Water parameter problems?

[Rook]

(Also posted under general reef forum. Please move if needed.)


Hello all.

I am have a few water parameter problems and was looking for your thoughts.

A couple of weeks ago I change from cc to a dsb in my tank, Feb 7-feb 9. While do this I placed my entire tank, coral/rock ect, into a storage bucket with the water a heater and powerhead, then once the sand settled for a day, I put it all back.

Here are my tank parameters on two seperate days.

Test, Feb 9th Feb 18 method of test.
Salinity 1.025 1.025 Refractometer
Temp 78 81 crappy glass them
ph 7.7/7.8 7.7/7.8 salifert
amm 0 0 sal
trates 0.2 0.5 sal
trites 0 0 sal
alk/dkh 3.89/10.9 2.51/7 sal
calcium 340 280 seachem
calcium na 335 sal
phosph 0.0-0.03 na sal
silicate 0.1 - 0.25 na sal
magnes 1245 na sal
stront. 10-12 na sal
iodine 0.02 na sal
O2 6-7 na sal


Today I have notice that my scolymia (button coral) is very stressed. I have had to move him about 4 times. He has very small rips in his tissue where the skeleton is protruding. I think this is from stress.

Also, my squasmosa clam seems to be stessed. The intake hole is not pulling in much water, and thus the exit hole is not dispensing much water.

So now my questions,

I am having a small nitrate cycle by the looks of it. I will do a small water change to keep this in check. Any other suggestions or is that fine.

I can not seem to get the ph up. I have never had a problem with ph before. These tests were both done toward the end of the day when the light was on. Should I add some ph increaser, or just try to restablize the dkh?

Damn dkh and calcium. I can still not get them to settle down and stay consistant. for about a two months prior to the change, I finally got the dkh to stablize, but not the calcium. I add the kent 2 part AB series every other day or so, and I add super dkh buffer to the top off r/o water. I also add turbo calcium by seachem once in a while when the calcium is low. What should I do????

Should I trust the Salifert or the Seachem calcium test???

Any other suggestions?

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I am having a small nitrate cycle by the looks of it. I will do a small water change to keep this in check. Any other suggestions or is that fine.

I don't see any ammonia or nitrite. If that is true, then there is nothing to be concerned with.

I can not seem to get the ph up. I have never had a problem with ph before. These tests were both done toward the end of the day when the light was on. Should I add some ph increaser, or just try to restablize the dkh?

Don't add anything to raise the pH. That always gets people into trouble. Decide how you are going to supplement calcium and alkalinity, and select a method that helps raise pH (like limewater or one of the more basic two part additives, like B-ionic).

Here's an artilce on selecting a method:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

You also need to raise the calcium and not the alkalionity using a calicum only supplement. Here's an article that describes how:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Finally, if pH is still a concern, here's an article on how to solve pH problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2002/chem.htm

Should I trust the Salifert or the Seachem calcium test???

I'd trust the Salifert test over the Seachem test, but both say the calcium is low.