|
|
Have a question?
It's Free!
|
|
| SPS Coral Forum Discuss "Small Polyped Stony" Corals here |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
07-06-2008, 06:58 PM
|
#1
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Low Alkalinity
I am normally pretty good about checking levels and keeping them up. I checked today after noticing some mild recession of tissue at the base of some acros that I have had for a long time. As of yet, there isn't anything noticeable on any of the montis in the tank. It is just at the base and newer growth. Nothing new has been added and I still have great polyp extension.
What are the main things that might be noticed with low alk?
Other levels are as follows:
Salinity: 1.024
Calcium: 350 (dosing back to 430)
Alk: 1.83 meq/L (normally kept at 3.45)
Mg: 1200 (normally kept at 1290)
pH: 7.94
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
Last edited by ScruffyRubicon; 07-06-2008 at 07:29 PM.
Reason: Fixed units on Alk
|
|
|
|
07-06-2008, 07:15 PM
|
#2
|
|
spaceman spiff
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,638
Reviews: 72
|
I dunno, I normally keep my alk pretty low too, but a bit higher than that (2.6 meq/L, or 7.5 dkh... I think you put the wrong units on your number). My calc never gets over 370ppm.
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2008, 07:21 PM
|
#3
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by crvz
I dunno, I normally keep my alk pretty low too, but a bit higher than that (2.6 meq/L, or 7.5 dkh... I think you put the wrong units on your number). My calc never gets over 370ppm.
|
I did put the units wrong. Thanks for the catch.
I have gotten better results with my montis keeping the Ca between 420 and 450.
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2008, 07:26 PM
|
#4
|
|
spaceman spiff
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,638
Reviews: 72
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon
I did put the units wrong. Thanks for the catch.
I have gotten better results with my montis keeping the Ca between 420 and 450.
|
That's not a surprise, I think the sand bed can be quite a draw on calcium and alkalinity, so me not having one may lower the demand. It's actually really hard for me to get my values in the "norm", they're always borderline low. But, I have great growth, so I don't complain.
In your case, low numbers may result in stunted growth, but unless the numbers fluctuate over a short time you may not notice anything visibly.
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2008, 07:29 PM
|
#5
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by crvz
That's not a surprise, I think the sand bed can be quite a draw on calcium and alkalinity, so me not having one may lower the demand. It's actually really hard for me to get my values in the "norm", they're always borderline low. But, I have great growth, so I don't complain.
In your case, low numbers may result in stunted growth, but unless the numbers fluctuate over a short time you may not notice anything visibly.
|
It was really odd. I just started noticing that a few acros loosing the tissue right around the base edge. They look fine everywhere else.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2008, 01:05 PM
|
#6
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: spartanburg, south carolina
Posts: 4,961
|
My tank is like Chris', I can never get the alk and calcium up to "normal" levels but I still see great coralline algae and coral growth. I remember Spanky talking about keeping the levels lower with bare bottom tanks, so I was never too worried about it. If the problem is around the base of acros, I would be concerned about acropora eating flatworms (AEFW). DO a search on those, you may want to do an iodine dip or look with a magnafying glass for them or their eggs.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2008, 05:35 PM
|
#7
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by hng
My tank is like Chris', I can never get the alk and calcium up to "normal" levels but I still see great coralline algae and coral growth. I remember Spanky talking about keeping the levels lower with bare bottom tanks, so I was never too worried about it. If the problem is around the base of acros, I would be concerned about acropora eating flatworms (AEFW). DO a search on those, you may want to do an iodine dip or look with a magnafying glass for them or their eggs.
|
I'll look around.
The damage is even all the way around the base. Iodine dip would be impossible since these are well established colonies. Any other possibilities that are safe for the whole tank.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2008, 07:40 PM
|
#8
|
|
Mommy Mod
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: down the street and around the corner from Dimples
Posts: 5,291
Reviews: 4
|
can you post pics Scruffy?!
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2008, 07:43 PM
|
#9
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by YLChik
can you post pics Scruffy?!
|
I was planning on posting some other pics later so I can add this to the list. I have been keeping a good eye on my acros lately. This just popped up on the largest colony in the last few days. It is almost a perfect 2mm line all hte way around the base. This particular coral was attacking the one next to it. It was winning. It will be easy to see in the pics.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2008, 08:17 PM
|
#10
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Here are a few pics:
This is a wider shot. Coral to the center right is the one affected. The one to its left has been loosing a territory battle to the damaged coral:
Two closer shots:
 |
|
|
|
|
07-08-2008, 10:08 AM
|
#11
|
|
Mommy Mod
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: down the street and around the corner from Dimples
Posts: 5,291
Reviews: 4
|
hmmmm you got me friend, but your corals look like they are growing like mad!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
07-08-2008, 10:47 AM
|
#12
|
|
spaceman spiff
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,638
Reviews: 72
|
Hard to say it's an alk issue, looks almost like territory to me.
|
|
|
|
|
07-08-2008, 10:53 AM
|
#13
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 406
|
Consider your low Mg contributing to your unstable Alk.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
__________________
...Get ready for shock and awe.
Something so astonishing, even the reef gods don't see it coming! 
|
|
|
|
|
07-08-2008, 11:12 AM
|
#14
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: spartanburg, south carolina
Posts: 4,961
|
Looks like AEFW to me. I battled an infection with them last year and it looked just like that. I would seriously consider breaking that coral from it's base, or break a piece of the affected portion off and do an iodine dip to confirm the diagnosis. The reason I suggest such a radical approach is that if it really is AEFW, you have a majorly serious problem that you need to jump on right away (especially since it looks like you've got plent of acros in your tank).
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07-08-2008, 05:25 PM
|
#15
|
|
Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by YLChik
hmmmm you got me friend, but your corals look like they are growing like mad!!!!
|
Crazy fast! I keep considering thinning out so there are fewer territory wars.
|
|
|
|
|
