Acroporia colony RTN

[drivingmecrazy]

On January 24th I posted a thread about RTN issue I was having. I followed all comments recommended.

I purchased a dosing pump so I could keep alk and calcium at natural sea levels for a better stability.

The RTN issue cleared up. I tried to increase salinity to 1.025 But where I previously was dosing my alk shot up to 10dkh.

The corals were already under stress.
So I backed it down to 1.024 and decided to let the corals deplete the Alk and calcium levels to the desired level 8dkh and yesterday I raise the salt level to 1.025 all seamed fine but came home to find another Acroporia colony bit the dust from RTN.

I tested the Alk and it was At 8.2 dkh.

What am I missing. The Acroporia that died was originally bleached white. Within the last two weeks it has gained most of the purple back and was doing great. I use instant ocean sea salt the salt was mixed well, 3 days ago. I confirmed correct salinity. And was same temp as aquarium. I use aTDS meter and it shows zero

I don't want to start dosing until my salinity is up to the natural sea level at 1.026

It seams as every time I try to raise my salinity something bad happens. I am clueless.

I appreciate reef 2 reef help. I really want to see this problem resolved.

My temp is a constant 78.

Any recommendations?

 

[mitch91175]

How are you testing you salinity? Refractometer? If so, when was the last time you did the calibrate on it? I didn't get any RTN issues, but once before I didn't calibrate my refractometer and my salinity was much higher than I originally thought.

Some things you won't be able to prevent from occurring honestly. Once you have your parameters where you want them, just do you best to keep them stable. That's the best advice that I can give you to try to help with the issue. Instability will always result into frustration and the eventual death of coral, specially SPS.

Don't know all that occurred, but you want to pick parameters and stick to them for a while.

 

[JDtimk]

Unfortunately that is a situation that we have all been through more than once. You are doing the right thing by working on stability in your tank. Sometimes acros get stressed beyond return and they die even if you are making some of the right steps for your tank's overall stability. Between bleaching and RTN, your coral may not have had enough reserves to weather another change in it's environment.
Keep doing what you are doing with stability of parameters and you have one of the major elements of tank husbandry down. Just work on balancing nutrients, light, flow and stability of major, minor and trace elements.
Keeping acro is not an easy endeavor, so keep at it.

 

[Gablami]

Sometimes when you listen to too many suggestions you end up changing things for the worse. I would say stop changing the salinity, pick one and stay with it. Stop changing the alkalinity, pick a level and dose to keep it there. Don’t change your lighting or anything else. Let the acros adapt to the environment, and you may lose a couple here and there at first, but eventually you will win.

Sometimes it takes a year (or longer) for SPS to really grow — the so called “maturing” process.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I see a sudden chasing of numbers for which acro suffer the most when done.
1.02-1.027 is fine but I question accuracy also. I would suggest to take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test water for comparison with your readings to start with let take the time to enjoy your tank rather than targeting parameters.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to aim for stability and I will stop chasing the numbers.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to aim for stability and I will stop chasing the numbers.

It will pay off. I know we all want to sustain our fish and coral as best as possible but we also have to do what we set these systems up for, and that is to “ TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY WHAT WE CREATED “

If we want to spend time chasing numbers, we don’t need a tank but rather- A CALCULATOR . . . Lol

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Just wanted to say this post is now closed.

Mitch91175 called it. My specific gravity meter bit the dust. I usually compare it with my refractometer because it's been accurate, quick and easy and I like using it.

Yesterday I did a full 3 hour test of all parameters and I pulled out the refractometer and my salt level is at 1.031. I thought this had to be wrong and I calibrated it with both 1.026 solution and RO water both came out high I thought this can't be right so I drove down to the local store and it was confirmed. 1.031 yikes.

I'm now gradually lowering my salinity.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of the reef community and friends.

I will continue to work on the constant parameters. This problem has been solved. So if anyone uses there trusty equipment.

Be sure to do a monthly check of the said "trusty" equipment.[emoji2]

This has been a headache. Now headache is gone.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

How are you testing you salinity? Refractometer? If so, when was the last time you did the calibrate on it? I didn't get any RTN issues, but once before I didn't calibrate my refractometer and my salinity was much higher than I originally thought.

Some things you won't be able to prevent from occurring honestly. Once you have your parameters where you want them, just do you best to keep them stable. That's the best advice that I can give you to try to help with the issue. Instability will always result into frustration and the eventual death of coral, specially SPS.

Don't know all that occurred, but you want to pick parameters and stick to them for a while.

Thank you

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just wanted to say this post is now closed.

Mitch91175 called it. My specific gravity meter bit the dust. I usually compare it with my refractometer because it's been accurate, quick and easy and I like using it.

Yesterday I did a full 3 hour test of all parameters and I pulled out the refractometer and my salt level is at 1.031. I thought this had to be wrong and I calibrated it with both 1.026 solution and RO water both came out high I thought this can't be right so I drove down to the local store and it was confirmed. 1.031 yikes.

I'm now gradually lowering my salinity.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of the reef community and friends.

I will continue to work on the constant parameters. This problem has been solved. So if anyone uses there trusty equipment.

Be sure to do a monthly check of the said "trusty" equipment.[emoji2]

This has been a headache. Now headache is gone.

Knew it !! I though salinity had to be a culprit and why I suggested a second comparison. Glad you found it. My trust has been the new salinity/temp unit by Ice-cap. Best $80 ive spent on equipment

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Knew it !! I though salinity had to be a culprit and why I suggested a second comparison. Glad you found it. My trust has been the new salinity/temp unit by Ice-cap. Best $80 ive spent on equipment

I'll look into it[emoji106]

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'll look into it[emoji106]

Youre going to slap yourself like I did for not using something like this sooner. Way too easy and results in 20 seconds

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Youre going to slap yourself like I did for not using something like this sooner. Way too easy and results in 20 seconds

Can this be calibrated?

 

[vetteguy53081]

yes

 

[drivingmecrazy]

yes

Are you sure this can be calibrated.

I don't see any instructions.

Thank you,

Christopher

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are you sure this can be calibrated.

I don't see any instructions.

Thank you,

Christopher

Simply place in RO water and zero out. Then place in Calibration solution and hit button 4X to get solution reading. Then rinse in RO and you are ready to go

 

[P-Dub]

Just wanted to say this post is now closed.

Mitch91175 called it. My specific gravity meter bit the dust. I usually compare it with my refractometer because it's been accurate, quick and easy and I like using it.

Yesterday I did a full 3 hour test of all parameters and I pulled out the refractometer and my salt level is at 1.031. I thought this had to be wrong and I calibrated it with both 1.026 solution and RO water both came out high I thought this can't be right so I drove down to the local store and it was confirmed. 1.031 yikes.

I'm now gradually lowering my salinity.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of the reef community and friends.

I will continue to work on the constant parameters. This problem has been solved. So if anyone uses there trusty equipment.

Be sure to do a monthly check of the said "trusty" equipment.[emoji2]

This has been a headache. Now headache is gone.

The Ice Cap is a great solution. Alternatively, you can keep using the refractometer if it is still good, if I'm reading your comments correctly. I calibrate my refractometer EVERY TIME I use it before testing tank water. Every time.

 

[madweazl]

The Ice Cap is a great solution. Alternatively, you can keep using the refractometer if it is still good, if I'm reading your comments correctly. I calibrate my refractometer EVERY TIME I use it before testing tank water. Every time.

I do the same, it's so easy to do and literally only takes a minute. Cheap insurance.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Thank you for all of your post.