My Valydia, Update- Doing awesome, new pic today 1/25/14

Oh, and I calibrated my regreactometer last night.

It was off- by about 0.0015, and it was reading slightly high.
so I was at about 1.025 SG.

Did a small WC, doing some more today probably.

Tested my Ph, Alk, Nitrate and Phos. all with API
Ph- 8.3ish
Alk 8ish (which I feel is totally be acceptable btw)
Nitrate- 0
Phos- 0 (I'm sure there is some Phos, etc. but the thing still reads as light yellow as it goes!)

And I have dipped the corals in the past, and until last night (picke up a few more corals), there had been no additions for a while.

We'll keep thinking, and I'll keep trying to make it better.

Todd

 

Keep up on waterchanges would be a good call. Sorry I couldnt make it to your place last night Todd. Dan, Matt and I will have to head over soon!

 

Good on the calibrating, Todd. IMO, 1.025 is lower than I would like for a reef system. I try to maintain 35 ppt. Is your refractometer temperature corrected?

 

Yes, I believe so, and it's hard to tell between sometimes.

20g WC today, DT is at 1.026/35.

If it looks like any more rtn, I'm hacking ir up tomorrow as I don't work until late.

 

Good plan. Have anything to dip it in since you'll have it out?

 

I agree, that would be cool.

 

sounds like you have a few potential helpers come transfer time

 

Todd, My Purple slimer does this when my phosphates get above .08 on my hannah meter. when it gets above .12ppm, my Cerealis and a milli do the same thing. Looks like burnt tips mostly associated with HIGH alkalinity and ultra low nutrient tanks, but I see it in some of mine when my phosphates creep up. I really shoot to have mine in the .05 or below range. nitrates below 20, and alkalinity as close to 8.0 as I can get.

My advise, take the API kits and trash them. they are worthless (IMO) when it comes to phosphate. Get you a Hannah Phosphate and Alk checkers. they are SO VERY worth the investment. I borrowed our clubs and soon after I returned them, I bought my own. you will be VERY surprised when you see what your readings are. Dont sweat what your PH says. so long as its stable on a daily basis. having your alk in the right area will go a long way to help this.

EDIT:

Clip the tips off. dont hack the whole thing up. it should grow back after you find your culprit.

and Most times, Growth tips are more Pink in nature and you can usually see the little polyp on the tip.

 

Thanks Norg, anytime!

I do have some dip stuff, Coral Rx, Bayer

Always welcome

I do Mindy, I try and keep a small group of good friends that are solid characters.

yes, this IS food advice. Not in my budget ATM though.
I thought a local reefer was selling me his, and he seemed to flaked out on that. No one on this thread btw.

I'm boing to keep doing some water changes.

As for the corals, some of the necrosis/loss is not just the tips, but in the middle also.
It seems to be holding it's own as of now- I'm leaving it for now.

 

do you trust your test kits or are they old? the stn iv witnessed were from foot to tip not the other way around, the fact the tips are bleaching first perhaps suggests something is up with your lights?

i can more than understand your fear, growing a little baby to a nice size colony only to see it slowly demise is a terrible experience, i sincerely hope you pin point the problem :s best of luck Todd