ALK burned my corals again

shaneh · 03/07/2011, 01:35 PM

I have been still trying to get the cal and alk dialed in....I was doing good for a few months and then i did a water change and instead of using IO, which was working fine for me. I changed to Coral Life. I forgot the alk is like 10 in Coral life and 7 in IO. So it went from 7-10 when I did the water change. Then I was super busy until this weekend i looked at my tank closer and i burned the crap out of my corals again. I'll be doing a water change with IO tonight.

Any suggestions to ease the coral pain?

I should have stuck with IO it was working fine....i don't know if my Idaho grape is going to make it, it is bleached pretty bad...=( most others it is only the tips.

CAl is at 410
Alk 10
I'll test mag but I think it is ok.

Grant W · 03/07/2011, 04:10 PM

Maybe cut your alk dosing if you havn't already and water changes and let it drift back down.

northbay-reefer · 03/07/2011, 06:17 PM

Do smaller water changes so it doesn't change your water parameter too quickly.

Reef Bass · 03/08/2011, 06:36 AM

Rapid alk changes, up or down, are not a good thing. That must have been some whopping water change to raise your alk 3 points!

coralfarmer · 03/08/2011, 08:40 AM

I am a fan of the Brightwell Neomarine salt I never overshoot my parameters. If I have to adjust it is easier to adjust the numbers up than to adjust down. I've used alot of different salts over the years and I have gotten the best growth and colors out of my sps ever since I have switched to the Neomarine. 420 ca,1290 mg, 399 K, 8dKH, 1.025g/cm3 respectively. I mix it overnight and the numbers are just where I want them.

northbay-reefer · 03/08/2011, 09:06 AM

When changing salt one would have to measure the parameter before making a water change. I also agree with Ken that something else is causing the spike because partial water change alone doesn't change Alk that quickly. Maybe you were still dosing the same amount after the water change?

James, Neomarine's number is looking real good, how much do local shops sell it for?

shaneh · 03/08/2011, 09:54 AM

I was still dosing alk when i did the water change and i should have tested after the water change but i was busy. I changed 40 gallons and have about 210-220 gallons total so about 18% maybe i should do smaller changes. i tested last night Alk was 7, cal at 420.
The grape Idaho took it the worst, it seems like the corals with the most light got hit the worst.

The corals still have a bit of color but it is bleached......i hope they come back. You always have to stay on top of the tank...if you get too busy it can get away from you fast....

northbay-reefer · 03/08/2011, 12:03 PM

Don't worry about the Idaho, I know where you can get a bunch more LOL

If you can control your Alk and keep it steady, then everything else will be easier and your corals will thrive. Just remember small increment change is the best when it comes to reefing.

If you get IO and mix it with your Coral life, the parameter can come out pretty good.

Grant W · 03/08/2011, 08:01 PM

Hey Shane did you check your halides for cracked glass. Could also be a UV burn.

gdm42001 · 03/10/2011, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northbay-reefer

James, Neomarine's number is looking real good, how much do local shops sell it for?

$72.99 AT MD for a 150 bucket

northbay-reefer · 03/10/2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdm42001

$72.99 AT MD for a 150 bucket

That is a ripp ... I've seen it for $60 b4 the discount

I usually load up on my salt from DR foster when they have the free shipping deal. My Seachem regular seems to be working fine for me. When I buy salt, I look for something with alk at about 8-9, cal 420+, mag 1350. As long as it is in that range then it will be fine and won't throw off my parameter when I do my biweekly 10%.

shaneh · 03/10/2011, 10:38 AM

Grant I checked my halides for cracked glass, I didn't see any. I think i just had too much of an alk swing. I'm planning to move all the filtration to under the house. I'll be starting the project soon.

i buy IO salt in the city for $32 a bucket.....$72 salt is too rich for me.

northbay-reefer · 03/10/2011, 11:57 AM

Their is nothing wrong with using IO, all you have to do is figure out what to adjust in your make up water before doing your water change and your salt is as good as the expensive ones out there. BTW, Kent is inexpensive too, so I used to mixed Kent with IO and it gives me a great blend.

Grant W · 03/10/2011, 05:58 PM

Kent reef mix doesn't need doctoring up like the old mix did. Alk at 8-9, ph 8.3, Ca 420 and mag a bit low at around 1200. and fosters and smith has the no overweight shipping going right now. Just ordered 2 bucket(200 gal mix) and some other stuff and the freight was 8.99 total

coralfarmer · 03/10/2011, 11:12 PM

The price just went up everywhere. $69.99

gdm42001 · 03/12/2011, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northbay-reefer

That is a ripp ... I've seen it for $60 b4 the discount

I usually load up on my salt from DR foster when they have the free shipping deal.

Not really a rip IMHO, they have a price match guarantee, which I have used.
They are in SoCal, so it shows up in a day not 7 days, so if you need it now...
Now if you have plenty of time to wait for the free shipping to come around

and then the 7+ days for delivery then it's all good.

03/07/2011, 01:35 PM	#1
shaneh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 1,170	ALK burned my corals again I have been still trying to get the cal and alk dialed in....I was doing good for a few months and then i did a water change and instead of using IO, which was working fine for me. I changed to Coral Life. I forgot the alk is like 10 in Coral life and 7 in IO. So it went from 7-10 when I did the water change. Then I was super busy until this weekend i looked at my tank closer and i burned the crap out of my corals again. I'll be doing a water change with IO tonight. Any suggestions to ease the coral pain? I should have stuck with IO it was working fine....i don't know if my Idaho grape is going to make it, it is bleached pretty bad...=( most others it is only the tips. CAl is at 410 Alk 10 I'll test mag but I think it is ok.

03/07/2011, 04:10 PM	#2
Grant W Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Petaluma,Ca Posts: 2,166	Maybe cut your alk dosing if you havn't already and water changes and let it drift back down. __________________ Really honey, I'm not going to buy anything at the fish store I'm just going to have a look. Current Tank Info: 120 gal community reef, 45 gal sump, reef octopus xs200 skimmer, custom lighting system,etc,etc. 60 gal frag system, ati 6 bulb t5 ......

03/07/2011, 06:17 PM	#3
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,701	Do smaller water changes so it doesn't change your water parameter too quickly. __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

03/08/2011, 06:36 AM	#4
Reef Bass colors and textures Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Petaluma CA Posts: 4,324	Rapid alk changes, up or down, are not a good thing. That must have been some whopping water change to raise your alk 3 points! __________________ The human desires for instant gratification and immediate problem resolution cannot be satisfied with this hobby. Current Tank Info: 100g SPS tank w/ 400w 20,000K MHs and T5 actinics

03/08/2011, 09:06 AM	#6
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,701	When changing salt one would have to measure the parameter before making a water change. I also agree with Ken that something else is causing the spike because partial water change alone doesn't change Alk that quickly. Maybe you were still dosing the same amount after the water change? James, Neomarine's number is looking real good, how much do local shops sell it for? __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

03/08/2011, 08:40 AM	#5
coralfarmer Local fish store guy Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 719	I am a fan of the Brightwell Neomarine salt I never overshoot my parameters. If I have to adjust it is easier to adjust the numbers up than to adjust down. I've used alot of different salts over the years and I have gotten the best growth and colors out of my sps ever since I have switched to the Neomarine. 420 ca,1290 mg, 399 K, 8dKH, 1.025g/cm3 respectively. I mix it overnight and the numbers are just where I want them.

03/08/2011, 09:54 AM	#7
shaneh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 1,170	I was still dosing alk when i did the water change and i should have tested after the water change but i was busy. I changed 40 gallons and have about 210-220 gallons total so about 18% maybe i should do smaller changes. i tested last night Alk was 7, cal at 420. The grape Idaho took it the worst, it seems like the corals with the most light got hit the worst. The corals still have a bit of color but it is bleached......i hope they come back. You always have to stay on top of the tank...if you get too busy it can get away from you fast....

03/08/2011, 12:03 PM	#8
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,701	Don't worry about the Idaho, I know where you can get a bunch more LOL If you can control your Alk and keep it steady, then everything else will be easier and your corals will thrive. Just remember small increment change is the best when it comes to reefing. If you get IO and mix it with your Coral life, the parameter can come out pretty good. __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

03/08/2011, 08:01 PM	#9
Grant W Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Petaluma,Ca Posts: 2,166	Hey Shane did you check your halides for cracked glass. Could also be a UV burn. __________________ Really honey, I'm not going to buy anything at the fish store I'm just going to have a look. Current Tank Info: 120 gal community reef, 45 gal sump, reef octopus xs200 skimmer, custom lighting system,etc,etc. 60 gal frag system, ati 6 bulb t5 ......

03/10/2011, 10:38 AM	#12
shaneh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 1,170	Grant I checked my halides for cracked glass, I didn't see any. I think i just had too much of an alk swing. I'm planning to move all the filtration to under the house. I'll be starting the project soon. i buy IO salt in the city for $32 a bucket.....$72 salt is too rich for me.

03/10/2011, 11:57 AM	#13
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,701	Their is nothing wrong with using IO, all you have to do is figure out what to adjust in your make up water before doing your water change and your salt is as good as the expensive ones out there. BTW, Kent is inexpensive too, so I used to mixed Kent with IO and it gives me a great blend. __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

03/10/2011, 05:58 PM	#14
Grant W Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Petaluma,Ca Posts: 2,166	Kent reef mix doesn't need doctoring up like the old mix did. Alk at 8-9, ph 8.3, Ca 420 and mag a bit low at around 1200. and fosters and smith has the no overweight shipping going right now. Just ordered 2 bucket(200 gal mix) and some other stuff and the freight was 8.99 total __________________ Really honey, I'm not going to buy anything at the fish store I'm just going to have a look. Current Tank Info: 120 gal community reef, 45 gal sump, reef octopus xs200 skimmer, custom lighting system,etc,etc. 60 gal frag system, ati 6 bulb t5 ......

03/10/2011, 11:12 PM	#15
coralfarmer Local fish store guy Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 719	The price just went up everywhere. $69.99

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