first time params have slipped, interpretation?

[voidg]

My tank has been up and running since last sept/oct, 54g + 15g sump mixed reef. Ammonia, nitrite were always 0, nitrate < 15, ph 8-8.2, dkh 7, Ca 400, Po4 0.5, sg 1.025. Anyway my schedule is crazy busy so usually I do 10% changes about every 2 weeks, sometimes every week if I can fit it in. I am still in a 2 week window for the next change and checked my params tonight:

dkh 5.7 (salifert)
Ca 420 (salifert)
Ammonia 0.25 (api)
Nitrate 30 (api)
ph 8.2 (api)
Po4 .75
sg 1.025

If nitrates are little high ok fine, I can clean that up with some water changes. I am more concerned about the dkh drop. What would cause the dkh to drop and the Ca to rise? Could it be the phosphates, something else?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[worm5406]

What has changed? Lights/sunshine? inhabitants? food type? temp? pollen?

What are you plans to get it back up? Dosing would be good. But something made it drop. So either stop doing that one thing or get back to doing what you did before. LOL

[Sk8r]

Which scale are you using on the alk? There are 2. I run 8.3 on the one with the larger numbers.

If your magnesium has depleted it will let the alk drop pretty fast, and cal will follow suit. I use a Tech M supplement for hand-dosing, and use Salifert tests. You might check out the "Dirt-simple Chemistry" sticky above.

[worm5406]

Here is the link so you do not get lost.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2153097

Sk8r knows his stuff!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sk8r knows her stuff!!

Fixed that for worm. ;)

[worm5406]

oops.... Thanks Mr Magnolia....

(Hey... dont come running down Indian Head Highway trying to beat me... LOL...)

I have had no luck with typing lately.... Fingers do not do what mind is telling it.

BTW.. Sugar and Sushi know THEIR stuff too!!!... :)

[voidg]

Not much has changed too recently. About 4 weeks ago I removed a canister filter after slowly phasing out the media until it was empty. Added a feather duster and a single ricordea about 2 weeks ago.

Thanks about the chemistry reminder, forgot how Mg can affect Kh. Have a salifert yest for this now, will check tonight.

My current plans for correction are to test Mg to see where that sits and do a series of 10% changes over the next week or so spaced out by 3 days in between until I get my Nitrates down. Once they settle, I will retest all the core params to determine the amount of correction required.

Guess I got kind of complacent as my tank params were rock steady for several months. Lesson learned; continue regular testing even when all appears to be well.

[howaboutme]

I would be more concerned that you show any signs of NH3. That's more of a killer if not taken cared of. Maybe confirm your test to make sure you don't actually have any signs of NH3.

[voidg]

About the ammonia, it was an API test and I hear they are notoriously unreliable. That said maybe I will scrub the test tubes with vinegar tonight and test again. If positive guess I will have to pick up something more accurate. I noticed the first bottle for ammonia sounds like the liquid has congealed a little when I shake it.

One thing that did just hit me, don't know why I didn't think of this sooner, not sure it has a bearing on my test results but my nem got sucked into the old canister filter a couple weeks back. Covered the power heads and forgot about the filter intake...He lost some body mass and tentacles but is still alive, clinging to my LR. Could a nem-nuke have an impact on my numbers?

[howaboutme]

A congealed bottle doesn't sound good. Check the date.

Re: the nem...I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised that any dead tissues would cause a small spike, nothing a wc can't take care of. As for the nem, I've heard of many that have met the ph and have survived.