What's wrong with my system...

[nzkiwi80]

Okay, I'm not new but feel new right now. Corals keep dying or won't grow. Fish seems fine,

350L Red Sea Reefer with 2x Hydra 32's on a 10hour preset from a Hydra facebook group. The lights may not have been center of the tank, maybe 40% so have pulled them forward to give better light

Here’s some tests

- Calcium: 330-340
- Ammonia: Less than 0.25ppm
- Nitrite: 0ppm
- Nitrate: Slightly less than 10ppm
- Ph: 8.4 - 8.8 (two tests done)
- Magnesium: 1110
- Salinity: 1.024ppm

Ph is very high, calcium and magnesium low… how can I fix?

I’m using Hiker Pro Salt.. might move back to Red Sea Coral Pro

 

[56longroof]

What's your alk at? What corals are you struggling with? How old is the tank?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

My first thought is low lighting but I'm just guessing (I usually say lighting, thats just me). But never hurts to rent a par meter to eliminate this possibility, otherwise you'll not know.

 

[cloak]

Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all... That tank will cycle, one way or the other.

This is where your "blue" thumb comes into play. ;)

 

[RabidDragon]

Is your calcuim really 330-340 or is this a typo? this is crit low.
Mag is also low (if this accurate)

Many use dosing system to add either two Part system: (Alk and Calcium). I use Oceans Blend, some us Kalc in their RODI. There are other additives on the market. If you have corals growing in your tank you will have to replace what they are absorbing out. Dependant on how much coral growth you have, weekly water changes will not be enough to replace what is absorbed out.

 

[nzkiwi80]

Is your calcuim really 330-340 or is this a typo? this is crit low.
Mag is also low (if this accurate)

Many use dosing system to add either two Part system: (Alk and Calcium). I use Oceans Blend, some us Kalc in their RODI. There are other additives on the market. If you have corals growing in your tank you will have to replace what they are absorbing out. Dependant on how much coral growth you have, weekly water changes will not be enough to replace what is absorbed out.

Yes, done the test twice.

Not sure why it'd be so low. One of the reason I'll change salts soon.

What can I get to dose Mg and Ca?

 

[Uncle99]

You missed posting Alk and phosphate, which are super important. Or maybe I just missed that.

What are these values please

 

[nzkiwi80]

All is about 7.7dkh and phosphate 0.03ppm

 

[reefpanda]

Also please include a tank pic for us to estimate coral density

 

[Garf]

All is about 7.7dkh and phosphate 0.03ppm

What is your Alk supposed to be with the salt you are using? Although you are reporting a salinity of 1.024 (which is low), it could in fact be even lower depending on your method of testing/calibration. That would explain low calcium and magnesium, if correct.

 

[nzkiwi80]

What is your Alk supposed to be with the salt you are using? Although you are reporting a salinity of 1.024 (which is low), it could in fact be even lower depending on your method of testing/calibration. That would explain low calcium and magnesium, if correct.

7.50-8.50 based on the website, I’ve only got a few corals.

Fish are fine, if I was below 1.024 the fish may not be.

 

[Garf]

7.50-8.50 based on the website, I’ve only got a few corals.

Fish are fine, if I was below 1.024 the fish may not be.

Most, if not all fish are well suited to lower salinity, coral not so much. There's a Randy Holmes Farleys DIY salinity calibration link in my signature if interested.

 

[nzkiwi80]

Okay, so just need to increase salinity

Dose Mg and Ca until I can switch salt out and see an increase if that’s the issue? Sound right?

 

[Garf]

Okay, so just need to increase salinity

Dose Mg and Ca until I can switch salt out and see an increase if that’s the issue? Sound right?

Problem being, your apparent issue may have nothing to do with salinity. Messing with the calcium and magnesium compared to the other stuff in salt may be even more confusing. You got no salt mix?

 

[56longroof]

Okay, so just need to increase salinity

Dose Mg and Ca until I can switch salt out and see an increase if that’s the issue? Sound right?

Your alk,calcium,and magnesium need to come up. Increase your salinity to 1.026 also. Why is there ammonia present? How old is the tank? With a alk reading of 7.7 I'd be suspicious of the high pH. Have you verified it with another method?

 

[nzkiwi80]

ammonia was taken with a basic API test kit, its likely much lower. Tank is 2 1/2 years old.

I’ll increase salinity

How can I raise ca and mg?

 

[Garf]

How can I raise ca and mg?

Increasing salinity will bump them by 10%, but you need to check your salinity as mentioned previously.

 

[Marco_99]

You missed posting Alk and phosphate, which are super important. Or maybe I just missed that.

What are these values please

This right here. Kind of important lol

 

[nzkiwi80]

This right here. Kind of important lol

I’ve posted those

Increasing salinity will bump them by 10%, but you need to check your salinity as mentioned previously.

But my numbers need to go up by 20-30% don’t they?

 

[56longroof]

ammonia was taken with a basic API test kit, its likely much lower. Tank is 2 1/2 years old.

I’ll increase salinity

How can I raise ca and mg?

There are alot of different ways to achieve this. Carbo calcium will help with alk and calcium. BRS has a good magnesium supplement.