I'm Stumpted.... Help

Funny me,
I was thinking- what lights and age of bulbs. Sorry if I missed that.

 

Ya that is not good. You should be shooting for a stable range 7 - 12 dkh but most prefer the lower end. So if you are reading your params correctly that is the issue

If they knew how low your ALK was reading then avoid this place at all costs and find another LFS. Did they test your ALK?

As others mentioned you should bring water sample to a true saltwater LFS and have them test things for you

At minimum
ALK
CAL
MAG

 

Two Ai sol Blue both about 5 years old
I will be heading to my go to reef place tomorrow and get some tests done.
I also picked up a salifert mag and Alk test and will compare to LFS
Thanks for the suggestions and I will keep you posted

 

Just bought Salifert Mag and KH test

Tested twice on both
Mag 1350
Mag 1350

KH value in DKH
6.1
6.4

Then Tested at LSF
Mag 1350
DKH 6.1
Cal 450

Is the KH still to low to cause my problems?

 

absolutely is low enough and most likely unless you are dosing alk it is probably dipping much lower than that. Your WC are bringing it back up a bit.

What you need to do is test your level before WC, then a couple hours after you do WC. Then again mid week, then do test again before next WC. This will basically tell you if you are going to need to dose and what basic usage is. If you are dropping below 7 you will need to supplement ALK.
Your Mag is on low end of spectrum also (still ok) but WC should help bring it up slightly.

Some use 2 parts and other use Kalk(if you use kalk watch Mag level) to maintain levels. There are many threads about dosing 2part, kalk, etc etc etc... Whatever you do, if you decide to dose take it slow and use less than suggested. You can always adjust by increasing things.

 

^Expert advice.

 

Not to be a jerk but he said he had double checked his parameters with the LRS to make sure they were correct.

 

The confusion arises when a LFS would not spot the alk value as being the issue.

Test kits can be and are confusing, I just experienced my own testing error. We can not really move forward with the discussion or assistance until we know the true values.. A chronically low dkh will wreak havoc on a system.

The dkh should be at least 7 consistently, a NSW value. At this point I would try a two part system, or do larger water changes, more frequently with a new mix, the salt mix may be bad, or learn to dose kalk.

The good news is that once that value is corrected the tank will come around again.

 

Not to b a jerk, but all the testing and re-testing happened after Billme posted.

Busted! Lol. Just kidding and pulling your chain a little! Could not pass it up

 

My alk was a test error. I'm up to 7dkh and tank is still going down hill.
I bought a chloramine/chlorine test kit from The Filter Guys.
I just replaced all filters and still getting these results.
Could this chlorine be the issue?