Help with coral growth

[kevv]

Hello all, I have been trying to figure out the issue here but I cannot figure it out. I did have low alk and pH problems. Alk as low as 5 and pH sitting around 7.8

GSP is still recovering and looking better however my Duncan and new hammer coral are still not doing well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also pictured is what I think is diatoms but open to see if this is also causing any issues with the coral. I am dosing nitrate as well very minimally. Also using API test kit which I know is pretty bad. I am getting Hanna very soon.

Calc=480
Mag=1450
Alk 11.5
Salinity 1.024
Phos =.08
Temp =78
Ammonia =0ppm
Nitrite =0ppm
Nitrate =0ppm
pH=8.0

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

How old is the tank? That Alk of 5 will probably not allow much stability to provide buffering ability. Dont worry about the ph. Worry about getting your Alk both raised to 7 and kept in that range or higher.

 

[Rocks reef]

Your nitrate is bottomed out, the corals are starving. I'd advise getting your nitrate up to around 5-10. Also, there is no need to test nitrite in a reef tank. Also, based on your post, your alk is high.

 

[kevv]

How old is the tank? That Alk of 5 will probably not allow much stability to provide buffering ability. Dont worry about the ph. Worry about getting your Alk both raised to 7 and kept in that range or higher.

Been running for a little over two months. The low Alk has been corrected and will be maintained now. I’m not sure if that is what caused the decline in health the Duncan has been doing really well since I got it

 

[kevv]

Your nitrate is bottomed out, the corals are starving. I'd advise getting your nitrate up to around 5-10. Also, there is no need to test nitrite in a reef tank. Also, based on your post, your alk is high.

I’ve been dosing nitrate hopefully that will bring it up to the proper levels. Thank you!

 

[Rocks reef]

What are you dosing for nitrate sir?

 

[kevv]

What are you dosing for nitrate sir?

I was Recc’d neonitro from brightwell aquatics

 

[kevv]

I was Recc’d neonitro from brightwell aquatics

What are you dosing for nitrate sir?

I also target feed reef roids but since they are closed up I have not been target feeding the past week or so

 

[Reef Puncher]

I also target feed reef roids but since they are closed up I have not been target feeding the past week or so

reef roids spikes phosphates more than nitrates. just dose nitrate from brightwell. great product. but your coral needs at least some nitrates. aim for 5-10 as others have said.

also, while your salinity isnt bad, its not ideal IMO. shoot for 1.025 or 1.026 if your doing corals. for fish only, then yea 1.024 is fine.

also it doesnt matter if you alk is 7 or 12. what matters is it is within that range, and its stable. not bouncing around. the easiest way to keep it stable is buy a automatic doser. dose either AFR, 2 part, or kalk. kalk is a little trickier for new tank owners like yourself, but it would fix you low ph. its why i use it and AFR both.

 

[kevv]

reef roids spikes phosphates more than nitrates. just dose nitrate from brightwell. great product. but your coral needs at least some nitrates. aim for 5-10 as others have said.

also, while your salinity isnt bad, its not ideal IMO. shoot for 1.025 or 1.026 if your doing corals. for fish only, then yea 1.024 is fine.

also it doesnt matter if you alk is 7 or 12. what matters is it is within that range, and its stable. not bouncing around. the easiest way to keep it stable is buy a automatic doser. dose either AFR, 2 part, or kalk. kalk is a little trickier for new tank owners like yourself, but it would fix you low ph. its why i use it and AFR both.

Thank you I really appreciate it! Definitely need to look into a doser for sure

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I just wanted to add that there is a balance between nutrient levels and alkalinity. If you have lower nutrients like it seem you do; than you’re going to want you dkh around 7-8. If phos is say .3-.4 and nitrates 20-30 you could bump up to 9-10dkh.