KH, CA, and PH?

[GHD1959]

I have a biocube 14 up and running for over 6 years and the last year I've had problems with the oxygen level in the tank and keeping fish in there. Very low oxygen I have the lid propped open with the feeding tray also now. I am having issues with my pH being too low below 8 and currently have a lot of coral in the tank that don't look really bad some of the hammers are huge but my KH is at 7.3 and my calcium stays at 390 Any suggestions in any of this information?

 

[paul01609]

If you wanting to raise the ph are you using a skimmer?if you are you could run a air line to the outside

 

[paul01609]

And if every thing is happy don’t go chasing numbers go with stability

 

[GHD1959]

If you wanting to raise the ph are you using a skimmer?if you are you could run a air line to the outside

Yes using a skimmer...

 

[nereefpat]

KH of 7.3, pH below 8, and Ca of 390 are all perfectly acceptable values.

Are you still having trouble with fish? Why do you think it was oxygen related? Any water movement, as in powerheads, in the tank?

 

[dadnjesse]

You could use an air stone or a power head across the top of the water.

 

[GHD1959]

KH of 7.3, pH below 8, and Ca of 390 are all perfectly acceptable values.

Are you still having trouble with fish? Why do you think it was oxygen related? Any water movement, as in powerheads, in the tank?

Someone told me it was low oxygen and I have a Salfert oxygen kit...shows low...no fish because I lost to many. Lots of water movement especially at top.

 

[GHD1959]

KH of 7.3, pH below 8, and Ca of 390 are all perfectly acceptable values.

Are you still having trouble with fish? Why do you think it was oxygen related? Any water movement, as in powerheads, in the tank?

Someone told me it was low oxygen and I have a Salfert oxygen kit...shows low...no fish because I lost to many. Lots of water movement especially at top.

 

[GHD1959]

You could use an air stone or a power head across the top of the water.

Have already. Loads of flow.

 

[nereefpat]

Lots of water movement especially at top.

More than likely, something else is going on.

Possibly disease. Hard to tell without a lot more info. But, you've come to the right place to help figure it out.

 

[Lizbeli]

It has been running for 6yrs straight? How deep is the sand bed and how is it maintained? Just throwing hydrogen sulfide out there. IF you have had a deep sand bed and haven’t been replenishing microfauna and caring for it, they can die after many years. Some believe it, some don’t. I have never personally ran a deep sand bed. But if you don’t have one then forget it lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

While I think many tanks have low O2 at night, I would not assume you can diagnose it by kit nor that it is likely your current issue.

 

[BlazinNano]

I have a biocube 14 up and running for over 6 years and the last year I've had problems with the oxygen level in the tank and keeping fish in there. Very low oxygen I have the lid propped open with the feeding tray also now. I am having issues with my pH being too low below 8 and currently have a lot of coral in the tank that don't look really bad some of the hammers are huge but my KH is at 7.3 and my calcium stays at 390 Any suggestions in any of this information?

Are you dosing anything?

 

[GHD1959]

While I think many tanks have low O2 at night, I would not assume you can diagnose it by kit nor that it is likely your current issue.

Then why does salfert make an Oxygen test kit?

 

[GHD1959]

Are you dosing anything?

While I think many tanks have low O2 at night, I would not assume you can diagnose it by kit nor that it is likely your current issue.

Aquarium store owner diagnosed it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Then why does salfert make an Oxygen test kit?

you assume anything sold is useful?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

if i really wanted to use a kit to measure O2, i’d at least try to “calibrate it” by extensively aerating a small batch of new salt water at tank temp and assume that is saturated, then measure the tank water and see if it is different with the kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Aquarium store owner diagnosed it.

i’ve been answering reef chemistry forum questions for more than 25 years. hundreds of thousands of posts. i do not recall a single case where low oxygen in a normal reef tank was killing fish.

 

[GHD1959]

if i really wanted to use a kit to measure O2, i’d at least try to “calibrate it” by extensively aerating a small batch of new salt water at tank temp and assume that is saturated, then measure the tank water and see if it is different with the kit.

My PH was low other than that all parameters was fine.

 

[GHD1959]

Salinity 1.025
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 0
Nitrites. 0
Phosphorus 0.03
Magnesium 1350
KH 7.7
Calcium 390
PH - not 100% sure as color dosent match chart.
Closest looks like 8.0
Tank has protein skimmer added recently and in media basket I have Intank floss, purigen and Phosguard.
Koralia 240 powerhead along with more powerful stock pump with random flow generator attached.
Very healthy huge hammer corals, mushrooms, Xenia ,Kenya tree and alot of zoas.
Fish over the last year make it for a few days to a couple of weeks and die, no spots or anything.
Clownfish, gobies, Damsels.
Prior to this fish thrived , no problems.
Do water changes weekly and large ones also recently.
Have own RODI system always TDS at 0.
Also inverts are always ok..gave fire shrimp also.
If additional information is needed please let me know...I would love to add a few fish again.thankyou all for your help.