Water test show critically low major and minor causing coral problems?

[crappie]

I had my water tested with ATI and I have several major and minor elements that are critically low. Will this cause RTN or STN? I will post a screenshot of the test.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Don’t just accept icp company’s assertions about the sky is falling.

Is there any apparent issue in the tank?

Do you do water changes?

Some things are a concern, such as the low potassium, maybe others.

 

[crappie]

Yes the issues are I have lost a birdsnest and other SPS corals are showing signs of problems. I also was doing 5g water changes weekly using instant ocean and it’s a 40g breeder.

I should also state that I’ve been trying to reverse this for a couple months and have posted before. I successfully used your ammonium bicarbonate method to raise the nitrate level and dosed Neophos to raise the phos levels. I think I made things worse because the SPS polyps were not coming out as much as before so I ordered the tests thinking I may have excess elements that I wasn’t testing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t know if the loses are due to those values, but IMO, I’d accelerate the water changes and dose a supplement like Tropic Marin A and K. I’d also bring up potassium with food grade potassium chloride, such as from Now Foods.

 

[crappie]

Now please don’t get mad at me but I must come clean and bring you up to date…

Before the problems started with the coral, I had been slowly gathering material and building a system to upgrade the 40 to a 75 because the fish were getting territorial and the coral was rapidly growing.

This last weekend after I had sent the tests in and before I received the results I decided to move quickly and completely upgraded to the 75! I was under the assumption that something was terribly wrong with the water and I didn’t want to wait for everything to die! I upgraded everything!

That being said… I appreciate your reply and support very much!!!

 

[KrisReef]

Now please don’t get mad at me but I must come clean and bring you up to date…

Before the problems started with the coral, I had been slowly gathering material and building a system to upgrade the 40 to a 75 because the fish were getting territorial and the coral was rapidly growing.

This last weekend after I had sent the tests in and before I received the results I decided to move quickly and completely upgraded to the 75! I was under the assumption that something was terribly wrong with the water and I didn’t want to wait for everything to die! I upgraded everything!

That being said… I appreciate your reply and support very much!!!

You are forgiven. Can you post a picture of the new tank?

What are the parameters currently, (Alk, CA, & MG?) Those are the (basic) ones to work to keep steady for coral health.

Basic = critical? Stability with ALk and adequate nutrients N & P are also part of the "Stability" = resist RTN equation(s).

 

[KrisReef]

ALso, off subject, are you a Crappie Dad or ar Crappie granddad?

I have taught my grandson some good tricks but we have not been fishing, so I'm not a Crappie Grandad yet? :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[crappie]

You are forgiven. Can you post a picture of the new tank?

What are the parameters currently, (Alk, CA, & MG?) Those are the (basic) ones to work to keep steady for coral health.

Basic = critical? Stability with ALk and adequate nutrients N & P are also part of the "Stability" = resist RTN equation(s).

I will take some pictures when the lights turn on in a few hours.
Alk-7-8 trying to raise to 8.5 slowly. The 75 uses more then the 40 probably because of the added 40lbs of dry Marco rock and 60lbs of new sand. I gave the new sand away thinking it held lots of detritus.
Cal is 400
Mag is 1300

Part of the upgrade included an Apex pro and since everything is on sale today I just ordered the trident for 20% off! It will be nice to see the levels over time on the Apex!

 

[crappie]

ALso, off subject, are you a Crappie Dad or ar Crappie granddad?

I have taught my grandson some good tricks but we have not been fishing, so I'm not a Crappie Grandad yet? :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

Just a crappie dad! The kid in the pic was 3 when I took it and is now 14. He loved any kind of fishing for about 10 years. Just recently he has lost interest in it. I remember coming home from work and he would have the poles ready wanting to head to the lake and me not really wanting to go. I asked him last Friday if he wanted to go crappie fishing at the local heated dock and he said no he was hanging out with friends and that I should take his younger brother. Funny how things change!

 

[KrisReef]

I will take some pictures when the lights turn on in a few hours.
Alk-7-8 trying to raise to 8.5 slowly. The 75 uses more then the 40 probably because of the added 40lbs of dry Marco rock and 60lbs of new sand. I gave the new sand away thinking it held lots of detritus.
Cal is 400
Mag is 1300

Part of the upgrade included an Apex pro and since everything is on sale today I just ordered the trident for 20% off! It will be nice to see the levels over time on the Apex!

Great! Sounds like you are moving towards more stable levels.

 

[Dan Meerdo]

Is it possible to do a 100% water change? if yes, that would be the easiest "no fool" way to correct the trace elements.

side note - when you upgraded the tank did you use newly mixed saltwater (that would have all the correct level of Trace Elements, or did you use the water from the old tank?

If you used new saltwater than I wouldn't put too much stock into those test results and I would consider using a different brand for your next ICP tests.

 

[KrisReef]

Just a crappie dad! The kid in the pic was 3 when I took it and is now 14. He loved any kind of fishing for about 10 years. Just recently he has lost interest in it. I remember coming home from work and he would have the poles ready wanting to head to the lake and me not really wanting to go. I asked him last Friday if he wanted to go crappie fishing at the local heated dock and he said no he was hanging out with friends and that I should take his younger brother. Funny how things change!

Yup, you will probably not be cool for a few more years and your son gets a few years of experience as a man. Then you'll get a chance at Crappie Granddad and you will wonder where all the years went. Goes fast, have fun!

 

[crappie]

Is it possible to do a 100% water change? if yes, that would be the easiest "no fool" way to correct the trace elements.

side note - when you upgraded the tank did you use newly mixed saltwater (that would have all the correct level of Trace Elements, or did you use the water from the old tank?

If you used new saltwater than I wouldn't put too much stock into those test results and I would consider using a different brand for your next ICP tests.

I used 100% new water that I mixed in the empty system with 2 new gyre 350’s a return pump and 2 heaters. I mixed for 24hrs then tossed the dry rock and sand in for another 24hrs before adding all the old livestock.
Which brand of ICP test would you recommend? I plan on doing another test 30 days after the new system has been running and then probably every 30 days for awhile to compare trends

 

[Dan Meerdo]

I used 100% new water that I mixed in the empty system with 2 new gyre 350’s a return pump and 2 heaters. I mixed for 24hrs then tossed the dry rock and sand in for another 24hrs before adding all the old livestock.
Which brand of ICP test would you recommend? I plan on doing another test 30 days after the new system has been running and then probably every 30 days for awhile to compare trends

First off. What salt did you use?

 

[crappie]

First off. What salt did you use?

 

[Dan Meerdo]

That may be the culprit... I have used IO a ton and personally have never had any consistency issues, however, there have been complaints and anecdotal accounts of IO being low on elements or having results inconsistent to what is on the label. Most hobbyists use IO Reef Crystals and swear by it. It may be worth considering a switch to the Reef Crystals or a different brand formulated for a reef tank.

 

[crappie]

You are forgiven. Can you post a picture of the new tank?

What are the parameters currently, (Alk, CA, & MG?) Those are the (basic) ones to work to keep steady for coral health.

Basic = critical? Stability with ALk and adequate nutrients N & P are also part of the "Stability" = resist RTN equation(s).

I realize since I was having issues with the 40 that the new 75 isn’t going to magically fix everything and I may still lose several pieces but at least I got a new “cooler” setup out of the deal!
I also added a DIY backup for the return pump and thinking of adding the 2 gyres to it. I also ordered 2 additional leak sensors another liquid level sensor, a solenoid, and a Trident. I’ve had enough with flooded floors and need an extra layer of protection! Also it will be nice to monitor the level of the sump and ATO reservoir remotely!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The new salt water used will greatly reduce the issues for now.

 

[Troylee]

I would love to see someone have a truthful answer as if the elements caused these problems.. unless you’re a coral whisperer I don’t think we’ll ever know! I’ve never tested my elements I don’t add elements and frankly don’t care what they are to be honest! Water changes and feeding fish add plenty if you ask me! I do use all for reef now which contains some but I didn’t have these problems with just kalk so again do they really help? I’m sure if I sent in an icp it would disagree with me but I don’t have problems and my sticks grow well with that alone.. I can’t see spending coral money on test that would just make me change my mind and panic for no reason lol.. what you don’t know won’t hurt you! Haha! This is only as hard as you make it!

 

[Troylee]

That may be the culprit... I have used IO a ton and personally have never had any consistency issues, however, there have been complaints and anecdotal accounts of IO being low on elements or having results inconsistent to what is on the label. Most hobbyists use IO Reef Crystals and swear by it. It may be worth considering a switch to the Reef Crystals or a different brand formulated for a reef tank.

Same salt but reef crystals has vitamins and aminos or something along those lines.. I use both “what ever is on sale” and can’t tell the difference honestly.