Neon Leather

[tanker2007]

I have a huge neon leather and a toadstool leather in my 300 gallon tank. For some reason they are dying off slowly and my rose anomone. I checked my pars and cal-375 ph-8.25 alk or dkh-17 I have tried to get dkh down with water changes but it keeps going back up, I do not know why the dying of leathers, my other poylops that cover some rocks are fine. Lighting is 3 400 watts 8 hours a day 10k.

[atzak]

Did you check Ammonia, no2, no3, salinity, temp?

[atzak]

how are they dying? Are they shrinking, disintegrating, falling apart? Have you added any new fish lately?

[Jamokie01]

What corals are they near? Do you run carbon?

[tanker2007]

Temp is 81-82 amonia- near 0 salt is 1.25. They just look wilted more and more every day, My tank has been up for 5 years or more and the leather at least 3 years multiplying and sending them to friends. Just in the last they just look like they are melting away. Near them are a huge clam and zoas and Tangs. But I did just change out lights from 15k back to 10k around that time, and I did change them at one time, which I know is a big no no but I have done this a few years ago without any issues.

[tanker2007]

I run carbon and phosphate remover 1 eack PM towers. 2 cups odf carbon in one and 3 cups of phosphate remover in other with 1 small powerhead.

[gh0st]

Some Phosphate removers will make soft corals angry, also most Nitrate removal chemicals (such as no3 a-z )can have a similar effect.

I'd check your Alk test kit against another one, that is awful high, and I'd assume your PH or Calcium should be out of wack as well if it really is at 17dkh. You may just have a bad test kit.

[Tranquility]

dkh-17
:eek1:

is very very high

Some Phosphate removers ..... Alumina have side effect on soft

[tanker2007]

What causes this, because I tried before this Salifert and it was over 15. I only do 50 gallon water changes every week, no additives.
Ph is 8.24 now. Will the phosphate remover dilute down some? meaning not so strong or should I cut it in half

[tanker2007]

Granulated Ferric Hydroxide Oxide
does this contain iron perhaps and is causing

[gh0st]

Large water changes will help reduce the Alk. as long as the new salt water isn't elevated as well. Also, if you are dosing Kalkwasser, etc, either stopping for a while or reducing the amount may help.

Having said that, Kalkwasser ussually won't bring Alk up that high with out help. What kind of supplements are you adding to your water?

[gh0st]

Woops, just saw a bit of your last post I missed about additives, etc.

Check your salt mix when you mix up a new batch of saltwater. Did you use any non standard sand, rock, or substrate in the tank?

If everything checks out, I'd suggest running this by the guys in the Reef Chemistry Forum here on Reef Central.

[tanker2007]

I do run a calcium reactor with high drip rate 2 per second to sump and figi live rock has been in for over 2 years, live sand years ago. Nothing else is added to water at all. I tested new water and all checks out fine, I was concerned with new water but I use a 7 stage system 99.2 pure water. What the heck would cause a high alk/dkh reading anyways.

[gh0st]

Sounds like the Calcium Reactor may not be set correctly, or possibly the media may not be the best for your tank.

I've never been a big fan of Ca Reactors myself, so I don't know much about dialing one in, but with everything else being ok, I'd say it's got to be the culprit.

[lvreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10665754#post10665754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tanker2007
Granulated Ferric Hydroxide Oxide
does this contain iron perhaps and is causing Ferric is refrence to the "state" of the iron in the mixture. To be more precise its iron in its 3rd state, aka +3 or ironIII. So yes it does contain iron.

[lvreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10674472#post10674472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gh0st
Sounds like the Calcium Reactor may not be set correctly I agree with this statement. Remember a calcium reactor is really an alkalinity reactor with the benefit of maintaining calcium. If you are using an aggressive drip it would definitely elevate alkalinity. Your calcium is also very low, which is weird considering large weekly water changes. I would recommend temporarily stopping your calcium reactor and dose dry calcium chloride. Do NOT use KALK OR CALCIUM CARBONATE (calcium reactor media) until your calcium is stable above 400ppm. All they will do is make matters worse by driving up alk and lowering calcium.

[tanker2007]

Cheers