems clean. I tested CA and it came back at 400. My Ph is around 8. The only product I dose is Kent essential elements. I didn't have an ATO until this week. I also purchased an alkalinity test and a two part CA and kh supplement.

I also increased the flow in the tank.am I missing anything else? Want to give this a fair shot at success

 

[TSJSREEF]

Need to test your water for Nitrates, Nitrites, Phosphates, Ammonia etc.

I'm betting you have a water issue. SPS need pristine water and if you want to keep it you better start the regular water changes.

 

[Finland]

My 1st guess would be high nitrates and/or phosphates. Do you have any algae issues. That would be a tell-tale sign. I would suggest testing CA, alk, no4, and po4. Also get on a waterchange schedule to help replenish lost elements. Sps are alot finickier than lps and demand pristine water and stability. I personally would not dose essential elements. Regular waterchanges should replenish trace elements.

 

[maukings]

I actually checked for nitrates and ammonia and everything was in good shape. I can only think calcium and alkalinity as culprits. No algae issues either

 

[xcorallusx]

key to sps is stability

 

[jroovers]

Where did you alk come in at? Seems like you are on the right track, lots of lighting and increased flow. Get your 2-part on dosers and get your Ca and Alk stable. If nitrates aren't a problem, and you don't have any algae, you should be in good shape with phosphates... but wouldn't be a bad idea to get a hanna checker and find out for certain where your phosphates are specifically. Then, as mentioned above, get on a regular water change schedule. Try placing a couple of montipora frags, or a hardier acro, such as a mille, and see how they do... then once you have some success, you can get a bit more confident with adding other pieces.

 

[maukings]

will do. Haven't checked alk yet. I did manage to grow an ora green birds best when I was doing 20% weekly water changes but I stopped during the winter. I have s pretty large red cap but color isn't as vibrant add it used to be. The green birds next started bleaching from the base. I pulled it out today. My maxima also died about a month ago. I'm sutra that the elements were depleted from the pack of water changes and not dosing anything

 

[jroovers]

Check for alk... and get used to doing it... if there is one test that goes hand in hand with SPS, alk is it. Don't do anything else until you have done this IMO.

 

[maukings]

I bought a test kit. Should be here in a couple days

 

[a.browning]

Alk is the most important of them all. And not just a certain value, but it needs to be a stable value. Other important parameters to check for sps are calcium, magnesium, salinity, nitrate, and phosphate. No need to test for ammonia or nitrite. You will definitely need to get back to a regular water change schedule if you're getting into sps.

 

[Ralph ATL]

My tank has been up and running for about 2 years. 90 gal with 500w of metal halide. I've been able to keep various lps but can't seem to get sps to last. I'll admit that I haven't done water changes in a long time but water seems clean. I tested CA and it came back at 400. My Ph is around 8. The only product I dose is Kent essential elements. I didn't have an ATO until this week. I also purchased an alkalinity test and a two part CA and kh supplement.

I also increased the flow in the tank.am I missing anything else? Want to give this a fair shot at success

You have the answer! Do large weekly water changes, use gfo & carbon, and add calcium & Alk daily.........to suppliment. Insure mag is at 1300....

 

[maukings]

Magnesium test results after a 20% water change 1125
Calcium came in at 420-440

Test kit came with an alkalinity test, according to that my total alkalinity is 2.4meq/l wich according to the calculator is about 6.72 DKH, the instructions say ocean water is 2.5 meq/l, thats a DKH of 7, why is it recommended to have a DKH of 9 then?

 

[jroovers]

You're looking pretty good then, your alk is a bit low, I aim for the 7 to 8 range, no need to be specifically at 9... if you can maintain those parameters with your alk a tad higher and keep them stable, you're in business!

 

[maukings]

isn't magnesium a bit low? This is what vivid recommends:

420-440ca
1260-1350mag
8-9dkh

I'm going to be using the 2 part C-balance, should I go straight for the alk instead of the CA since my calcium is within range? or should i add calcium which will then drop back to normal after i add alk?

 

[ThaBeast]

Only dose the alk when you need just alk. Also only dose Ca and Mg when those elements are required.

Keep a log book of test results. Always redo a test before dosing a large amount of anything. Try to do water testing at the approximate same time of day. I like to dose half the required amount and then retest an hour later if I have time. I like to use this calculator for dosing http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

 

[maukings]

Salifert KH test came in at 6.4

 

[ThaBeast]

Remember don't bring alk up to 8 all at once, do it slowly over several days

 

[maukings]

I used the calculator which told me I needed 12 teaspoons to bring it up to 7.4. I only did 6 tsp

 

[maukings]

kh 8.0, going to 9 over the next 2 days. Will bring magnesium up as well.

 

[maukings]

okay, a little confused. My CA was at 420 after water change. dKH was at 6.6 and Mag at 1125. I added alk and magenssium over the past few days to bring dkh to 9 and Mag to 1300. I just test Ca and it came in at 360 and dkh at 8.2. It looks like they both dropped A LOT in just a few days. Am I doing something wrong here?

I just added about 30 table spoons to bring up the Ca and 3 table spoons to bring up dKH. Is this the right way of doing it?

Thanks!