Duncan/whisker question

[muteturkey]

I've heard its common for duncans to close up for long periods of time but mine has been closed for almost 2 months. I took a good look at it today and counted 2 new heads on it. Is that normal? It's kind of boggling my mind that its closed but growing. I had it high in the tank before it closed, moved it down in less flow, still closed. I know my alk (2.0 meq) and calcium are low (380 ppm) but my ph is 8.1, phosphates and nitrate are 0. Never dosed or tested for mag, I know I need to but I'm just being lazy lol. Tank has been up for 1 1/2 years using the same salt and RODI water. Anyone have an idea? Not a good pic but you get the idea.

 

[muteturkey]

Oh yea, 15-20% waterchanges every 2 weeks, dual t5 HO 2x54w and a 39w aquatic life actinic led strip.

 

[greybolt03]

Mine nevercloses even when the lights go out the only time it closes is if a fish brushes up against it or I touch it

 

[ritter6788]

2.0 meq/l is way too low. That's only 5.6 dkh. Get that number up ASAP. Regular baking soda dosed slowly or water changes with a higher alk salt are needed. Get that number up to 2.5 meq/l minimum (7dkh). Be careful not to raise it too quickly though. What brand of salt are you using?

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/2/chemistry

 

[mainereefer]

you need to get the alk up

get a mag test kit!!
there is no point messing with calcium if you dont know your mag levels
calcium cant be used without mag. I think its 2 parts of mag are needed for every part of calcium or your corals pass it by and dont use it

I would go buy some tropic marin bio-calcium

 

[muteturkey]

Yea I'm trying to get it up. It's come up a little already. I'm dosing reef builder by seachem almost everyday. I'll get some mag test tomorrow and test it. I actually have ions by aquavitro, supposed to be pretty good. Anyone have experience with it? I'll start dosing it tomorrow after I test it. I've been fighting the alk for quite a while.

 

[djmatteo]

How old are your bulbs? Aside from the low dkh perhaps old bulbs could cause it to close trying to get more light. I read goniporas do that, perhaps duncans do it as well. I can confirm my duncan will close for 2-3 days and then open back up.. it does it regularly but i still worry. I cant believe yours has been closed that long, crazy!

 

[muteturkey]

I replaced them mid January so right at 8 months old. I didn't even think about that. I can't believe it either, and its got 2 new heads. I'm so confused lol.

 

[ritter6788]

I'm so confused lol.

Don't be. :) Your alk is low and low enough to be a problem. Fix that and keep it steady along with the other parameters and I'll bet that Duncan will pop open.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

I lose LPS at with low alk. 100% certain its your water chemistry levels.

 

[muteturkey]

Yea I've been fighting the alk for a while. I dose the tank regularly and dose the new water going in pretty high. I've gotten it to 3.5 meq once then it dropped back down to 2.0 and it hasn't been up since. I was confused as to how I was getting growth lol.

 

[muteturkey]

Could low mag cause the alk to stay low? My mag came out to 990 on my salifert test. I hit it with some ions by aquavitro.

 

[nata]

Duncans hate low alk...get it higher

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

yes that could have alot to do with it

 

[muteturkey]

Well I kind of figured it would be low since I never dose for it. Funny how I know I should do more but just don't lol but don't worry, I'll get it up. I do care if my corals are happy or not lol.

 

[YVR]

+1 on using the Tropic Marin Bio Calcium. I've hhad very good results in my mixed LPS and SPS tank, it is very convenient and takes much of the guess work out of dosing Ca. But be sure to always test for everything you add into your tank.