I think I'm heading for a crash...eeesh.

[mstrofdisaster]

Hi folks, while I know there is no simple answer to my multitude of problems, I was hoping some folks could chime in some suggestions
to help me out. My zoos are melting and looking bad and not opening for weeks in some cases.

My pH is too high, my Ca is too low, my Alk is too high, my Mg is too low...I change 10% weekly using RO/DI and Reef Crystals (just started using Oceanic on a recommendation).

I read over some Holmes articles, like this one: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
but I'm still confused as to what to do...I seem to fall into Zone 3.

I'm thinking about a 25% water change but don't know if thats the right route to take. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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Tank
24g Nano Cube - hood removed
running since 5/15/2007

25 lbs live sand
32 lbs live rock

Water Parameters
SG: 1.025
pH: 8.6
Ca: 200 ppm
Mg: 1200 ppm
NO3: <.01 (reduced from .20 over the past 2 weeks)
Amm: <.05
PO4: 0 ppm
Alk: 8.6 meq/L
(tests performed with salifert, except for Ca, done with Seachem)

Additives
C-Balance 2 part - 5ml 1x day
Kent Mg Supplement - 20ml/day to reach 1380ppm
Kent Super Buffer dKh to topoff water

Filtration
Filter Floss
Carbon Media Bag
Phosban Media Bag
Chemi-Pure Media Bag

Skimmer (added 2/1/08)
Tunze 9002 NOC Skimmer

Lighting (added 2/1/08)
20" Sunpod 150w 14k
On 10 hrs a day

Livestock
1 - Sixline Wrasse
1 - Blue Neon Goby
1 - Purple Firefish
2 - Mated False Percs
6 turbo snails
10 nass snails
12 blue and red leg hermits
Coral
~100 Zoanthid Polyps
3" Frogspawn
1 - Duncan (sml)
1 - Green Slimer
1 - Pink Millipora
1 - Orange Cap
1 - Orange digitata
1 - Garmen Blue

 

[aaron23]

a water change would definitely try to make the levels a bit more in the stable range. I would recommend a water change, but what are your parameters?

 

[jackson6745]

I would do a 50% WC to get the alk down. Let it come down more on its own if needed. You can easily add some ESV to bump your cal and mag

 

[mstrofdisaster]

a water change would definitely try to make the levels a bit more in the stable range. I would recommend a water change, but what are your parameters?

I listed them above, information overload I guess:

Water Parameters
SG: 1.025
pH: 8.6
Ca: 200 ppm
Mg: 1200 ppm
NO3: <.01 (reduced from .20 over the past 2 weeks)
Amm: <.05
PO4: 0 ppm
Alk: 8.6 meq/L
(tests performed with salifert, except for Ca, done with Seachem)

 

[jackson6745]

1 question

How did the alk get so high?

 

[latino277]

I would do a 50% Wc also... just to get thing a little more level. Also, have you checked the levels of you new water? there is a small chance that you got a bad batch of salt... small chance but still.. you never know.

 

[jackson6745]

there is a small chance that you got a bad batch of salt... small chance but still.. you never know.

Thinking the same thing

 

[mstrofdisaster]

Jackson - I just don't know. Its off the charts.

 

[jackson6745]

Check a fresh mixture of oceanic SW alk and compare to the Reef Crystals. If you find one of them very high in alk, be sure to post all the info on the bucket to see if there is a bad batch out there.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

I would do a 50% Wc also... just to get thing a little more level. Also, have you checked the levels of you new water? there is a small chance that you got a bad batch of salt... small chance but still.. you never know.

I did check the mixed Reef Crystals as a sanity check.

RO/DI pre-salt: 0 TDS

Ca: 400ppm
Mg: ~1360ppm
No3: 0
PO4: 0
Alk: 3.6 meq/L

Next I will test Oceanic tonight.

 

[aaron23]

Amm: <.05

why do you still have ammonia

 

[mstrofdisaster]

why do you still have ammonia

Damn good question Aaron. I just noticed it spiked up recently, had been clear for months. I had a cleaner shrimp die in there so maybe thats why it went up a bit.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

Check a fresh mixture of oceanic SW alk and compare to the Reef Crystals. If you find one of them very high in alk, be sure to post all the info on the bucket to see if there is a bad batch out there.

50% Jackson, wow! I just didnt want to do so much at once, but the other alternatives aren't looking any more promising.

I will also report the findings on the Reef Crystals batch and the new Oceanic batch tonight.

 

[juiceguy]

you are adding C-balance 2 part and superbuff to your top-off water? that may be why your alk is so high

 

[prattreef]

you are adding C-balance 2 part and superbuff to your top-off water? that may be why your alk is so high

Exactly. You shouldn't need the buffer as part 1 of the C-balance is a buffering component. Your high Alk from excessive buffering is causing the elevated pH (not really that high IMO) and forcing the Ca. low. Ditch the super buffer, perform a large water change, and test the levels. Adjust accordingly with the C-Balance and then add some Mg. if needed. If the Alk is still high and the Ca. is low, just add Part 2 of the C-Balance until they come in line.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

Exactly. You shouldn't need the buffer as part 1 of the C-balance is a buffering component. Your high Alk from excessive buffering is causing the elevated pH (not really that high IMO) and forcing the Ca. low. Ditch the super buffer, perform a large water change, and test the levels. Adjust accordingly with the C-Balance and then add some Mg. if needed. If the Alk is still high and the Ca. is low, just add Part 2 of the C-Balance until they come in line.

Sound advice pratt. I will follow up and report back. The only reason I kept adding the buffer to topoff water was an attempt to lower the pH. My bad.

In my case, part 2 is the alk component, so i guess you mean add the Ca component as necessary?

 

[prattreef]

Buffer Raises pH. Good luck.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

Buffer Raises pH. Good luck.

I thought it balanced it.

From the directions its misleading:
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif]Kent Marine Superbuffer-dKH[/FONT] is a specially formulated pH buffer and alkalinity or carbonate hardness (KH) builder, designed to adjust the pH of saltwater aquariums to the range of 8.0 to 8.3 and build the KH. Superbuffer-dKH is the finest buffer available for either fish only or reef type marine aquariums and is designed to mix clear with little or no cloudiness or precipitation.

 

[rookie07]

I though that calcium and alkalinity have a neg correlation...ie, if one goes up, the other goes down. Ive been told that if you raise you cal, your alk should fall into line...this is what ive been told...IM NOT SURE THOUGH.

Do you have any problems with your wrasse and the firefish?


...............I guess your name says it all.....................

"Who's leg do you have to hump to get a drink around here?"

 

[mstrofdisaster]

I though that calcium and alkalinity have a neg correlation...ie, if one goes up, the other goes down. Ive been told that if you raise you cal, your alk should fall into line...this is what ive been told...IM NOT SURE THOUGH.

Do you have any problems with your wrasse and the firefish?

From what I've read you are correct about this inverse relationship between Ca and Alk. The fishies are all fine....its the corals that concern me now.

This article from Holmes explains the relationship in detail:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm