Would high calcium cause tips on some SPS to have STN/Bleaching?

[wfgworks]

The subject says it all.

My Calcium is running alittle right around 550-580 on a Salifert Test Kit. DKH is running around 8.

I have had some STN/Bleaching on the tips of some SPS and wondering if this might be the cause or should I be looking for something else?

If something else, what other suggestions?

 

[panic]

Do you use Oceanic? Is your mag up past 1650? What is ph? Do you dose kalk in topoff?

 

[TexasTodd]

It's almost always Alk with tip down problems.

I'm not a chemist, but as you know, Alk and CA have a relationship. If your CA wasn't currently at 550-580 I believe your Alk would show MUCH higher.

FWIW,

TT

 

[Stoney Mahony]

Totally agree. Check out Randy Holmes article on the relationship btw calcium and alk, it's an awesome article and really explains the relationship well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8042575#post8042575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TexasTodd
It's almost always Alk with tip down problems.

I'm not a chemist, but as you know, Alk and CA have a relationship. If your CA wasn't currently at 550-580 I believe your Alk would show MUCH higher.

FWIW,

TT

 

[wfgworks]

I just started dosing Kalk about 2 weeks ago and I'm running a Calcium reactor. I'm trying to balance out the both but it seems that my calcium got alittle too high, too fast.

I will retest ALK again to see what I get. I will do a water change tonight because more corals are show distress.

Any other suggestions on what to do?

 

[TexasTodd]

Is your system BB?

You had the CA reactor going already and then added the Kalk?

Yes, do some water changes with good cured water.

Todd

 

[wfgworks]

Todd

Yes its a BB and yes I just added a Kalk reactor to help with PH since my house is closed up so much because of the hot summers.

I turned off the kalk reactor and Calcium reactor 2 days ago.

Calcium is now 480
DKH is at 6.8

 

[Serioussnaps]

Also, the WC's could be putting your CA and ALK out of wack....i bet you are using oceanic or misusing your equipment....

you might want to use some reef buffer because your ALK just went below NSW i like mine at 8 but no lower than 7 IMO

your best bet for this problem is going to reef chemistry formula and talking to RAndy about your situation...he is prompt and unbelievably helpful in stuff like this....

if you have oceanic you may want to start mixing with IO to get starting parameters right when the water goes into your tank

 

[TexasTodd]

When I switched to BB my system used MUCH less Kalk. In simple terms, the bacteria in a DSB make acid when they eat, this uses up more Alk. This goes away with BB.

I use only about 12 heaping tablespoons in 50 gallons of makeup water.

Your reactor is probably fine, but I think a Kalk reactor is too much if you're BB.

Just from my personal experience.

Not to start and stink, but I use IO and would NOT use Oceanic salt.

350-400 CA is fine. Mine is usually 380-390 ish.

Hope this helps some.

Todd

 

[wfgworks]

The salt I'm using is OceanPure and have been using it for 7-8 months now with no issues.

Todd

What I have done is really turned down my calcium reactor as I'm using my kalk reactor for top off. I have a Deltec Calcium reactor that I would run for around 11 hours a day. I pushed it down to 7 hours so I guess I have to drop it down some more.

Thats for the feedback.

 

[Reefflections]

Hey Todd,
Check the thread out now that's about," Alk and SPS" here on the SPS forum .I'm having same problems.Yep Kalk Alk and PH issues with a closed up house.

 

[dirtyreefer]

What are your Mag readings?

 

[wfgworks]

I will check Mag tonight but havent checked it in a few weeks now.

 

[EmDy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8045710#post8045710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wfgworks
Todd

Yes its a BB and yes I just added a Kalk reactor to help with PH since my house is closed up so much because of the hot summers.

I turned off the kalk reactor and Calcium reactor 2 days ago.

Calcium is now 480
DKH is at 6.8

I have the same reading as you are right now. I cranked up the CO2 a bit and slow down the effluent a bit and it will balance out.

 

[wfgworks]

Ok, so I checked my Mag and its through the roof but dont know how. Its reading at around 1700 on a Salifert test kit. I had to refill the syringe to figure it out because the MAX is 1500 on 1 test but went through about .15 on the second syringe.

It has been about a month since my last water change so I'm confused on how my Magnesium could be so high.

Does High Magnesium cause any type of STN/RTN? I have had 1 coral RTN today.

My other paramerters are:
Calcium-470
DKH-8.6
PH-8.3
NO2-0
NO3-0

 

[EmDy]

i dont think high MG cause any stn/rtn, usually high dKH causes that. Do a large water change to bring down the CA. Im battle the same as you are right now and my CA is high for over a month.

 

[slojmn]

I had the same thing happen a few weeks back. Mg and Calcium through the roof and alk dropping. I turned off my calcium reactor completely for two weeks and added baking soda every few days to keep alk where I wanted it as the calcium and MG dropped. I had one frag STN and multiple corals stopped growing, color was terrible, and some tips were beginning to STN. Once I got the calcium to 425, Mg to 1280, and alk at 8 I turned the calcium reactor back on and set the effluent and bubble count where I thought it would be good. I have tweaked the calcium reactor a few times but all params are staying in line. I have been testing a lot for the past few weeks to see how things are being used up. Hopefully it wont happen again as it was no fun and my sps suffered a bit.

 

[EmDy]

slojmn...good tip...what kind of baking soda did you add? and how much baking per day?

 

[wfgworks]

Guys, I have corrected Alk but I'm still losing corals.

Will it take a few days for the corals to respond to the corrected ALK?

Could I have another problem that I'm not seeing?

 

[Zoom]

wfgworks

wfgworks

You have to many things adding calcium and ALK in your tank i had the same problem with a Kalk reactor and my Deltec calcium reactor.
So i turn everything off for a week and start over .
First adjust the calcium reactor and then the kalk reactor.
You have to be very careful you can get your system out of whack fast.
I now run my CR 24/7 and very little Kalk in the KR.