All my corals don't look so good what can it be

[Omrid]

Calciums a bit high 520
Alk 4.0
Ph 8.1
Phosphate 10
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
I did a water change a few days ago what do you guys think they don't look so well

 

[jackson6745]

Could be a lot of different things. Start with the basics.
Are you checking salinity with a CALIBRATED refractometer?
Temp?
Alk is it 4 meq/l or 4 dkh. Either way one is high, one is low.
po4 of 1 is high. Most testkits are very inaccurate for this. In general if you can detect any phosphate on a traditional testkit your levels are too high.
What type of coral?
lighting?
filtration?

You really need to provide detailed information and post a pic of your reef if you want accurate answers.

 

[timberwolfny]

are you sure your phos is 10 that is awfully high. your alk is sorta low phos is way too high and you fail to mention what kind of corals you are trying to keep

 

[prattreef]

The 1st thing that jumps out is your Phosphate reading. 10? 10ppm? Which kit are you using. Even if you meant 1.0 that is very high. We need more specifics:
1)What size/how old is the tank?
2) Are you using RO/DI water?
3) What kinds of corals/how many fish?
4) which brand test kits?
5) How are you measuring salinity?

And a picture of the tank and close ups of the corals would all be helpful.

 

[Omrid]

I'll show you before and after pics salinity is 1.023 I have a 175g tank my filtersighting is all good I have a fully develop tank that I took over with out knowing anything now I'm learning a lil more

 

[Omrid]

Here

 

[Omrid]

After

 

[Omrid]

Q

 

[Omrid]

Tanks like 7 8 years I have 4 tangs 4 clowns 1 blenny 1 goby I have enought snails and crabs I use API test kits and for salt instant ocean hydrometer

 

[Dre]

Lighting look poor...

 

[chris koci]

got to agree with Dre lighting looks like a old black and white movie flick :/

 

[Omrid]

I have 3 400 watts light bolts

 

[Omrid]

Regardless it's not the lights cuz they where fine for years

 

[whispers]

Do you have any Coraline algae growth After 7-8 years

 

[Omrid]

I use to have more no one took cRe of the tank for 3 years now I see that I have but I also have allot of sponges growing hidden Under the rocks

 

[lnevo]

Regardless it's not the lights cuz they where fine for years

When was the last time you changed the bulbs?

I think you nailed it in your initial post. If your using api kit, one its probably expired, two its not accurate, three it measures alk in dkh which means 4 is way too low, and four your phosphates at 10 are way too high.

Start prepping for some large water change and tell us more about your filtration and plans for nutrient export.

 

[Dre]

I didn't mean lighting was the only problem but the bulbs are very old. Therefore corals have no color and i bet you're not dosing cal/alk.

 

[NYreefNoob]

calcium is too high and with it being out of balance with alk can cause issue's, also if it wasnt taken care of for yours and now it is, it could be a shock to the system

 

[Omrid]

For my sump I have a 7" sock filter them a protein skimmer with live rock next chamber miracle mud with some chaot last chamber carbon and I'm gonna set up my phosphate reactor

 

[lnevo]

Miracle mud needs to be changed every year or two, forget which. Could be part of the issue?