Some LPS Struggles
- Thread starter CRABDADDY
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OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Just so I'm clear, I'm filling my entire ato reservoir with 1.026 saltwater and no water, right?
I don't think I evaporate 32oz of water in a full day. I'm not sure on the exact amount I lose to evaporation. I probably evaporate about 2-3 gallons a week I'd estimate based on how often I refill my ato.
Uncle99
7500 Club Member
If you want but for me No, never, I would not use my ATO to make any correction. I just leave the RODI in it but unplug it, and when you do, water level will drop, or you can help it by taking some water out and replace with 1.026 or higher.
You’ll make the increase manually and once their, bring the level up to the ATO sensor and plug it back in. Don’t forget!
You’ll make the increase manually and once their, bring the level up to the ATO sensor and plug it back in. Don’t forget!
Yes. Then fill the ato with fresh 1.026 salt water. Put a yellow sticky note on your tank to remind you to change it back to ro.
Edit: I like uncles idea better. Less chance of disaster
Edit: I like uncles idea better. Less chance of disaster
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Ok, I think I'll do it manually to avoid a mistake. The last thing I want to do is skyrocket salinity because I forget about it.
So, just to be clear, I'll need to wait for water to evaporate, then add 1.026 water a bit at a time until I test the tank water at 1.026? Maybe over the course of a day or two?
So, just to be clear, I'll need to wait for water to evaporate, then add 1.026 water a bit at a time until I test the tank water at 1.026? Maybe over the course of a day or two?
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Got it. Thanks. My only concern with this method is that I'm going to raise my other parameters by doing this. If I mix my saltwater at 1.026 the water I'm going to be adding will be at 11 dKh. That's what the salt I use mixes at. Should I be worried about increasing my alk even further with this method? Or is it worth the swing to get the salinity in check?
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
So, I've been topping off with saltwater manually since yesterday. My salinity is close to 1.025 now. dKh had gone from 9.5 to 9.6, so no big swing there. Fish are behaving normally, but the coral is looking worse.
My torch and frogspawn that looked good yesterday are looking wilted today. The trachy's mouth is even more open than it was before. Maybe it's just me being overly concerned. I knew it wasn't going to fix everything overnight, but I can't help being anxious that everything is going to die. Is this just something that's going to get worse before it gets better?
My torch and frogspawn that looked good yesterday are looking wilted today. The trachy's mouth is even more open than it was before. Maybe it's just me being overly concerned. I knew it wasn't going to fix everything overnight, but I can't help being anxious that everything is going to die. Is this just something that's going to get worse before it gets better?
You are just about at your target. Keep things stable including your alkalinity. I have a wellso that went from this
to this from nutrient starvation where it was more transparent and contracted than in this pic to where I almost threw it out for dead
It has made a slow but steady comeback over many months.
to this from nutrient starvation where it was more transparent and contracted than in this pic to where I almost threw it out for dead
It has made a slow but steady comeback over many months.
Uncle99
7500 Club Member
Increasing 0.001 would cause nothing to die.
With the amount your adding, it would not affect the parameters in any way a hobby grade test would show accurately, just close.
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
So over the past two days I increased my salinity to 1.026 via topping off with saltwater manually and a 20% water change. As I suspected, I got a big rise in alk calc, and magnesium. I guess that was unavoidable because of my salt mix. I think I just need to leave things alone at this point. I'm not sure the increase in salinity was even worth it because of the added stress in the swing in all the other parameters. I appreciate all the help from everyone. I'm just a little frustrated at the moment because I feel like despite my best efforts I'm just making this problem worse. Some of the corals look noticably worse than before, especially the torch and frogspawn. Those two had no issues before and now they're looking quite rough.
Levels before salinity increase:
Levels after salinity increase:
Levels before salinity increase:
Levels after salinity increase:
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Is it ok to switch salts like that? I'd considered it before, but at this point I really don't want to change anything else. I really wish I'd had the checkers when I first mixed up my salt so I would have at least started with the correct mix. To my understanding as long as the parameters are stable within the acceptable ranges things should be ok. Maybe I just don't know enough about it.
Uncle99
7500 Club Member
IMO, changing salts is not a problem.
I buy a salt that is very easy for me to get, in stock always, and at a reasonable price, then mix it up, check its output parameters and these numbers become the target.
Im running a mixed reef with elevated parameters so I used Red Sea Pro for years until the price in Canada got to $100 bucks a bucket.
Switched to Fritz Redline 3 years ago which mixed up exactly the same as the Red Sea Pro, but at $60 bucks a case.
Since both mixed up to the same, the change was transparent.
I buy a salt that is very easy for me to get, in stock always, and at a reasonable price, then mix it up, check its output parameters and these numbers become the target.
Im running a mixed reef with elevated parameters so I used Red Sea Pro for years until the price in Canada got to $100 bucks a bucket.
Switched to Fritz Redline 3 years ago which mixed up exactly the same as the Red Sea Pro, but at $60 bucks a case.
Since both mixed up to the same, the change was transparent.
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Hmm, I'll have to think about a salt change. I have a huge bucket of my current salt. I think I'll be ok if I'm able to keep things stable. It should be easier now that my alk is closer to where the salt mixes at. The only other thing I was considering doing was adding a little microbacter7 as my water is pretty cloudy and I'm wondering if that could be part of my issue. I think I'd be safe doing that as I don't think it would really disrupt anything, but feel free to tell me if I'm wrong there.
Uncle99
7500 Club Member
Not wrong.
Always work towards the highest stability you can do in each and every parameter.
I even went as so far to have a fan, blow across the surface, while lights are out to stabilize both PH and Temp.
I use Microbacter 7 to aid diversity of bacteria.
I use Vibrant to keep my DT clean.
These two, plus keeping Nitrate and Phosphate both in the range gave me white sand and 3 days between glass cleaning.
Im a believer in a strong population of diversity.
I never been able to get their in less than 9 months.
It seems, at least for me, that around 8 months, everything seems to just come together and it’s quite noticeable.
Always work towards the highest stability you can do in each and every parameter.
I even went as so far to have a fan, blow across the surface, while lights are out to stabilize both PH and Temp.
I use Microbacter 7 to aid diversity of bacteria.
I use Vibrant to keep my DT clean.
These two, plus keeping Nitrate and Phosphate both in the range gave me white sand and 3 days between glass cleaning.
Im a believer in a strong population of diversity.
I never been able to get their in less than 9 months.
It seems, at least for me, that around 8 months, everything seems to just come together and it’s quite noticeable.
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Hmm, I haven't checked pH in quite awhile. I should check that today too. I was weary of doing too much for the tank since it's new, but I think the microbacter7 is a relatively low opportunity cost. Ordered a bottle and I'll start dosing that tomorrow. Hopefully that clears up the water a little and helps the corals in some way.
Again, I very much appreciate all the help from everyone. I hope things start looking up in the next few weeks! I'll update if anything changes.
Again, I very much appreciate all the help from everyone. I hope things start looking up in the next few weeks! I'll update if anything changes.
Just keep an eye on your salinity and dKH if you start dosing magnesium as sometimes adjusting one will move another. I'd agree with the others here and say it's likely salinity and magnesium.
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Yeah, more than likely. The magnesium wasn't as low as I originally listed it. I think it was around 1240ppm or so. I made a testing error. It's at 1330 now so I'm going to leave it be.
Everything is still looking pretty sad today. Hoping for better days soon.
Everything is still looking pretty sad today. Hoping for better days soon.
OP
OP
CRABDADDY
Active Member
Found my torch bailing out polyps today. Torch, frogspawn and trachy continue to get worse. I'm afraid they're all done for at this point. I'm not experienced enough to really know, but they're looking bad. No signs on improvement yet... Probably looking at close to $500 in losses of all those die. That's a pretty hard pill to swallow... I guess it's my fault for loading up the tank too soon. Everything seemed to be going well until it all fell apart.
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