I need HELP with my PH

tat,

Don't know your background and profession.... do you know what a fault tree is??

It seems like you've 'decided' the problem is pH and it may not may not be the problem.

Problem : SPS Corals are Stressed and Not Growing.

What are ALL the possible causes of SPS coral being stressed and not growing.

First question I would ask is what do you mean by stressed and not growing. Further define and break down the problem statement.

It could be lighting.... maybe your light bulbs are old. It could be all kind of things.

A fault tree list all the possibilities. Then you write down your rationale for eliminating a leg of the tree. It creates a process of elimination to determine the problem.

An incomplete example....

SPS Corals Stressed and Not Growing...

Possible causes of stress....
Inadequate Lighting
Inadequate Flow
Poor Water Chemistry

Then you break things down into smaller and smaller components.

Inadequate Lighting
Insufficient Wattage
Tank shadowing
Duration Lights are on each day
Duration too short
Duration too long
Bulb Age


I hope you get the point. Then you develop rationale for eliminatng each leg as a valid possibility.

Bulb Age : replaced bulbs 2 months ago. Not likely cause.


This systematic approach allows you to challenge your assumptions and not overlook the true root cause of problems.

I am thinking pH isn't the issue because the pH of natural reefs is not that high.

Just some thoughts to try to help you find a solution.... obviously biased based on my background.

Mark

 

Now you know why he works at NASA!!!!

 

I first will say my sps problem at the moment is not a big one. I am showing growth on over half of my sps now. About a month ago I was struggling big time.

I have been doing process of elimination for quite sometime now. I have ruled out many things that could be causing sps problems.

I have good filtration.
My big 3 are pretty damn stable.
Adequate lighting
Good water flow
Steady water changes weekly

I have claimed diagnosis after diagnosis. If I was a technician Id have too many damn return calls and would have been fired by now.

Part of my addiction with my tank is I cant keep my hands out of the water. Its terrible. Whether its adjusting this or that.

I am at the point where I need to be hands off and let the tank be since theres no obvious problem.

Whats even more baffling is when I started keeping sps about a year ago I was successful and didnt have any problems.

I have hit a string of problems at the end of last year into this year.

Finally on the slope upwards.

So things are looking positive.

Need to keep this in mind "SPS = Stability Promotes Success"

I am done diagnosing since I am confident I am doing all the right things to the best of my ability.

Bad happens fast. Good takes time.

 

Sorry guys.... that is how we find the super weird.... unexplainable problems.... or at least partially... I actually skipped the super geeky things. It is just a methodical method to make sure you don't let your assumptions drive you down the wrong path in trying to solve a problem.

In the Columbia Accident, we just couldn't believe that foam could do that kind of damage. The foam on the tanks is like puffy sytrofoam... superlight weight. I could throw it at you as hard as I could and it would bounce off you and you'd laugh at me. The Reinforced Carbon Carbon on the leading edge of the wings of the shuttle is solid as steel. Tough damn material. Ain't no way foam would hurt it. Even if it hit really fast, you'd think the foam would just disintegrate on impact.... and we had observed foam strikes on numerous previous missions.... that could not have been the problem.... then we checked our assumptions and did a test firing foam at the RCC at the same angle of attack and velocities as was observed on launch.... oh my God.... it punched a two square foot hole in the leading edge of the wing. We were stunned....

Major off topic aside.... it really works.

M

 

Dont be sorry...It was a compliment!! That was very interesting also!!

 

I think you have the coolest job in the world!!!!!!!! I am so fascinated by some of the things you write!!! Thanks!!!

 

My friend who also works at the LFS takes an air line and puts it in the test tube after the ph test and if it goes where it needs too thats the problem. I had this same problem for a year, never did find the answer. He swore by the reef builder and using it would eventually stabilize the ph at 8.3 the bottle said after long term use but how long is long term?