Water chemistry issue

[Raceimage]

My water parameters seem to fluxuate. Everything will be fine then the bottom will drop out. This is my busy time at work so my tank doesn't get tested as often as I like. My LPS corals looked bad for the past 2 or 3 days so I tested the water. The KH test turned blue immediately when the first drop was added and my calcium is around 320. I run a calcium reactor and a GFO reactor. I also have an algea problem despite having a sump full of chaeto and the GFO. Any suggestions to correct this both short term and long term?

For us rookies, it would be nice to have a discussion (PMAS) on what the result of equipment settings have on the water. For example, I purchased my calcium reactor used locally. I set the flow and bubble rate according to the previous owner and everything was fine for a few months. Now that my water parameters are out of whack, I don't know how to adjust my reactor to compensate. Do I increase the CO2, increase the flow rate, or both. My corals haven't looked "normal" since the addition of the GFO reactor to my system. Will the GFO mess up my parameters?

Thanks in advance

Gary

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

What test kit are you using for alk? I use API and mine turns blue first then yellow.

 

[Raceimage]

You are correct - I brain farted when I did the testing; however, it took 20 drops to go from blue to yellow when i just did the test correctly now.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

What do you normally run your alk at. It will come back down on it's own, but that is real high.

 

[Raceimage]

My alk is normally in the 9 -10 range. My tank is in the basement which I am currently finishing. I shut the skimmer off to paint, stain, etc. then turn it back on after the fumes dissipate. I can't wait until the work is done because I never know if I have tank issues or if the corals change because of environmental issues that I cause through construction.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Do you have your tank covered? If you are painting that could definitely get in to the water. I have my temp system in my basement and I keep it covered when the lights are not on. I would do a couple water changes also to help with the high alk. Also run carbon and change out often with the painting issue.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Fast alkalinity swings can kill a tank's inhabitants, as you really shouldn't change it be more than 1.5 dKh in a 24 hour period. I'm beginning to battle the draw of my own tank, and will need to change the Kh suppliment that I use to the one that doesn't effect pH nearly as dramatically...but I digress...

What kind of media are you using in your calcium reactor? There's almost no excuse for your calcium to be that low, but you may want to look into a different way to suppliment your tank if your draw is not all that strong, such as 2 part or kalkwasser for the time being. Even with my tank's draw getting to be a lot bigger than it used to be, I still think that bulkreefsupply's 2 part DIY is very cost efficient, so unless you have a tank packed with SPS, it may be better to shut down the reactor for now and try something that's a little more precise like the 2 part system.

I also have a hair algae problem despite having 0 nitrate, phosphate and running GFO for about 2 months now. I'm wondering if my spectrum has shifted from my bulb, and that's contributing to my problem, or if it's just that no fish (including my good for nothing Scopas) is touching it. Sometimes new tanks just deal with these nuissence algae problems, and there's not a lot you can do to help it, it just seems to happen.

 

[mikesin]

Hello, sounds to me that something is adding alk. to your system , are you adding a pH buffer? Basically Alk & calcium compete against each other. Its difficult to raise one and not lower the other. I'm not surprised the cal is so low considering the alk is so high. Magnesium is the third component in this equation, have you checked the mag level?

 

[cloakerpoked]

Magnesium should only be an issue if he's noticing precipitation events...otherwise it really shouldn't be the limiting factor here. A precipitation event would look like little white flakes or snow that start appearing all over your tank. If you're noticing that, then your magnesium is way too low, and isn't stopping the calcium and bi-carbonate from precipitating out of the water column. Still, that should keep alkalinity lower too.

 

[Raceimage]

I don't use any sort of buffer - just running GFO and calcium reactor. Does carbon cause head and lateral line erosion in tangs. I don't run carbon because I have 3 tangs and have seen carbon as a cause on several internet sites.

 

[cloakerpoked]

The most common cause of HLLE is mal-nutrition. Myself and several other members talked about this exact issue about 2 months ago, and several of us (myself included) have had tangs for years and run carbon without experiencing any signs of HLLE. I've had 3 tangs, and my mom has had a yellow for over 4 years running carbon constantly with no signs of HLLE. Make sure you rinse it off first, but if you have problems with it, it's more likely to be caused by mal-nutrition or stress...at least anecdotally within this group.