Tharsis' 20 long ~2-11-12~ sps and lps pics!

Thanks

The tank is doing so-so, the sps (digita, monti cap and staghorn) are growing ok. As for my LPS, the acan/favia/candy cane are all doing great but my frogspawn/blasto/duncans are not. The frogspawn is all deflated and the duncans are not fully extending.

Here are my parameters:

SG= 1.025
nitrates and phosphates are almost imperceptible (but I do have algae so there has to be some).
Total alk=2.5meq
carbonate alk=1.75 meq (total minus the borate alk)
mg=1100mg/l
Ca=460 ppm

I am wondering if my alkalinity is too low which is stressing out some of the lps?

My zoas and shrooms are also looking pretty poor... the shrooms are all shriveled and the zoas are only half extended and their skirts are all non-existent. I really want to get back on track with this tank as it is starting to really depress me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

I would start with bringing your Magnesium up to 1350 over a couple days. I would also double check your values, the alk level does not jive with the posted mg level.

If you could maybe post an image of the corals that are not doing as well.

Hope that helps.

 

Boost the mg to 1280 to 1350 by no more than 100ppm per day. Get your alk to 2.5meq on the carbonate alk.

 

Thanks corailline and John!

I will bring in my water to test at an LFS for comparison before dosing anything. What specifically doesn't jive between the alk and Mg values?

As for raising the Mg levels, can I use epsom salt?

And I will take some pics of the corals tomorrow and post them here.

 

Yes you can use Epsom salts. Generally in Mg is low then Ca is low and alk tends to be high. But if you are not dosing alk heavily and CA heavily it will show like yours does.

 

I have some kent marine nano reef parts A&B that I got a while ago but never really found a reason to use it.

Do you think this will be ok for raising my alk?

 

Yes, don't use the part for raising Ca.

 

Had a major mishap last night.

I woke up in the middle of the night to the smell of an electrical burn and to the sound of a pump sucking air... uh oh.

A frickin' snail got into my overflow and plugged the drain, It dumped about 3 gallons of water onto the floor, shorting out my power bar. My heaters are fried as well. I usually keep a cover over the overflow for this exact reason but I guess I forgot to put it on after some routine maintenance.

Everything seemed to be ok in the tank this morning but I don't have any heaters or lights on at the moment, I hope that everything can hold tight until I get home from work.

I am so annoyed with myself for allowing something like this to happen. I need to get some safety checks in place. I could have burnt my house down.

 

Oh man:/

 

Oh no.. that really blows! It's one of the reefers worst nightmares. I was gonna bump this thread the other day to ask for some update, but not this. Sorry, tharsis