What Is Going On Here?

[X-37B]

I tend to go over board so its more of a budget thing. If it wasn't for that I would buy one and plan on it in a month or two. I don't want to give the wrong impression as there is just other priorities I am focusing on. But we can discuss a used price to be fair and see what shipping cost. I'll message you later. Thank you as that is an awesome offer as well.

No cost just help someone else out if you get the chance.
I have stuff I will never use and can't give it away, some of its nice hardly used, so totally up to you.

 

[Reefering1]

You're the man Sven!

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

is your lighting new?

No, I had them for just over a year. Problem is switching apps I lost my schedule and didn't remember a while back.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Personally I don't test pH but I would suggest that having a lid on a Pico to prevent evaporation might be problematic with regard to pH.
I really like the ATO device on Amazon for 11.00. I bought multiple ones so I can dose different products. I just can't imagine not having ATO in Arizona.

Ph has been steady 8.2 now. So no PH issues at the moment. But I will be posting a not so good update soon with current parameters.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

No cost just help someone else out if you get the chance.
I have stuff I will never use and can't give it away, some of its nice hardly used, so totally up to you.

I actually have a 2 little fishies phos reactor from years ago when I was setup with larger tank. I'll have to see if I can test that. I do have some odd and end things I need to downsize. Will have to see what I have and ensure they work even have a still in the box pump I don't recall ever using since I bought wrong cord and never used lol. Not sure what the value would be on these to pay forward. Would like to at least equivelant if I do that lol.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

So testing at home the salinity is just at 1.026 flat.
Alk is at 8.9
Mag was at 1230 so lower than reading from yesterday I believe
Cal is at 420
pH is 8.3
Nitrate is roughly .15

Forgot phosphate, maybe under .03 lol.

While everything is not happy except for pectenia Xenia and blasto, while elegance isn't happy, it appears to be just adjusting to the changes. And maybe the other corals are just trying to adapt as well. The bowerbanki while still not inflated looks a bit better. So maybe me messing with lighting has ticked things off more.

I gave the picture more white to be easier to see.

Please ignore mess to right lol

 

[vetteguy53081]

Did you use RODI water or tap water from Faucet?
Any change in salt mix?

Things that cause this suddenly are often a change in salinity, temperature and salt mixes. Additionally, Elevated phosphate, light and even new light and elevated alkalinity levels will be a higher risk to coral. Other minor factors will be low Dissolved oxygen, new corals especially leathers (which emit a toxin known as Terpenes), false test kit readings and newly added rock can alter chemistry.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Did you use RODI water or tap water from Faucet?
Any change in salt mix?

Things that cause this suddenly are often a change in salinity, temperature and salt mixes. Additionally, Elevated phosphate, light and even new light and elevated alkalinity levels will be a higher risk to coral. Other minor factors will be low Dissolved oxygen, new corals especially leathers (which emit a toxin known as Terpenes), false test kit readings and newly added rock can alter chemistry.

Same water I always get and use from LFS. I test salinity before hand and adjust if high with RODI if high.

The only difference is AFR and I dosed a bit of AF elixir last week. No new corals oxygen is the same as always. light changed a while back but this has been more recent but not dismissing. Borrowed a par meter today.

I also posted levels when I got home you can take a look at above.

1.026 flat.
Alk is at 8.9
Mag was at 1230 so lower than reading from yesterday I believe
Cal is at 420
pH is 8.3
Nitrate is roughly .15

Forgot phosphate, maybe under .03 lol. Picture was below.

Test kits also seem to align with what the LFS has and I also have salinity calibration fluid. Except for my phosphates as eventually I am getting a phosphate tester from Hannah next month.

However, I just realized that my AF elixir is passed expiration from earlier this year, I used a few times. I believe I may have also cross contaminated mixing up the syringes when I was manual dosing and some of it may have gotten into the AFR. As when I looked into the AFR there was some brown swirls at bottom and remember seeing when I was prefilling the doser as well but was just a small spot so just flushed it out and didn't think anything of it. After my big water change corals already seem to be responding better. But tank dosed after so not sure.

I plan on still moving forward with smaller water changes and getting traceable phosphates and nitrates but will probably need to purchase a new bottle of AFR tomorrow that I'm not happy about and flush out the doser with RODI first.

I did order a small spoon to measure out feeding reef foods for phosphate and Nitrate so I can control better and mix with benepets.

Thank you for asking these questions.

Sorry long post. But need to make sure all details best I can are provided as well as an update. I'll know more in the morning.

Bowerbanki now looks happier than it's been in a while so something had contaminated the tank.

Corals had opened up more than prior but closing up for the night now lol. Seeing the bowerbanki puffed like this makes me super happy.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Sorry @vetteguy53081 I used my response as an update as well lol. I always want to read your name as vegetaguy and I'm not dislexic. Think it's due to Dragon ball Z lol.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Same water I always get and use from LFS. I test salinity before hand and adjust if high with RODI if high.

The only difference is AFR and I dosed a bit of AF elixir last week. No new corals oxygen is the same as always. light changed a while back but this has been more recent but not dismissing. Borrowed a par meter today.

I also posted levels when I got home you can take a look at above.

1.026 flat.
Alk is at 8.9
Mag was at 1230 so lower than reading from yesterday I believe
Cal is at 420
pH is 8.3
Nitrate is roughly .15

Forgot phosphate, maybe under .03 lol. Picture was below.

Test kits also seem to align with what the LFS has and I also have salinity calibration fluid. Except for my phosphates as eventually I am getting a phosphate tester from Hannah next month.

However, I just realized that my AF elixir is passed expiration from earlier this year, I used a few times. I believe I may have also cross contaminated mixing up the syringes when I was manual dosing and some of it may have gotten into the AFR. As when I looked into the AFR there was some brown swirls at bottom and remember seeing when I was prefilling the doser as well but was just a small spot so just flushed it out and didn't think anything of it. After my big water change corals already seem to be responding better. But tank dosed after so not sure.

I plan on still moving forward with smaller water changes and getting traceable phosphates and nitrates but will probably need to purchase a new bottle of AFR tomorrow that I'm not happy about and flush out the doser with RODI first.

I did order a small spoon to measure out feeding reef foods for phosphate and Nitrate so I can control better and mix with benepets.

Thank you for asking these questions.

Sorry long post. But need to make sure all details best I can are provided as well as an update. I'll know more in the morning.

Bowerbanki now looks happier than it's been in a while so something had contaminated the tank.

Corals had opened up more than prior but closing up for the night now lol. Seeing the bowerbanki puffed like this makes me super happy.

I suggest testing the next batch of purchased water as I have seen issues with store water they wre not aware of such as Low salinity, high nitrate and/or phosphate and High alk

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I'll take a look. I lost my pico build due to there was zero salt in it. So I always check salinity. But I can run tests to see may still have enough to test this batch even though it would be a little late lol

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

This morning I woke up horrified. I don't know if it what was left dying but corals flesh went south but polyps seem happier....this was the aftermath and the only thing I can think of that would do this is the possible contaminated AFR. Here is some pics. Duncan polyps look happier but lot of recession. Bowerbankai really inflated but white strings, sps almost gone. Xenia is ok. Blasto closed up but slowly opening. Frogspawn looks ok. Pectenia inflated but also white clumps. Won't know elegance is doing but seems ok just a bit stressed. Corals are opening up as I was taking pictures more. Hopefully a good sign.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Things we're looking ok till wife sent me updated pics..

Duncan, blasto and petunia look happier. Rest don't. The only thing again I can think of is the AFR still dosed yesterday after water change and everything was happier. Not blaming AFR but the AF elixir that was old and getting mixed with it. Going to drain the tank today if corals still look bad to ensure nothing toxic is going on.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Latest pic wife sent. Going to go ahead get an auto today. Might as well redo scape and why not throw in sand. Flush everything out and off and just reset. A bit will be rinsing everything off as I can't ID the source 100 percent. I just know it is my fault is all.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Thanks to @vetteguy53081 saved from disaster. I decided to test all water parameters. But the one I usually do I did last. While everything was slightly elevated but within top parameters, it appears the water I picked up today was at 1.029. this is why I always test salinity as in past I had gotten RO/DI water.

@Tahoe61 I did pickup an ATO today as well.

@X-37B will also be getting Hannah LR phosphate checked when they come in.

Wife gave the ok but I was not happy. I don't think some of the corals will make it in time tomorrow by the time I get home.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks to @vetteguy53081 saved from disaster. I decided to test all water parameters. But the one I usually do I did last. While everything was slightly elevated but within top parameters, it appears the water I picked up today was at 1.029. this is why I always test salinity as in past I had gotten RO/DI water.

@Tahoe61 I did pickup an ATO today as well.

@X-37B will also be getting Hannah LR phosphate checked when they come in.

Wife gave the ok but I was not happy. I don't think some of the corals will make it in time tomorrow by the time I get home.

Had a suspicion.... good find

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Had a suspicion.... good find

I constantly monitor them. The last batch I added to take yesterday I had to adjust.

My calibration fluid

My tank salinity

The water I just got

I notified them so they are looking into it but not the first time.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Well I took a trip to store during break. My water, refractometer and calibration all tested perfect (1.025 to 1.026)....needless to say all I can think of is I keep my house at 73. The tank temp is 77. And the temp in the jug is ??. When I get home I'll retest and check a few things to see.