Tricky problem

[kmacartney]

Bump for more advice/opinion.

 

[kmacartney]

bump

 

[ReefEnabler]

Does the 6 light tek light have 3 separate power cords?

Id be curious to experiment with only running 4 bulbs for a week or so to see the response from the corals. Sounds like you have the lights VERY close to the water, closer than I typically hear about.


this is most likely not your issue, but balance-wise, your alk is higher than your calcium level. For 11dkh of alk you should have closer to 500 calcium I think. or for 420 calcium, alk should be closer to 8-9 dkh IIRC.

but I would be extremely surprised if that was your issue, if anything having unbalanced ca/alk just makes it harder to keep the chemistry stable. just FYI.

 

[kmacartney]

It has two cords. 1 runs 2 bulbs the other runs 4.
Although, they are 4" from the top of the tank, I would would say that they are about 6" off of the water.

 

[melev]

You didn't post Magnesium nor temperature variations daily.

Your lights are probably too close to the water, and perhaps on too long each day. 10 hours is probably plenty for all six bulbs, you could probably run actinics one hour before and after the main period of eight hours with all lights.

Alkalinity is a bit high for softies, since they don't need it. I'd try to come down to 8 dKH as Ryan suggested.

Also, double check that your salinity is correct. When is the last time you calibrated the refractometer with the proper 35ppt solution (not RO/DI water)?

Do you dose Iodine at all?

 

[kmacartney]

I could recheck my alk and calcium...

Here is an acro close to the lights

 

[kmacartney]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13818330#post13818330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
You didn't post Magnesium nor temperature variations daily.

Your lights are probably too close to the water, and perhaps on too long each day. 10 hours is probably plenty for all six bulbs, you could probably run actinics one hour before and after the main period of eight hours with all lights.

Alkalinity is a bit high for softies, since they don't need it. I'd try to come down to 8 dKH as Ryan suggested.

Also, double check that your salinity is correct. When is the last time you calibrated the refractometer with the proper 35ppt solution (not RO/DI water)?

Do you dose Iodine at all?

I don't check for or measure iodine or magnesium and I use a swing-arm hydrometer that I flush with RO after each use. Usually 1.023-1.025.

I could tinker with the photo period easily.

How can I adjust the alk?

 

[melev]

The best way to drop alk is not to dose any. Your brand of salt may be high in Alkalinity, so water changes just bring it up higher.

Drop a bunch of SPS and clams in there to suck it right out of the system. :lol: Just kidding.

How long is the current photo period?

 

[ReefEnabler]

do you feed the corals?


since your nitrates are 0, you could probably stop dosing vinegar. I wouldn't be dosing anything like that unless I had a high nitrate issue, personally. I dont see how it could help after the nutrients are under control. Sounds like yours were maybe controlled and then obliterated.....

 

[ReefEnabler]

or are you using vinegar more to super saturate your lime water and lower its pH?

if thats the case, describe your pH swings or other and reason for doing it.

that RHF article mentions this is possible when using vinegar:

"the fact that some of the measured alkalinity may be acetate, which is not used by corals and coralline algae to calcify as far as I know"


just a shot in the dark but maybe your alkalinity reading is actually far off? but I kind of doubt it since the lime is super saturated with vinegar.

 

[kmacartney]

Ok, just did a fresh test....

ph 8.8!!!!!
Ca 380
Alk 9

OK this is messed up...

 

[kmacartney]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13818394#post13818394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
The best way to drop alk is not to dose any. Your brand of salt may be high in Alkalinity, so water changes just bring it up higher.

Drop a bunch of SPS and clams in there to suck it right out of the system. :lol: Just kidding.

How long is the current photo period?

About 12 Hours.

 

[kmacartney]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13818484#post13818484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
do you feed the corals?


since your nitrates are 0, you could probably stop dosing vinegar. I wouldn't be dosing anything like that unless I had a high nitrate issue, personally. I dont see how it could help after the nutrients are under control. Sounds like yours were maybe controlled and then obliterated.....

I feed the fish quite a bit and the corals periodically.

 

[kmacartney]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13818514#post13818514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
or are you using vinegar more to super saturate your lime water and lower its pH?

if thats the case, describe your pH swings or other and reason for doing it.

that RHF article mentions this is possible when using vinegar:

"the fact that some of the measured alkalinity may be acetate, which is not used by corals and coralline algae to calcify as far as I know"


just a shot in the dark but maybe your alkalinity reading is actually far off? but I kind of doubt it since the lime is super saturated with vinegar.

More for supersaturation.

 

[goldmaniac]

bump

just my $.02 but sounds like too much light. I run a 10-11 hour photoperiod, but my daylights (10,000k) are on for only 4-5 hours, the rest are actinics. seems to work for me, especially my zoas and rics and mushrooms. anything else and my polyps/softies retract, and i've tried acclimating for a while, now

good luck

 

[goldmaniac]

but pH=8.8 could be the issue, too.

 

[mathias999us]

What's wrong with having the lights too close to the water (aside from salt creep, splashing, etc)?

 

[kmacartney]

I am not sure if the pH is higher, that is as high as my kit goes...

I also checked my tap water to see if the test was messed up and it seems to be fine.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

I knew if I talked to you long enough that the Calvary would arrive. Magnesium is a big deal. So, you need test it, and I know I'm not the 1st to tell you that swing-arms suck.

 

[kmacartney]

Pito, that reminds me, I also checked salinity; 1.025.

I will have to look into a Magnesium kit soon.

Now about that screwed up pH.....