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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 6:19:11 GMT -5
After the last swap one of the new corals started turning white and now looks dead. That was several weeks ago. Chalked it up to a problem with it.
Now, yesterday came home and noticed a purple something from the first swap this year turning white at the base. This piece has over tripled in size and was looking great. polyps were out alot, and growing new branches. Nothing has changed in tank, no chemistry issues, no new fish, no new corals, no new placement.
Is this a problem that I should be looking at, or does this happen. I am new to the hard corals.
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tyler
padwan
[M:50]
Posts: 475
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Post by tyler on Sept 23, 2009 7:55:52 GMT -5
How long has it been since you changed bulbs?
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Post by ADMIN on Sept 23, 2009 8:09:57 GMT -5
Oh it's quite typical of first time SPS keepers. We all went through it, it's caused by some form of instability, I don't know what it is but IME it was my alk and cal levels falling faster than I could stabalize them. This is why anyone trying to keep SPS should invest in several pieces of equipment. A calcium reactor and some form of controller for it, temp, and lighting. In short SPS hate change, minimize this and you will tend to have better luck with them.
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 9:36:36 GMT -5
Well think I found it, now why did this happen. just tested and Ph crash. I am at 7.8!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been using the 8.4 in the white bottle. just tested and added last weekend 10 days. What causes such decrease/
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Post by hmotorsol on Sept 23, 2009 9:58:19 GMT -5
I believe if you dose calcium will lower dkh and ph. Though i cant remember where i read that. I could be wrong.
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Post by ADMIN on Sept 23, 2009 11:21:37 GMT -5
... What causes such decrease/ Growth You need to check your Mg levels as well. If the Alk is unstable it could be a deficiency of Mg leading to that. Calcium by itself will not lower pH in fact it will raise it and can raise it to dangerous levels. If there is good SPS growth and then pH and Alk start to fall off it's likely a result of the increasing demand of the coral as they grow.
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 11:51:16 GMT -5
Test results- PH 7.8, alk- 9, cal- 480, amm,trate,trite- 0, the alk has been stable for months now that Ron told me to use the 8.4 on a regular basis. I have been adding about weekly as I test but missed it by a couple of days but only PH dropped. I have never checked Mag. I will bring in a sample if you can test it.
I added a little extra 8.4 today. Calls for 3 capfuls I put in 4. Will retest in the morning and add if needed. I know that I need to bring PH up but slowly.
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 11:52:46 GMT -5
Is it lights that bring ph up? If so this may be some of issue. I normaly test in the evening and today was in the AM before lights. I believe that no lights causes a dip in PH but that seems extreme.
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cdeboard
Reef Master
[M:-235]
Posts: 1,332
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Post by cdeboard on Sept 23, 2009 11:54:02 GMT -5
I have read that you will have a ph dip overnight... the bacteria produces converts co2 to oxygen when the lights are on... and vice versa when they are off.. something like that
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 11:59:57 GMT -5
That is something like I remember, but would like more info anyone.
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 12:00:58 GMT -5
Have read that some run a fuge with the light on opposite the display to help with the dip, but never have heard how low it can go.
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Post by ADMIN on Sept 23, 2009 13:51:35 GMT -5
If you took the pH before the lights were on then it will be lower. Welcome to the wonderful world of SPS, the end results are the same for everyone, you either figure it out or you give up.
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Solareclipsed
Reef Master
[M:200]
Professional Fish killer AKA Darla
Posts: 1,630
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Post by Solareclipsed on Sept 23, 2009 14:31:53 GMT -5
Yeah I have managed to kill a fuzzy. It was great for a couple months then all the sudden it wasnt fuzzy anymore and now it is turning white.
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Post by ADMIN2 on Sept 23, 2009 15:55:20 GMT -5
I guess we have a chemistry forum and an SPS forum for questions like these
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 17:56:24 GMT -5
Please move this to the correct forum.
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Post by ADMIN2 on Sept 23, 2009 18:15:46 GMT -5
I think it would be best to start two new threads one in the SPS forum to discuss requirements and problems with SPS and a new thread on pH/parameters in the chemistry forum. The only reason I suggested the questions be posed in those forums is because people who moderate those forums and view them may have a better understanding of the issues and be able to give better advice, since most people on this board keep LPS/softie reefs. Chemistry and stabilty are much more important to SPS reefs than other reef types.
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 23, 2009 18:24:40 GMT -5
Ok I will do that
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Dyami
padwan
[M:0]
Posts: 355
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Post by Dyami on Sept 24, 2009 6:13:20 GMT -5
Also, what is your tank temperature, how much does it change through the day?
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 24, 2009 6:19:49 GMT -5
temp is around 82 @ evening(lights going off) and about 80 in the AM before any lights in house come on.
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Dyami
padwan
[M:0]
Posts: 355
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Post by Dyami on Sept 24, 2009 6:24:09 GMT -5
The tank may be getting too hot, SPS when they get too hot expell the Zoethllll.......how ever you spell it. They expell the aglae food they produce thus getting no nutrients. This will cause them to start losing tissue. I would back down the temp about two degrees keep between 79-80. Get a fan or something to help with the heat during the day.
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 24, 2009 6:46:52 GMT -5
Ok That is the first time someone has said that to me. I will be backing down the temp ASAP. This has been the reaadings for over 6 months and just last week death started.
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Post by ADMIN on Sept 24, 2009 13:57:17 GMT -5
Get the temp down and stabalized and get pH to 8.4
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Post by naclh20nut on Sept 25, 2009 6:07:35 GMT -5
since this has been my normal for months could this be the cause? Seems like I would have had problems sooner.
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Post by joshj3575 on May 11, 2010 19:42:03 GMT -5
i would add a kalk reactor to the set up and keep track of cal and alk if still not enough add a calcium reactor to make up the differance, a good controller like a neptune apex will control all your aquipment like lights, temp, and calcium reactor ph, and then some, the price seems high but the results will astound you. good aquipment make all the differance in the world trust me.
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