SPS Seem Stressed
- Thread starter topshotta
- Start date
topshotta
New member
The last time I checked the ALK prior to last night was a week or two ago and it was just below 10 at that time too.
coralreefhq
New member
Were you able to test your TDS from the RO water?
Seeing how your LPS sheds a slime coat, may be from some sort of contaminated water.
4 gallons is a generous amount for a water change, but since your tank was already stable, the water change may have did a number on it. The best thing to do is wait for everything to stabilize again before you throw money down the pooper.
Seeing how your LPS sheds a slime coat, may be from some sort of contaminated water.
4 gallons is a generous amount for a water change, but since your tank was already stable, the water change may have did a number on it. The best thing to do is wait for everything to stabilize again before you throw money down the pooper.
topshotta
New member
I don't know if this could've caused it, but when I did my water change last Saturday I pulled the pump and heater out of the back of the aquapod and scrubbed down the walls inside the back chamber - I also siphoned out quite a bit of detritus that had accumulated back there. When I replenished the water and turned the pumps on the tanks was noticably more cloudy than typical when I do water changes. Of course I did a bit more of an aggressive water change. I'm wondering if there was something lurking in the detritus that my corals didn't take a liking to. The acros and a few other thicker sps that I have weren't impacted at all - they are still doing fine. Just the birdsnest colonies and one purple cap monti.
topshotta
New member
I use distilled water. What is TDS?
Ditch the distilled water, I would only use RODI, not RO but RODI. TDS is total disolved solids, in the water. Tap water here runs about 150-200 TDS, RO runs about 10-20 TDS, RODI should be 0. Good distillation should remove all of the heavy metals, but I am not convinced it does, since all your doing is evaporating water and collecting the steam to make distilled water, while RODI is being run through a reverse osmosis filter, carbon filter, 1micron filter and finally through a Dionization filter which adds a charge to the remaining heavy metals and they attach to the filter yielding to 0 tds, phosphates, nitrates,etc etc. If distilled water were truely a pure water source you would definitely here about more reefers using it.
topshotta
New member
Interesting - I don't know of a RO source. When I lived closer to my LFS I used to buy RODI water from them, but they are about 65 miles from me now. Since moving I stock up on distilled from walmart. Since my tank is so small and I'm only needing 3 gallons or so a week I really don't want to purchase a RODI unit. Maybe when I graduate to a larger aquarium that would be feasible. Do you know of other sources to purchase RODI water from?
coralreefhq
New member
Same deal, I use RODI water only, it's water pure enough to drink.
Nectar of the Gods! I hear people telling me to do different things, but if something is working why change, why bother!
TDS is really important for me, so I'm very nit picky about that and salt. Typically I mix saltwater for days before I decide to use it. Has to be clear otherwise I refuse to use it. I'd let your system stabilized before further ado, don't want more than 1 problem.
