DashTrash400
New member
As previously mentioned you have to get that ALK Up its a must. If I get to 8 or below my LPS. Starts showing signs of distress which means I need to bring the ALK up with either new Kalk, WC or Part B
What do Euphyllias do when they split?
- Thread starter iwishtofish
- Start date
iwishtofish
Active member
Thanks, Mike - I'll get to work on that asap. I have some BRS sodium carbonate I can mix up. I had figured that the equivalent of 50% water changes per month would keep things in check, but I added too many stony corals.
Apparently raising pH is a recommended course of action for dealing with the dinos, so I'll need to find some kalkwasser too.
WhatTheReef
New member
I thing daily water changes are stripping your good bacteria and especially for lps your water doesnt need to be that clean. then follow everyone else instructions as far as salinity. good luck
iwishtofish
Active member
I wonder if you might be right, although the water changes are relatively small, and I've generally fed a pretty good bit. My goal was to keep nutrients in check as I'm not using a skimmer with a pretty good bioload. Don't the bacteria populate fixed surfaces, though?
Salinity generally reads between 1.026 and 1.0265..typically closer to 1.026 whenever I measure with my calibrated refractometer. I use a JBJ ATO, also.
I have shortened my light cycle to battle the dinos, and I'm planning to subject my LFS to testing my water so I know how accurate my kits are (and if I need to buy new ones). I upped my carbon use to remove any toxins from the dinos, as I suspect (after reading Dr. Holmes-Farley's article) that may be what's affecting the tank so badly.
Thanks for the input!
iwishtofish
Active member
I have some BRS soda ash...the BRS calculator says it takes about 1/10 tsp soda ash to raise the alk 1 dKH in 11 gallons (my estimate) of tank water. I guess I'll mix 1/2 tsp into a graduated plastic beaker of RO/DI water, mix it, and just use exactly 1/5 of that mix (probably added to a larger amount of fresh water) throughout each day until I'm at my target.
1 dKH is a safe increase over the course of a day, isn't it? I just need to be really careful to not pH shock my fish.
I'll slow down on the water changes, then.
Thanks, SushiGirl.
iwishtofish
Active member
Started dosing alk, finally. I found I had some pH-neutral 2-part mix (soda ash + baking soda) still left over from the bigger tank, and the BRS calculator told me to add about 0.2ml / day. Doesn't seem like much, does it? I'm still spreading out each dose over a 24-hour period. I'll test again tomorrow night, just for a reference mark, and up the dose if needed.
iwishtofish
Active member
iwishtofish
Active member
Well, alk is up to about 8 dKH, finally, with a target of 9. When I get there, I'll test Ca again, and decide whether or not to start using kalk in the topoff water.
The corals are responding noticeably, although they aren't quite where they were. The torch didn't take mysis a few days ago - I hope it does soon.
And the dinos are beginning to wane!
Thanks again for pressing me to correct the alk!
The corals are responding noticeably, although they aren't quite where they were. The torch didn't take mysis a few days ago - I hope it does soon.
And the dinos are beginning to wane!
Thanks again for pressing me to correct the alk!
chalicefreak
New member
If theres enough cal in the water it will make new skeleton and branch off and split.
iwishtofish
Active member
Yes, I need to see where Ca stands...hopefully tomorrow. But none of that will be any good if they don't recover. The torch tried to pull in mysis tonight, but didn't have the power to finish.
The frogspawn was ejecting something from its mouth...either poop or zooxanthellae...I took I picture that I'll try to post.
iwishtofish
Active member
From both mouths on right side (hard to see bottom mouth just below top one):
coralsnaked
New member
Yes it is starvation, without Alk the coral cannot take up calcium and other eseential nutirents. The dinos will become a serious problem, but is NOT what is causing your corals to recede and melt away. Raise that Alk by one dkH per day. In a 15 Gal you can safely use 1/4 teaspoon of seaChem Reef Builder per day to bring up your Alk and be in a safe zone in 48 hours. I would use aireation to bring up the pH. And stop w/ all the water changes and begin testing foundation elements daily to determine usage and dosing amounts. Get a high quality Ca suppliment, Magneesium suppliment and Alk Suppliment and dose according to instructions. I would suggest starting Saliferts All in One at 5 ml X1 week after a 1 gal water change to provide all essential elements and help w/ Ca and Alk, and continue to test daily and suippliment the additional Alk and Ca as needed. With the coral load in that small tank you will need it.
Merry Skerry
Merry Skerry
iwishtofish
Active member
Yes, alks up and things are looking much better...I think the pH must have come up with the alk, too, because the dinos are just about done.
I'm going to get some two-part and start a dosing regimen, as you suggest. Thanks!
I think the frogspawn was expelling waste, in the pictures above. The torch used to do that, too, a good while back.
