|
|
Have a question?
Our experts have the answer!
|
|
| Substrate Free Tank Husbandry (Bare bottomed) This forum is for the discussion of the care and husbandry of substrate free tanks. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
10-31-2007, 01:50 PM
|
#1
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
|
Water chemisty help
I need water chemistry help! I just can't get my parameters down.
Today 10/31:
dKH....14.8
Alk....5.26
Ca. 600, up from 560 yesterday, didn't add anything
Magnesium 1500, high down from 1650
Ph is about 8.3-8.4, dark green using Salifert....all tests done with Salifert except for Mag which was Seachem.
Over the last 3 days I have had a large green algae bloom on the glass...usually I will get a brown film. I have not added any supplements in over a month...I changed salt from Red Sea back to IO...Water evaporation and changes are done with RO/DI, TDS reads 0.
There are about 5 corals in the tank along with fish, so there is not a heck of a lot to eat up the extras...I'm concerned with adding anything new as the water chemistry is not what it should be... I've changed the water soooo much that I've probably changed about 1500 gal. and still have the same problem....I'm kinda at a loss as to what to do at this point...the rock must be holding onto alk and Ca. or maybe I'm fluctuating back and forth between bicarb and carbonate .?
Any help/thoughts I'd truly appreciate...I'm not sure what is going on or what to do about it...corals and fish are ok, actually seeing growth on the corals, no problems with the fish...I really don't know why the corals are growing...one that actually came with a blue tip had turned completely brown now is/has a slight hue of blue again...why, I don't know....so its not so much about things dying as they appear healthy, but I'm sure they'd be even healthier if the water chemistry was correct.
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
|
|
|
|
10-31-2007, 01:56 PM
|
#2
|
|
I loves me a water change
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: WI
Posts: 7,802
|
Wouldn't a calcium level of 600 be precipitating out of the tank water? What kind of tests are you using?
If things look good, I wouldn't worry too much. 
__________________
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
10-31-2007, 08:28 PM
|
#3
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
|
Not precipitating. Using Salifert, fairly new (about 1 month) old test kits. None are expired. So, do I just keep waiting it out or should I be doing something more?
|
|
|
|
|
10-31-2007, 10:10 PM
|
#4
|
|
Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
|
When is the last time you did a water change? Are you taking those readings right after a change?
|
|
|
|
|
11-01-2007, 09:46 AM
|
#5
|
|
It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
|
make up a very small batch of ASW and test it. what are its readings?
i would just wait it out for now. can you test someone else' water that they know the value of?
G~
__________________
Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
|
|
|
|
|
11-01-2007, 03:41 PM
|
#6
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
|
CRUD! Just Lost a big reply!!!!
Just changed back to IO salt, so that isn't really gonna help...the salt I was using has been chucked out (if I left it around was to concerned I might be tempted to use it up)...I can do a huge water change...guess maybe I'll do that and get new tests...they're just about finished anyhow, with all the testing I've done...
|
|
|
|
|
11-01-2007, 10:02 PM
|
#7
|
|
I loves me a water change
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: WI
Posts: 7,802
|
Viv,
As Geoff said, it might be worth some piece of mind to get it tested by a local reefer, or the LFS.
__________________
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2007, 01:26 PM
|
#8
|
|
It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
|
also test a small batch of the new IO water. i am betting that the test kit is off somehow.
G~
__________________
Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2007, 01:51 PM
|
#9
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,563
|
I'm with Geoff on this one,.. it's possible your test is wrong, or your salinity test is wrong.
The IO should test out at something like 380-420 CA (depending on Sal) and 9-11 Dkh. If it doesn't we can look into other possible problems.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
|
|
|
|
11-02-2007, 02:30 PM
|
#10
|
|
Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
|
I agree with wiskey....my IO tests @ 380 for ca and 11 for alk.
|
|
|
|
|
11-03-2007, 11:43 PM
|
#11
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
|
Will do, in the morning tomarrow! Spent the day emptying and refilling everything...I'm just tooooo beat right now. Tank looks clearer...haven't tested,,just too tired. Ordered new test kits, figured it wouldn't hurt. Hope there is enough bacteria left in the rock as the tank walls and sump walls have had a thorough cleaning, along with the sump. What I did noticed was a tremendous amount of calcium deposit left on the internal walls of all the piping....thinking to get ball valves and some extra pipe to make a recirculation of vinegar throughout the sump, skimmer, return pump, back to skimmer-at least the pumps will be clean...maybe this is a crazy idea...I'm tired-glad its done, but will water test and test the IO also. Thanks for your help with this.......
|
|
|
|
|
11-04-2007, 12:56 PM
|
#12
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
|
ook, did the test on a new batch of IO. Results:
dKH.....14
Alk......5.02
Ca......400
Sp. Gravity 1.024
Looks like the Alk test is off, Huh?
Last edited by Viv; 11-04-2007 at 12:57 PM.
Reason: hit 24 instead of 14 for dkh,,,oops!
|
|
|
|
|
11-04-2007, 01:54 PM
|
#13
|
|
Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viv
ook, did the test on a new batch of IO. Results:
dKH.....14
Alk......5.02
Ca......400
Sp. Gravity 1.024
Looks like the Alk test is off, Huh?
|
Not necessarily...I'd be willing to say your results are accurate. What is your ph too?
That alk will fall once it's in your tank. And, even though it's 3 points above what I would consider 'high', I still think you're safe using it at that level..
|
|
|
|
|
11-05-2007, 08:22 AM
|
#14
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
|
Today's morning test:
At 78 degrees and Sp.Gravity 1.022, Salinity 30, PH 8.4-8.5,
dKH 12.8
Alk 4.58
Calcium 500
Mag 1000, down from 1500 10/31
Calcium is down from 580 11/22
dKH/Alk same as 11/2
Not sure if I should just leave the Mag. alone...maybe with it lower the alk will fall better? PH looks slightly higher than whats its been and the salinity is down, usually runs about 1.024-1.026...Polyps are out and things look ok, what ya think?
|
|
|
|
|
11-05-2007, 09:26 AM
|
#15
|
|
Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
|
Is it possible to take a water sample to a LFS and have them test?
|
|
|
|
|
