Favias keep dying

[Canaan Gary]

Hello. I have no idea why my favia frags won’t grow. I’ve had my tank for about 7 months and here are my current parameters:
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Calcium : 430 ppm
Nitrate: 2 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
pH: 8.0 pH
Phosphate: .50 ppm
Salinity: 1.025 SG

I haven’t tried testing alkalinity or magnesium yet. Would that really be the problem though? I am new to the hobby, so I will take all the advice I can get.
On top of that, my candy canes won’t inflate. All of my hammers are doing great along with my rose BTA and Duncan’s. I even have a chalice that’s doing okay, so I’m not quite sure why my favias and candy canes are struggling. Thank you for any advice I can get.

 

[A Young Reefer]

Alkalinity is one of the most (if not the most ) important parameters. you need to test it and adjust the dosage if needed a good kh level ranges from 7-9 dkh. Also for the Phosphate do you mean 0.05?

 

[Canaan Gary]

Okay I will start testing and dosing alk. And for phosphate, I meant .5. Here’s my test:
I’m dosing phosban but I just started

 

[LIreefguy]

Alkalinity is one of the most (if not the most ) important parameters. you need to test it and adjust the dosage if needed a good kh level ranges from 7-9 dkh. Also for the Phosphate do you mean 0.05?

Alkalinity is the most important, you had it right the first time
Simply because if not tested it can swing a lot if tank is nicely stocked

nothing will kill sps or lps faster than big alk swings

also op
You say you aren’t testing for alk. Does that mean your not dosing

 

[Canaan Gary]

Alkalinity is the most important, you had it right the first time
Simply because if not tested it can swing a lot if tank is nicely stocked

nothing will kill sps or lps faster than big alk swings

also op
You say you aren’t testing for alk. Does that mean your not dosing

Correct lol. Not dosing because I’m not testing. I’ll pick up some test and reef fusion 2 today. It’s weird cause I am doing a chalice just fine but my red monti died right away. Here’s what the dying ones look like:

 

[A Young Reefer]

Alkalinity is the most important, you had it right the first time
Simply because if not tested it can swing a lot if tank is nicely stocked

nothing will kill sps or lps faster than big alk swings

also op
You say you aren’t testing for alk. Does that mean your not dosing

well now the hot topic of the hobby is Ph and how getting it right will in turn help you achieve good kh and ca levels.
I am currently experimenting this on my tank.
OP I think the phosphate is pretty high.

 

[A Young Reefer]

Recommended phosphate levels is from 0.03-0.1, its hard to get these numbers on your testing kit so I would recommend something like the hannah phosphate checker or salifert as a cheaper option.

 

[Canaan Gary]

well now the hot topic of the hobby is Ph and how getting it right will in turn help you achieve good kh and ca levels.
I am currently experimenting this on my tank.
OP I think the phosphate is pretty high.

Yeah I’m struggling to get it down. I have a make shift reactor that I’ve tried with phosban and phosban in a media tray and neither have done to great. I tried phosguard and it didn’t work at all. What is your goal for pH?

 

[A Young Reefer]

Yeah I’m struggling to get it down. I have a make shift reactor that I’ve tried with phosban and phosban in a media tray and neither have done to great. I tried phosguard and it didn’t work at all. What is your goal for pH?

I have mine at 7.8 would like to raise it to the 8 ish range, wont recommend you now to do any changes to it (Don't fix something that isn't broken). for now master the basic fundamentals.

 

[Canaan Gary]

I have mine at 7.8 would like to raise it to the 8 ish range, wont recommend you now to do any changes to it (Don't fix something that isn't broken). for now master the basic fundamentals.

Yeah mine is about 8 now. I’ve got my calc good using reef fusion 1. Should I start doing magnesium on top of alk?

 

[A Young Reefer]

Yeah mine is about 8 now. I’ve got my calc good using reef fusion 1. Should I start doing magnesium on top of alk?

not now no only adjust parameters after testing for your water and making sure that it is indeed low and needs adjusting.

 

[LIreefguy]

phosphates is high
But if your going to lower it do it slowly
Big swings are worst for corals than numbers out of the desired ranges

I keep my alk at 10. But anything from 8-11 is good
Ph is only important if you have low ph . Well low for a reef tank