Big problems and I don’t know what to do

[spike]

I would get you alk down into the 8.5 range, 11.7 is really on the high side. What tests are you using for phosphates? You do not want to be 0.00 on phosphates. Nitrates seem a little low also.

 

[Gahamilton]

Yes I am trying to get the alk down. I am using salifert test kits do everything. Phosphate has never been detectable in this tank, and nitrates never above 2.5, the tank go really unstable recently if you read back to earlier post so I am just trying to aim for stability now and let the corals get better before I start trying to fix things with nitrate and phosphate. All the coral in the tank is already upset so I don’t want to add to may variables. I am really just scared to makes thing worse so I am trying to just do everything as I did before I added the skimmer, let things get back to usual then start to mess with the thing, have reduced the doasing of alk to gradually get it down. I will say my zoas in the tank have not opened up in weeks though

 

[spike]

Have you checked calcium? Typically if Alk is extremely high Calcium is low. Salivert are good kits. But dealing with phosphates I tend to lean on Red Sea or Hannah checker. Just my opinion.

 

[Gahamilton]

Calcium is 410, it is always between 410 and 420 no matter what. And yes I have noticed that the salivert phosphate kits are not super specific. I am just looking for any kind of a bit of color out of it and it is always crystal clear unfortunately

 

[project1004]

I dont understand how you still have 11.7 dkh after 25% water change? How are you keeping it that high? In this case, its better to do even bigger water change to bring your alk down to normal range. Its not gong to come down slowly because your corals are not going to consume anything atm and it will stay high causing more stresses. I usually add 5-10ml of polyp booster with my water changes if my phosphate are low when doing water changes.

 

[Gahamilton]

I have never had my alk less than 10 in the tank that is why I am not crazy worried about out it. It does not matter what I do it just does not seem to go below 10 but I do understand the 11.7 is not good but I would rather it slowly go down than to go crazy. What got me started in this mess was trying to get everything perfect especially with the phosphates

 

[spike]

Chasing numbers sometimes will many times cause more problems. Happy corals are a sign things are good even when test kits say other wise. I know many Reefers’s with all running at 10. BYW what salt are you using?

 

[Gahamilton]

Instant ocean reefe crystals

 

[spike]

What I use, but I am always dosing to keep my alk up. Have used it for 20 years. To get my alk to 8 I dose 6-7 times a day.

 

[Gahamilton]

Bright well aquatics reefe code A and B