RTN with my Monties

[mfs1855]

Hi,

I've going through what looks like RTN with my Monties. Was hoping someone could help.

Pictures below
Tank Perimeters and specifics:
- CA: 420
- KH: 5.5
- PH: 8.3
- Amonia:0
- I am using Kalk in my topoff
- Salinity: .026
- Tank capacity: 7 Gallon Cube
- Filtration: Cheto, and spunge
- No fish Just coral
- 1 Emerald crab
- Healthy population of Copepods seems to have disappeared
- Lighting: All Led (1 Par and 1 12" ReefBrite)
Temp: 77F consisatant

Thanks in advance for your suggestions,
Matt

 

[bonomo53]

Your KH is very low. Also they are probably starving with 0 fish. How long has the tank been up?

 

[brooklynreefers]

you KH being that Low just toasted your Monti. pretty much all there is too it.

Kalk is not reliable enough

also why are not doing any fish ?

 

[JJSBLM]

Kh is very low, and. I wouldn't be surprised if you bleached your coral.

Your par 38 bulb is entirely way to close. Like 8-10" to close. Maybe even more depending on the optics it has.

 

[JJSBLM]

You also didn't mention nitrites and nitrates.

 

[mfs1855]

The tank has been up for about 8 months with no issues so far. I do feed them Coral Frenzy once in a while. I'll do it more often though, thanks

 

[mfs1855]

Thanks, I'll boost the Alk. It's a small tank so wanted to keep it simple without any fish.

 

[bonomo53]

How your alk get that low is was I'm confused about. Are you doing any water changes? You shouldn't need to dose anything in a tank that small with a weekly gallon water change.

 

[JJSBLM]

Your gonna have to do more then 1 gallon a week if you plan on keeping multiple sps.

 

[noelskii]

dose some phosphates

 

[mfs1855]

Maybe the Kalk is putting Calcium and Alk out of balance?

 

[ecvernon]

double check your alk. as said its too low. How saturated is your kalk in the Ato?
Also with no fish I dont think you need to be running Chaetomorpha as filtration.

 

[mfs1855]

i have minimal saturation of the kalk. As far as the cheto, it is growing very fast so i presume it's doing something.

 

[ecvernon]

Double check your alkalinity. If actually low at 5.5 dkh your options are to do water change to bring Dkh up or, dose alkalinity to raise it to target level. Going forward I would increase the saturation of kalk to keep up with your alkalinity demand.

I agree about the cheato doing something. Perhaps TOO much, in which its stripping your water of nutrients. I would either cut back photo period of cheato, add fish, or feed more.