SERIOUSLY NEED HELP ID THE PROBLEM

[hexcolor reef]

This maybe won’t be an emergency to some but try to understand….
I have done water changes, add UV sterilizer to main tank, dose lemon juice 7ml/60 gal. Pin PH to 8.2-8.4, salinity 1.025. Mag/Calc spot on. And finally got my ALK down to 12 from 14-264.

My ACANTHOS coral has been giving me issues past week. I can can’t call it. I’ve tried moving it, changing flow, lighting etc. and it continues to sink into itself on one side.
I’ve found sponge or some orange larvae growing on the base last week and scrubbed it off. No signs of tissue recession. I’m clueless here. I’m about to trade it to LFS or give it away because I don’t want it to die

 

[PokeFish]

How long are you leaving it alone before adjusting your tank/moving it?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

why are you dosing lemon juice?

Can you list your parameters, how old is your tank, how long have you had the coral?

 

[hexcolor reef]

I can admit all week I’ve been moving it. About 3x. Today was the third. It hasn’t been doing well for about two weeks now (before moving it)

I have scolys and other very sensitive coral that are doing excellent

 

[hexcolor reef]

why are you dosing lemon juice?

Can you list your parameters, how old is your tank, how long have you had the coral?

I started dosing lemon juice to help kill of a bacteria bloom. I had 3 weeks ago. It worked pretty well with the addition of adding UV Sterilizer to main tank.

Tank is 8 months

PH: 8.2-8.4
Salinity: 1.025
ALK: 12
Calc: 450-500
MAG: 1350-1500
Nitrates: 2
Phosphate: 2.5 (after feeding tank reef roids for a week)

I’m due for another electronic water test this weekend

I’m also dosing 15ml/day at .75ml at a time, REEF(brand) Calcium which is a calcium supplement but like KALKWASSER in a way.

I’m want to dose night out bacteria but afraid of another bloom, because I used Fritz 9000 and it caused a bacteria bloom. Or maybe alot of organic matter was in my tank at the time so it caused cloudy water. This was 3 weeks ago.

 

[Cell]

I've never heard of "dosing" lemon juice. We use it in small amounts to kill aiptasia, not to clear bacterial blooms.

If your alk has been swinging, that is your likely culprit.

 

[hexcolor reef]

I've never heard of "dosing" lemon juice. We use it in small amounts to kill aiptasia, not to clear bacterial blooms.

If your alk has been swinging, that is your likely culprit.

Yea I’ve been having major issues with ALK. since it’s down to around 12DKH I guess I’ve been looking for it to relax and show stability.

I changed my REEF salt from RedSea Blue bucket to the black bucket for lower ALK
But it still raises to 12DKH. I use RO water every time for water changes.

I want to use this 2 part product but not sure if it would work or make things worse

 

[Gtinnel]

I basically know nothing about these type of corals but I know with SPS high alkalinity with low nutrient levels can be stressful on corals.
Regarding your test parameters, is your phosphate actually 2.5ppm or is that using a different scale?

 

[hexcolor reef]

I basically know nothing about these type of corals but I know with SPS high alkalinity with low nutrient levels can be stressful on corals.
Regarding your test parameters, is your phosphate actually 2.5ppm or is that using a different scale?

I starting feeding heavy to get nitrates and phosphate up due to it being low. I pulled back this week because phosphates are running to high

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Its just me, but I would suggest to stop dosing everything. It sounds like a lot going on, and your parameters are out of whack. Stop dosing, and bring it all back to a baseline, then slowly make adjustments to one thing at a time.

 

[StatelineReefer]

Those are some wild alkalinity swings. Bring your tank back to baseline. 90% water change. Establish what you want your parameters to be, and nudge towards them. This is too many changes too quickly.

 

[hexcolor reef]

Its just me, but I would suggest to stop dosing everything. It sounds like a lot going on, and your parameters are out of whack. Stop dosing, and bring it all back to a baseline, then slowly make adjustments to one thing at a time.

It started that way from 8/30 out of the blue. I had thought my tank crashed. So I started making adjustments from then.
And now my parameters are on point. I do home test as well, I just go to my LFS to check to see if my test are in close range with electronic

 

[hexcolor reef]

Those are some wild alkalinity swings. Bring your tank back to baseline. 90% water change. Establish what you want your parameters to be, and nudge towards them. This is too many changes too quickly.

Very wild ALK swings. I can’t get a beat on it. I switched salt and all. But it spikes to 12DKH and rises to 14dkh. So I do water changes to bring it down.

What do you think about using 2part B Ionic? For this

 

[Gtinnel]

According to those pictures your alkalinity is closer to 15dKh and has only been increasing. Also a phosphate reading of 2.5ppm is insanely high.
I’d guess that the coral is unhappy because your parameters are fluctuating pretty badly and at least those two are not in the “normal” range.

 

[Northern Flicker]

I don't think I've ever seen 2.5ppm Phosphates, I would probably retest this at home and make sure it's at least same ballpark.

I agree with @Mr. Mojo Rising - might be a good idea to reel back all of the dosing and overfeeding, do some w/cs to bring things back to that baseline.

We've all been there, it's not just a you problem. Dosing can be a nightmare if you are working with only a partial understanding, as most of us are here.

 

[hexcolor reef]

According to those pictures your alkalinity is closer to 15dKh and has only been increasing. Also a phosphate reading of 2.5ppm is insanely high.
I’d guess that the corals is unhappy because your parameters are fluctuating pretty badly and at least those two are not in the “normal” range.

All coral,
Lobo
Torches
Scoly,
Acans/RAINBOW
Chalice
Stylo
Frog spawn
Rock Anemone
Cup coral
Zoanthids

They are all opened and puffy as ever. It’s just the acanthos.
Parameters are back in check since my last electronic water test, it’s just my ALK

 

[Cell]

I'm surprised the chalice made it through alk swings.

 

[Rmckoy]

I've never heard of "dosing" lemon juice. We use it in small amounts to kill aiptasia, not to clear bacterial blooms.

If your alk has been swinging, that is your likely culprit.

I’m not 100% sure as I’ve never seen anyone use lemon juice but . Would almost assume being acidic it could also be considered a form of carbon ?
And could be contributing to the bacterial problem ?

 

[hexcolor reef]

I'm surprised the chalice made it through alk swings.

It’s doing well sitting at top of rock scape

 

[Rmckoy]

Yea I’ve been having major issues with ALK. since it’s down to around 12DKH I guess I’ve been looking for it to relax and show stability.

I changed my REEF salt from RedSea Blue bucket to the black bucket for lower ALK
But it still raises to 12DKH. I use RO water every time for water changes.

I want to use this 2 part product but not sure if it would work or make things worse

Stop dosing and let the system stabilize .
And after a few water changes test for a period of a week to establish accurate Alk consumption . Calculate proper dosing to establish your desired levels .

Esv 2 part works great , I’ve been using it for many years .
But you need to know where you’re starting from with nothing added to the system in order to calculate