Something is wrong....

[Mock]

Question: Why am I having such trouble keeping SPS. ( I have killed two birdsnest, and watched a Monti wither )

History: I have successfully kept SPS in the past in this tank. I was diagnosed with Cancer some time back and from surgery to chemo, I let the tank fail. It has taken me almost 2 years to get back to this tank but just when I think I want to test SPS, they test my patients.

Used to run Alk at 9, It was staying steady at 7 so I shot for that number this time. Running reef crystals, was running Salinity.

Calcium, Mag, at reasonable rates 400 ish, 1400 range, steady.

Temp steady 78-79

Newer bulbs, 4 months maybe 2 400w halides 6 hours a day.

Nitrates @ 4 on Red Sea Pro test, shouldnt kill however might brown.

0 Phosphate or not registering.

Tons of flow....

The only thing I am questioning is salinity. I calibrated for 0 on RODI water. A few articles have be second guessing that this may make it actually too low and not really 1.025.

I am missing something, and for the life of me cant hit that nail on the head.

Everything else, LPS, Softs all doing great.

I am really wanting to get this tank back to raising basket ball size birdsnest and dinner plate monties but at this point I am stumped.

 

[fishpureluck]

Do you have any leathers in the tank? I had a LPS/Leather tank for a while and wanted to add some SPS and they kept dying. I found out that the leathers were poisoning my SPS. Got rid of all of the leathers and everything lived after that.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Get your refractometer properly calibrated with 35ppt solution and come back to us.

Also, what are you using to test PO4?

 

[Mock]

Get your refractometer properly calibrated with 35ppt solution and come back to us.

Also, what are you using to test PO4?

This is what my direct thought was.... I was even hesitant to post knowing I would get this answer... :lmao:

I have both a Hanna and a Rea Sea Pro kit for Phosphate and neither will show anything.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Any reason you're running the salinity low? I run my mixed reef at natural salinity, 1.0264. You may also be a little low on the Alk? Maybe raise that to at least just above 7? Personally I've been running mine around 8.4, but I'm planning to lower to right around 8.

 

[JB NY]

Get your refractometer properly calibrated with 35ppt solution and come back to us.

Do this, also what salt are you using?

 

[Mock]

Any reason you're running the salinity low? I run my mixed reef at natural salinity, 1.0264. You may also be a little low on the Alk? Maybe raise that to at least just above 7? Personally I've been running mine around 8.4, but I'm planning to lower to right around 8.

I never intended to run it low, I just think that over time it has gotten that way. I have changed tools, lost things, forgot things and had mishaps, Salt Creep, things that have all directly contributed to what I believe is a lower than ususal SG. I have noticed that when I add more to the mix that things actually have responded better. Which is why I think my devices are off and my salinity is hovering at around 1.022 or 23.... I cant prove it but its just a gut instinct telling me its the last thing I cant actually pinpoint at this moment.

 

[Mock]

Do this, also what salt are you using?

IO Reef Crystals

 

[Peter Eichler]

This is what my direct thought was.... I was even hesitant to post knowing I would get this answer... :lmao:

I have both a Hanna and a Rea Sea Pro kit for Phosphate and neither will show anything.

If your salinity tests 1.025 having unreadable PO4 would be my next concern. Either way you should start upping your feedings and try to maintain some sort of reading with the Hanna.

 

[Mock]

If your salinity tests 1.025 having unreadable PO4 would be my next concern. Either way you should start upping your feedings and try to maintain some sort of reading with the Hanna.

Funny thing is I have never tested Phosphates, with a fuge of 75 gallons Cutting everything back to nothing has never resulted in phosphates. Its bound up and I doubt I will ever see any. The only thing that does increase with feeding and shutting the skimmer off for a little while each day is the nitrates. I thought I would never get a detectable nitrate either until I did just as you are mentioning and upping the feeding but I also had to shut down the skimmer 4 hours a day.

 

[Mock]

Ordered some 35 point calibration fluid from BRS this morning. $6.99 bottle for $4.99 shipped.... That little $5 off coupon come in handy. Will find out something in a few days.

 

[Mock]

Order came in yesterday. SG after calibration was 1.0225..... Would say my gut feeling of it being low was right. Did two water changes last night and brought it up to at least 1.023. I ran out of salt but will have to start bringing it up to at least 1.025, almost 3 points off isn't going to cut it.

 

[Piper27]

I have seen so many people have major issues by calibrating the wrong refractometer with so water I stead of 35ppt. Hope things turn around!

 

[Mock]

Funny thing is I calculated my "Old" swing arm when I did this last night, the one I used back before I bought this fancy refractometer thingy...... Turns out it is spot on. Wife has had it at her work on her tank there. Back when I was using a couple years ago, everything was fine. Its funny how one thing can change everything.

 

[Piper27]

They work good, just gotta keep them clean and tap the bubbles off the swing arm. Not as accurate but good enough for what we all need basically.