snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I can't figure it out. I have a few montis that are getting rough in some spots. Non of my zoos ever open. Every thing is still living but I can't figure out why they aren't thriving.(scratch) I decided to test almost everything just to doulbe check myself and let you all know for possible better diagnosis. They are as follows Salinity_______________1.024 Temp_________________77deg ALK__________________6dK/107ppm pH___________________8.0 Ammonia______________0 Phosphate_____________0 Calcium_______________460 I didn't test the NO2/NO3 yet so that will need to be done. I am slowing on the calcium addition a little to bring that down. I am going to add a little ALK buffer in the morning to start to raise that just a hair too. I know phosphates can be deceiving, but I am running a phose-reactor and it just got changed out. That sound about right to start? Oh, and my lighting is 2, 400w hallides with good 14K xm bulbs, and four compact florescent bulbs(may need replacing). I run the hallides about 6 hours and the CF about 12 hours. Most of my stuff is doing great. All my mushrooms are getting big. My softies are all doing great. My acans aside from one are all picture perfect. The one mille and one acro I have, although not as colorful as I'd like, are looking good. 2 of the three chalices are doing great. My frogspawn I just got has opened but not as full as before he got to my tank. Most things I was able to move them to a better level of light to get them looking better but about 20-25% still seem not 100%. I guess I'm just looking for some general thoughts.(scratch)(scratch)(scratch) TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 What is your magnesium level? Your ALK is really too low, it should be up around 10 or 12 dkh. What salt are you using? I think you maybe should look at replacing the CF bulbs with VHO bulbs. I also would run your halides up to 8 hours or 10 hours. I think your calcium level is perfect, but I suspect something wrong in the magnesium levels since you dkh is low. Have the mg level tested before getting too excited. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Zoas not opening doesn't strike me as an alk problem; my zoas don't even seem to be aware of alk levels. I'm waiting to hear about the NO3... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Take off the Compacts and put this on there first off http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9249 Bob has a good theory going on Mag and Alk go hand and hand. Like he said CA is fine. Test your Mag. Also try to stay away from buffers and such. They help out temporarily but dont fix anything in the long run usually. What are your nitrates?? Another factor to think about is flow in the tank. What type of flow ya got going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 OK, first off, I'm an idiot. I have vho's. I've been replacing light bulbs in my house all day with cf, just typed it without thinking. I will be getting my mag tested tomorrow since I have no kit for it. I just buy water from seahorse so I don't know the brand of salt. I would think it is good salt. I'm gonna run NO2/NO3 in the morning too so I'll get back to this post soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Thats cool. Yeah that is one thing about premixed saltwater, you never really know unless you test it. I would ask Seahorse what salt they use. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I'll bet you a frag that it's probably your nitrates. NO3 is usually the #1 hindrance to corals opening up fully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 ok, I checked my No2/No3 and were looking at 0 for both. I'm heading in today to grab some stuff so I'm gonna get a mag test kit I think. I am switching out the vho's today also. How long are vho's good for typically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I told you to check your mag I'll sell ya my test kit (well over 3/4 still unused) and my leftover mag and kalk/whatever else I have for a good price I also have an elos No3 test kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 I may want to do that. I was also gonna ask you the name of the stuff you had again, cause I forgot. I have more No2/No3 test kits then I know what to do with. I have at least 3 full kits left. so I think I'm ok there. BTW I think the acan I got from you has got to be my favorite now. Under my lights it is orange, green, and purple with the bright blue lines all over. thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 CooL! Your lighting is way better than what I was running, so it's not much of a surprise I bet you're glad you took the chance even though my pics were dark - sucks to be everyone else!!! I'll be around this evening for a bit - let me know if you want to swing by. I don't know the name off the top of my head, but what I have should at least help you get the mag back up in the short term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 (laugh) nice sales pitch... I'll see what my busy schedule includes(not busy at all(laugh)). I may be able to swing by tonight but I'll call you if I do for sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 What brand of NO3 test are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 I'm using the whole line from these guys. http://aquariumpharm.com/ I also like to have Isaac double check with his test strips. I'm gonna have it checked again today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 (laugh) nice sales pitch... I'll see what my busy schedule includes(not busy at all(laugh)). I may be able to swing by tonight but I'll call you if I do for sure... Heh - thanks Thought I'd rub it in people faces a bit for doubting the corals The ones who came out left impressed I'll say that much. I hope that frogspawn opens up for you - it's gorgeous when it expands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Take a water sample to SW Fanta-seas. They'll test everything for free. They use Salifert and Elos test kits. You'll be surprised about NO3. In my 8+ years of testing saltwater NO3 I have yet to get a 0 result for nitrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Take a water sample to SW Fanta-seas. They'll test everything for free. They use Salifert and Elos test kits. You'll be surprised about NO3. In my 8+ years of testing saltwater NO3 I have yet to get a 0 result for nitrate. I completely agree.....I run a nitrate reactor on my tank and I have only had a true zero reading once.........in the year and a half it has been running... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 I wouldn't say it was a true 0 but closer to 0 then 5 on the scale. I only have one small blenny in the tank right now too. It's been this way for almost 2 months I think. so no feeding really for that whole time. I'm going in now anyways so I'll be double checking it while i'm there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 My current fresh batch of Red Sea Coral Pro water measured ~5 (hard to say for sure, I'm terrible at telling the difference between 8 shades of light pink -- sure would be nice to see a NO3 kit with clearer titration points) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I agree andy.... hard to tell the difference between .5-10ppm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UPSCALES Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 If it only your zoas that you are having issue with, check them closley and make sure you don't have zoa eating nudi's, they blend in very well and will cause zoas to not open up. Just a thought. Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share Posted November 21, 2008 That's what Isaac just said also after he tested my stuff. He came up with all the same readings as I did except my Calcium was lower on his test then mine. I'm gonna check all the zoo's closely. I think the frog spawn could just be staying closed do to the 400w light it is now under. It was under 175 so I am hoping it will get used to it eventually and that that is all it is.(scratch) I now have newer bulbs in all around, a plan for dosing, and a red tailed tamarind and blue linka to add tonight. Can't go there and not get something good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 The zoa-eating nudi suggestion is a good one. I had some, and the bristles on their backs were exactly the same color as the skirts on my eagle-eyes. Super-hard to spot; nighttime with a strong flashlight worked best for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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