Coral problem

AJI23 · Mar 10, 2015

Hi every one. I have some acans gusto added. When I addedthem they were all open and doing great. Bought from lfs dipped and acclimated. We're doing great for the first 3 days. Then they all closed up and look like they are wilting away. All parameters are great except mag which is a little high. Alk 8.4Ca 435Mg 1600Salinity 1.026Temp 79.5Phos 0ppmNitrite 0Nitrate 1.4. I'm running a 120g 48x24x30. 40g breeder sump. 2 Kessil a350w tuna blue. 2 Mp40wes(justed added) ( after noticed them closed up) reef octopus nwb150. Brs dual GFO carbon reactor. Digital aquatics elite controller. 3 brs dosers. Currently dosing 40 min at 1.1ml 12 times a day alk. And 35min at 1.1ml of calcium 12x aday. And mag at 20 ml aday. Don't have a lot of corals. A few frags. Monti,hammer,Paly, acan, DuncanPlease help as I have no idea what's happening. And why they are closing up. I even brought my water to a lfs to have them check it. And all my readings were spot on. No difference. WhAt could cause this.

redfishbluefish · Mar 10, 2015

I need to understand your dosing.......assuming pumps deliver 1.1 mls per minute.

So for alk you are dose 40 minutes, 12 times a day for a total of (40 x 1.1 x 12) 528 mls of alk per day.

And for calc, 35 minutes, 12 times a day, for a total of (35 x 1.1 x 12) 462 mls of calc per day.

For a tank that is lightly populated, that seems like an awful lot of alk and calc. I have a mature 90 gallon tank and only dose about 45 minutes with BRS 1.1 pumps....total, per day.

Just doesn't seem right.

diablomaster9045 · Mar 10, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
I need to understand your dosing.......assuming pumps deliver 1.1 mls per minute.

So for alk you are dose 40 minutes, 12 times a day for a total of (40 x 1.1 x 12) 528 mls of alk per day.

And for calc, 35 minutes, 12 times a day, for a total of (35 x 1.1 x 12) 462 mls of calc per day.

For a tank that is lightly populated, that seems like an awful lot of alk and calc. I have a mature 90 gallon tank and only dose about 45 minutes with BRS 1.1 pumps....total, per day.

Just doesn't seem right.

1+ Thats a lot!

AJI23 · Mar 10, 2015

I feel the same way. But this is what keeps my parameters stable. It's s total volume of 160gallons including sump.

AJI23 · Mar 10, 2015

I tested parameters and had them tested by my lfs and they are stable at 8.4 and 435. I use me reef keeper elite to dose. I go thru a gallon a week of each.

redfishbluefish · Mar 10, 2015

With your comment of "Don't have a lot of corals. A few frags. Monti,hammer,Paly, acan, Duncan," makes me believe that something isn't right. With a light load of corals (and I'm assuming no clams), you can't be using that much alk and calc. Maybe, because of the large dose, you're precipitating the stuff. Again, I have a mature mixed reef and only use about 45 minutes worth of dosing.....about 50 mls.

I just used the BRS reef calculator, inputting 160 gallons total volume, and at 528 mls of alk (assuming BRS concentrations of alk solution), that calculates to approximately 4.6 dkh per day. That's some major dosing!!!