Help needed getting parameters under check

[guzman831]

These are my parameters and im not sure how i can fix these still learning runnung carbon ff and got two clowns no cuc and diatoms currently and an anemone my freind gave me even though i told him it wasnt i good idea just want whats best for them any help getting my parameters under check would be appreciated

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Any idea what the phosphate level is?

Calcium is way off and alk is low.

Also, if the tank is 13.5 gallons your best bet is to do water changes in order to get parameters in line.

 

[guzman831]

Sorry phosphates 0 tested using hannah but calcium not sure if im doing it right im using salifert but its ready 0 calcium so maybe im doing it wrong and i just did a 20% water change so ill see what happens

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Sorry phosphates 0 tested using hannah but calcium not sure if im doing it right im using salifert but its ready 0 calcium so maybe im doing it wrong and i just did a 20% water change so ill see what happens

I doubt your calcium is 0 and it may be testing error.

I use the Salifert Calcium test as well. After you put the drops in the vial you then need to use the syringe and go from 1 to .4 of liquid into the vial. Once that’s done then you shake and keep adding drops from the syringe until the color change.

You really don’t want phosphates at 0. It can cause all sorts of problems and your anemone will not be happy long term with zero phosphate.

I would feed more to try to get that number up. I like to keep it between .10 to .30.

 

[guzman831]

Sorry phosphates 0 tested using hannah but calcium not sure if im doing it right im using salifert but its ready 0 calcium so maybe im doing it wrong and i just did a 20% water change so ill see what happens

I doubt your calcium is 0 and it may be testing error.

I use the Salifert Calcium test as well. After you put the drops in the vial you then need to use the syringe and go from 1 to .4 of liquid into the vial. Once that’s done then you shake and keep adding drops from the syringe until the color change.

You really don’t want phosphates at 0. It can cause all sorts of problems and your anemone will not be happy long term with zero phosphate.

I would feed more to try to get that number up. I like to keep it between .10 to .30.

I do that but it seams to turn blue around 1.2 ive tried it twice and i mead from where the bottom of the black part is and maybe flakes with mire phosphates? Im using tdo chroma boost pellets

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I do that but it seams to turn blue around 1.2 ive tried it twice and i mead from where the bottom of the black part is and maybe flakes with mire phosphates? Im using tdo chroma boost pellets

Yup, you can try some flakes as well.

How many times a day do you feed?

Not sure why it would be turning blue immediately. I can’t imagine your calcium is that low. No corals right?

So for salifert you add 2 ml water to the vial. Then 1 level scoop of powder (don’t swirl vial). Then fill syringe with 1 ml liquid and dispense to the .4 ml line. Now swirl and it should turn pink. Then add drop by drop and swirl until it’s blue.

If you do this and it’s not working the test kit may be bad. It should have an expiration date on it as well.

 

[guzman831]

I do that but it seams to turn blue around 1.2 ive tried it twice and i mead from where the bottom of the black part is and maybe flakes with mire phosphates? Im using tdo chroma boost pellets

Yup, you can try some flakes as well.

How many times a day do you feed?

Not sure why it would be turning blue immediately. I can’t imagine your calcium is that low. No corals right?

So for salifert you add 2 ml water to the vial. Then 1 level scoop of powder (don’t swirl vial). Then fill syringe with 1 ml liquid and dispense to the .4 ml line. Now swirl and it should turn pink. Then add drop by drop and swirl until it’s blue.

If you do this and it’s not working the test kit may be bad. It should have an expiration date on it as well.

I feed once a day and mysis shrimp 2 times a week my nem too and yes i have a nem and duncan gsp and zenia my friend gave me i wanted to wait but he insisted they would be fine with just water change ima test again tomorrow just to make sure

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I feed once a day and mysis shrimp 2 times a week my nem too and yes i have a nem and duncan gsp and zenia my friend gave me i wanted to wait but he insisted they would be fine with just water change ima test again tomorrow just to make sure

Ok, all of those corals should be fine with water changes for now. The duncan uses alk/calcium to build its skeleton.

The problem with doing too many water changes is you can drop your nitrate/phosphate to zero. You don’t want to do that because the corlas will be unhappy and possibly die. You can also get cyano, dinos, etc from bottoming out those two things.

I would try feeding twice a day if you can and double check that calcium reading.

 

[guzman831]

I feed once a day and mysis shrimp 2 times a week my nem too and yes i have a nem and duncan gsp and zenia my friend gave me i wanted to wait but he insisted they would be fine with just water change ima test again tomorrow just to make sure

Ok, all of those corals should be fine with water changes for now. The duncan uses alk/calcium to build its skeleton.

The problem with doing too many water changes is you can drop your nitrate/phosphate to zero. You don’t want to do that because the corlas will be unhappy and possibly die. You can also get cyano, dinos, etc from bottoming out those two things.

I would try feeding twice a day if you can and double check that calcium reading.

Yeah thats what happened phosphate 0 and i notices the bubbles already so i m assuming dinos from what ive researched thanks again for the advice

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Yeah thats what happened phosphate 0 and i notices the bubbles already so i m assuming dinos from what ive researched thanks again for the advice

You may need to dose phosphates. Take a look at Brightwell Neophos.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'll second newophos! It is a good way to get your phosphates up.