New to LPS and I got my first hammer yesterday does it look well or should I be worried?

[KingAh123]

I wondered if it looks alright considering its brand new.
Water parameters:
Salinity: 1.024
PH: 8
Phosphates: 0.03
Nitrate: 0.5
Ammonia: 0
Nitrit: 0
Alkalinity: 10
Temperature: 23C - 24.5C

 

[Petcrazyson]

I wondered if it looks alright considering its brand new.
Water parameters:
Salinity: 1.024
PH: 8
Phosphates: 0.03
Nitrate: 0.5
Ammonia: 0
Nitrit: 0
Alkalinity: 10
Temperature: 23C - 24.5C

Considering it’s not even 30 hours in the tank it looks good. Just not opened yet. It can take a day or two or three for a LPS to open and look puffy again. All the parameters seem good I would just raise the pH as it’s a little low. Do you know your Calcium and Magnesium levels?

 

[Idoc]

He'll take a little while to settle into your system and may stay a little angry for a few days or so. But, my LPS tend to like a little more nitrates (5-20ppm in my system).

 

[MamaMolo]

It doesn’t look bad. Maybe stressed since it’s closed up some. I feel your Alk is high for low nutrients though. Don’t do anything fast but I keep my tank at 7.5-8 Alk and My nutrients r 5-10 nitrate and .05-.08 phosphate.

 

[Petcrazyson]

@Idoc puts a good point your water seems just a tad bit too clean. You can raise your nutrient levels a little higher by feeding a bit more.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Aim for @MamaMolo nitrate and phosphate levels

 

[KingAh123]

Considering it’s not even 30 hours in the tank it looks good. Just not opened yet. It can take a day or two or three for a LPS to open and look puffy again. All the parameters seem good I would just raise the pH as it’s a little low. Do you know your Calcium and Magnesium levels?

Not yet I need to get a test kit that can test for it. My Ph was a little low a week ago around 7 but I raised it by opening my window. I haven't opened my window that often considering its winter freezing temps outside and my room is already cold as it is around 18-20C so I haven't really gotten the motivation to open it that often if not at all.
Can the Ph be raised with water change i'm still new to the hobby.

 

[KingAh123]

@Idoc puts a good point your water seems just a tad bit too clean. You can raise your nutrient levels a little higher by feeding a bit more.

Good, I accidentally poured too much food in this morning not a whole lot but so much that most of it landed on the sand, I just hope that my nassarius will not eat it all considering they eat like pigs.

 

[ilikefish69]

Not yet I need to get a test kit that can test for it. My Ph was a little low a week ago around 7 but I raised it by opening my window. I haven't opened my window that often considering its winter freezing temps outside and my room is already cold as it is around 18-20C so I haven't really gotten the motivation to open it that often if not at all.
Can the Ph be raised with water change i'm still new to the hobby.

Your salt should tell you at what level it mixes, so if it has higher PH than your display and you WC, it should increase it.

The nitrate/phosphate levels being a little low are more of the issue, just feed the tank a little bit more or add another fishy or two I had to put 11 fish in my tank before I could get no3/po4 levels I was happy with

 

[Petcrazyson]

Not yet I need to get a test kit that can test for it. My Ph was a little low a week ago around 7 but I raised it by opening my window. I haven't opened my window that often considering its winter freezing temps outside and my room is already cold as it is around 18-20C so I haven't really gotten the motivation to open it that often if not at all.
Can the Ph be raised with water change i'm still new to the hobby.

You could do that. You could also buy Seachem’s pH booster. Those have always worked well for me.

 

[nereefpat]

The only parameter I would change would be to increase salinity a couple points to 1.026.

Lighting and flow are also important. They can take high light, but I would error on the dim side.

I agree it looks okay for a new specimen.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Not yet I need to get a test kit that can test for it. My Ph was a little low a week ago around 7 but I raised it by opening my window. I haven't opened my window that often considering its winter freezing temps outside and my room is already cold as it is around 18-20C so I haven't really gotten the motivation to open it that often if not at all.
Can the Ph be raised with water change i'm still new to the hobby.

The salt you are using should tell you what the mag and calc levels are, but it doesn’t account for how fast the corals use it up. The quicker you can get a test kit for those two elements the better. I would AquaForest Test Pro Magnesium kit and RedSea Calcium Pro kit.

 

[nereefpat]

You could do that. You could also buy Seachem’s pH booster. Those have always worked well for me.

That raises alkalinity, which already on the high end.

 

[Petcrazyson]

That raises alkalinity, which already on the high end.

Well I was trying to type a response for that issue but you beat me to it. He would have to lower the DKH if he uses the bottle. But 10 DKH is a preference yk. Some people have really good success with high DKH.

 

[KingAh123]

It doesn’t look bad. Maybe stressed since it’s closed up some. I feel your Alk is high for low nutrients though. Don’t do anything fast but I keep my tank at 7.5-8 Alk and My nutrients r 5-10 nitrate and .05-.08 phosphate.

My alkalinity has been around 12 a week ago. Strange that LPS needs high nutrients I didn't know that. My florida ricordeas have been doing great the past 3-5 months. What is the most effective way of lowering alkalinity?

 

[Petcrazyson]

My alkalinity has been around 12 a week ago. Strange that LPS needs high nutrients I didn't know that. My florida ricordeas have been doing great the past 3-5 months. What is the most effective way of lowering alkalinity?

By a lot more coral

 

[Petcrazyson]

That raises alkalinity, which already on the high end.

I keep my DKH at 9 and that’s what I plan to be using for all my corals. 7-7.5 would be on the lower side. 8 would be the “average” level. With 10-11 on the higher end. And with 12 being a little too high. What’s your DKH at?

 

[KingAh123]

The salt you are using should tell you what the mag and calc levels are, but it doesn’t account for how fast the corals use it up. The quicker you can get a test kit for those two elements the better. I would AquaForest Test Pro Magnesium kit and RedSea Calcium Pro kit.

I use the AF reef salt which has 360-380 Ca, 1170-1190 mg and 310-330 K doesn't state PH level though. Maybe I should also skip on changing my filter floss this week which I do every 5 days considering I run my system on a canister filter I try to stay on top of cleaning it to make sure it doesn't become a nitrate factory, but I'll be switching to sump after christmas. Could my fish stocking be the reason for low nutrient? most of them are not even a year old. My tank is a 375 liter:
2 ocellaris clownfish
1 bicolor blenny
4 chromis
1 newly added neon goby
1 diamond watchman goby
1 yellow watchman goby
1 green clowngoby
1 blue sapphire damsel
1 royal gramma.

 

[ilikefish69]

Those are all small fish, correct? Less than 3-4”?

my 125 has
2 chromis
1 kole tang (full grown, pushing 8”)
3 wrasse
1 orange shoulder tang
Falco hawkfiah
Mandarin
Midas blenny
2 clownfish

and with those 12 fish, my nitrates stay between 10-30 and phosphates 0.02-0.1 depending on feeding, filter sock cleanliness, and how much I run skimmer.

I find it is easier to fight high nitrates than it is to fight low nitrates, but opposite for phosphates. In the first year just test test test and that way u develop good baseline and what is “stable” for your setup, then try to keep it as close to that, as long as everything is happy and showing growth

 

[KingAh123]

I keep my DKH at 9 and that’s what I plan to be using for all my corals. 7-7.5 would be on the lower side. 8 would be the “average” level. With 10-11 on the higher end. And with 12 being a little too high. What’s your DKH at?

Here is my lightning schedule, I put my light on acclimation mode starting at 40% over 30 days.
By the way, I also added some zoas with my hammers some of the polyps were fully open yesterday but they have only been in "peaking" mode some are fully closed:

Here is one of my ricordeas I have 3: