insane water parameters

[finaddictfred]

I have been trying to figure this out and need some input. Heres the deal.
55 gal tank
4-5 in DSB ( 75# of silica 25# of aragonite )
CPR Skimmer
Twin 65 wt pc's ( 7 hour photoperiod )
2 powerheads

63# Fiji LR from an established reef
12 Turbo snails ( wiped out )
14 Cerith snails ( all doing well )
12 Margarita snails ( not doing well but not a wipe )
1 Mantis shrimp ( that I can see so far )
1 Sea slug ( unsure of what type..too small to ID )
1 Emerald crab
1 Unknown crab ( does not appear to be a Hairy )
1 Lawnmower Blennie ( going nuts chowin down )
ALL CORALS CAME ON LR
2 Flower Leathers
6 Zoos
2 Mushrooms

SG = 1.024 ( Coralife salt mixxed with Ro from lfs )
Temp = 80
Am = 0
Ni = 0
Nt = 0
Ph = 7.7
Ca = 650
Ak = 8.0 Dkh
Mg = 1950

I am using Salifert as my test kits and they are brand new.

I need some serious help on this water thing..if all my snails were kicking off or the whole tank was a wipe then I may be able to narrow it down but some stuffs alive somes dead and somes just doing poorly and I'm bafffffled

[JennM]

Your pH is way too low. Should be 8.0 - 8.4 and many consider 8.3 to be the "ideal".

I like Seachem buffer - I've tried a few different kinds, but Seachem seems to work the best for me. Supposed to buffer to 8.3 but my systems are rock solid at 8.2 and I'm happy with that - no fluctuations.

IMO - mix your own saltwater and use either Kent or Instant Ocean Salt. I've heard a few intersting stories about Coralife salt - I like some of their other products but I wouldn't use their salt. (JMO...)

I think if you get the pH up, your snails should stop dying.

HTH

Jenn

[mojoreef]

Micro I am bring this up from memory but I believe that coralife uses a different type of carbonate that will give you a false test reading hunless you are using a particular type that measures that type of carbonate. Try doing a search on coralife carbonate and see I you can find more info. I will look for a link for ya to


Mike

[Joel]

I've used coralife salt for the last 2 years with Fastest KH and Seachem reef status CA test kits and it seems fine IME.

[finaddictfred]

The Calcium is so high that its snowing in the tank. Thats why I'm inclined to agree with my test results that its way out of whack.

[mojoreef]

OK then how about your mag is to high and its causing your carbonate not to percipatate the calcium. Best thing to do is to allow is a series of water changes to try to dilute the water. Keep doing sucessivewater changes until the parameter come closer to what they should be. Kinda like dilute the problem until you have replaced all the skewed water.


Mike

[finaddictfred]

I'm going to start the water changes tomorrow using my LFS pre mixxed salt water and then switch ovver to IO salt.

[mojoreef]

Thats what I would do to

Mike

[Joel]

I've heard a few intersting stories about Coralife salt

??????????? Please share the stories.

[mojoreef]

Noel Coral life has a massive amount of Lithium in it. almost 90 times what is found in Nsw or any other salt. Also it uses boran as a bufferer which is a completly different buffering system then in NSW. Thier were a couple of threads on Randy fairles forum talking about the impossibilty to get proper alk readings. Also another is that it comes with highly elevated Magnesium levels , which is what I believe to be Micronauts problem


Hope it helps


Mike

[Joel]

On one of those other sites there is a poll for what everyone is using in the way of salt. Instant Ocean is currently in the lead with 51% and Reef Crystals in second with 9%. Not usually one to jump on the bandwagon but do I need to take a hint? Is IO ok and Reef Crystals better? Or both about the same?

[mojoreef]

I perfer IO

Mike

[finaddictfred]

I'm in the process of switching..got 20 gallons of premixxed from the LFS I deal with now and doing 5 gallon water changes every 3 days. One of the Turbos that I had figurted for deaad is now scrounging around and seems to be doing well, as are the margaritas that have been all shrivled up and unmoving. Thanks for the help y'all..on the road to recovery !!