BTA seems to be having issues

[Fusion94]

Got this tank setup from someone and the anemone seems to be inflating/deflating alot and just acting strange. It has a fluval marine nano light and a miniq skimmer. There was also a fluval cp1 in here but don't think the anemone liked it as he was always moving.
Clownfish seems to be doing great.
Is this light enough? I also have a k7 mini i can use if needed.
In the process of cycling a 60gal cube but still probably a month away from that being operational.
Salinity is 1.025
Ph 8.2
Temp 78
Ammonia/nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
Dkh 12
Calcium 500
Phosphate .5
Occasionally feeding it either a cut up silverside or some brine shrimp

 

[Fusion94]

Here are few other pics from the last week or 2

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[dvgyfresh]

Alkalinity is way too high for my liking , I would lower it to 8-9 dkh range - how long was this tank set up? Never heard of the light so can’t speak to it , also chill on feeding if the anemone is not looking good

 

[BryanM]

has the tank always been that high alk? Thats the only real standout ... Not off the charts high, but it is high.

I don't know much about that light, but seeing the BTA on the bottom I'd think its plenty of light, otherwise mine tend to creep up to the top of the tank looking for more.

 

[Fusion94]

Yes the ALK has been high since i got it.So I have been using tap water through a RO. The ph usually comes in about 7.6 so I have to buffer up and that brings the alk up. I just used some distilled water with the instant reef salt and the pH is 8.1ish and alk is 9.
Also it always seems to act funny in later afternoon. Seemed OK all day until 4ish and then started to look like this.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Distilled water ? Tap water? You should be using RODI water who knows what contaminants you could be potentially be adding - I started my tank with distilled water found out my phosphate was over 2.0ppm and who knows what else I was adding . Point is first thing in keeping a reef tank is ensuring the water is pure - use only
RODI

 

[dvgyfresh]

I would highly suggest you never chase PH , and lower alkalinity. Ph is a byproduct of maintenance / oxygen availablility and alkalinity , you shouldn’t need to adjust for it

 

[Fusion94]

I have a RODI on order and will be here in the AM.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I have a RODI on order and will be here in the AM.

That’s awesome! May be a good idea to use a poly filter for a bit to get out anything bad