Cali Kid Corals

65 gallon tank

Testing results:
11/03/24
PH 8.6
Alk hanna 5.6
Alk salifert 6.1
P04 hanna (LR) 0.12
Calc hanna 545
Magnesium salifert 1350
N03
20241102_212737.jpg


Alk is low last time I used esv ionic 2 part to raise alk. I will do it again this time using reef calcaulator
 
MichaelB said:
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I'd try with a different meter or a test kit. I wouldn't go out of your way to spend a bunch of money on testing it, but as @Arvin R said those numbers seem erroneous. Particularly with your alk numbers, it seems impossible.

It does seem promising your 65 had a higher number than your other tank, so hopefully that's directionally correct.

Also if you raise your alk, make sure to do it very slowly. At least in my experience, alk swings are a great way to get euphylia to start bailing polyps.
 
richiev said:
I'd try with a different meter or a test kit. I wouldn't go out of your way to spend a bunch of money on testing it, but as @Arvin R said those numbers seem erroneous. Particularly with your alk numbers, it seems impossible.

It does seem promising your 65 had a higher number than your other tank, so hopefully that's directionally correct.

Also if you raise your alk, make sure to do it very slowly. At least in my experience, alk swings are a great way to get euphylia to start bailing polyps.
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I split the alk dose in half.

It was a cheap Amazon ph tester so I wouldn't argue on quality or accuracy. I figured it was better than nothing at all for a general idea of ph.
 
MichaelB said:
I split the alk dose in half.

It was a cheap Amazon ph tester so I wouldn't argue on quality or accuracy. I figured it was better than nothing at all for a general idea of ph.
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I've used those two. Nothing wrong with trying! I got mine in a two pack with a TDS meter (maybe that exact same one). From what I've read the cheap ones aren't very good with saltwater.
 
Arvin R said:
Being that there are hammers and nems in the tank means there should be alk consumption and that you should monitor daily to figure out your alk consumption and then set to dose back daily what is used to keep it stable.
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Also noting that you should aim to try and do alkalinity testing around the same time each day for maximum accuracy.

pH fluctuates throughout the day and night as a function of photosynthesis in the tank (and in your refugium, if you have one). pH also affects alkalinity. It's likely to not be a *major* swing, but the anal retentive bench scientist in me would be remiss if I didn't tell you that.
 
Arvin R said:
Being that there are hammers and nems in the tank means there should be alk consumption and that you should monitor daily to figure out your alk consumption and then set to dose back daily what is used to keep it stable.
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I wonder if AFR would work in this tank as well. I only worried about the calcium getting to high with only the hammers and nems. I know hammers take in calcium but if i'm not mistaken not as much as sps. I'm probably overthinking things lol. I will be sure to try to keep it up as i do in my main tank.

I will also be changing 15 gallons of water with higher alk so it should help as well. I will try to figure out tbe dosing amount first preference is all for reef, other wise will find another or go with esv.
 
IOnceWasLegend said:
Also noting that you should aim to try and do alkalinity testing around the same time each day for maximum accuracy.

pH fluctuates throughout the day and night as a function of photosynthesis in the tank (and in your refugium, if you have one). pH also affects alkalinity. It's likely to not be a *major* swing, but the anal retentive bench scientist in me would be remiss if I didn't tell you that.
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I made a fuge section in the tank but i doubt trying to set it up now would be anything but dumb on my part. Considering the lower and unstable p04. Running a fuge may come back in the picture in the future when things level out. Would love to do one with the burning bush. I will keep the testing time in mind thanks.
 
MichaelB said:
I wonder if AFR would work in this tank as well. I only worried about the calcium getting to high with only the hammers and nems. I know hammers take in calcium but if i'm not mistaken not as much as sps. I'm probably overthinking things lol. I will be sure to try to keep it up as i do in my main tank.

I will also be changing 15 gallons of water with higher alk so it should help as well. I will try to figure out tbe dosing amount first preference is all for reef, other wise will find another or go with esv.
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AFR would work, since it doses all three simultaneously (alk, calcium, and magnesium). The one thing I would be cautious about is that, due to how AFR works, you don't get an instant reading change.

With normal two-part, you add alkalinity, it circulates through the tank, and raises your alkalinity. Due to the chemical formula of AFR, it's slowly broken down over the course of (IIRC) 3-4 hours, so be careful of overdosing.

Also, many people use it just fine, but I've heard some reports about STN on SPS with people using AFR. Not likely something to worry too much about, but just keep an eye on your coral when you use it.
 
So a testing update of sorts.

11/03/24
Alk hanna 5.6
Alk salifert 6.1
Added half dose esv 2 part alk
11/04/24
Alk hanna 230pm 7.5
Added half dose 2 part alk
11/05/24
Forgot to test this day alk should have been 8 according to the dosing calcaulator

11/06/24
1hr after 15 gallon Neptunes enhanced natural sea water W-C (their signs if I recall correctly reads around 10alk in their natural sea water)
* no i didn't test their water before water change- I didn't think to and I trust in Roberts advertising)

Nitrate hanna hr 46.3
alk hanna 7.1

1.) This has me a little confused as I expected the alk would have been at least 8 or slightly over. I'm not sure if it's possible for this tank's consumption to be that much in a short period of time?

My main tank has probably 3 times the coral Including sps and it doesn't consume nearly that amount. I'm still getting by with dosing 5 mil AFR per day and 5 gallon natural salt water enhance every 1.5 weeks. The main tank holds steady with that routine.

Is there anything that could cause alk to drop in such a manner that I maybe missing?

I 'm considering not using AFR on this tank and sticking to the esv 2 part and esv mag if needed. My goal in this would be to get more understanding of maintaining parameters individually over the easier AFR option I've taken in my main tank.

Not really a question but I like to know if anyone here is or has used the esv 2 part/mag for manual dosing?

I want t


I plan to try to figure out the daily consumption of alk for this tank.
Hopefully if i have 2-3 days in row without water change variable it would be enough to safely identify daily alk consumption?

2.) I took heed to the recommendations and bought a hanna nitrate high range checker today. The result was 46.3. o
Online search says under 20 is considered the ideal range. My Nems are very wonderful but hammers
aren't. I've asked recently based on a color chart. With this specific number from the hanna check Is Nitrate enough to cause it to effect the hammers?

I would assume seeing the alk up and down that could be a effecting them as well. Especially not having a dosing routine identified and in place yet to keep them steady.
 
Last edited:
MichaelB said:
So a testing update of sorts.

11/03/24
Alk hanna 5.6
Alk salifert 6.1
Added half dose esv 2 part alk
11/04/24
Alk hanna 230pm 7.5
Added half dose 2 part alk
11/05/24
Forgot to test this day alk should have been 8 according to the dosing calcaulator

11/06/24
1hr after 15 gallon Neptunes enhanced natural sea water W-C (their signs if I recall correctly reads around 10alk in their natural sea water)
* no i didn't test their water before water change- I didn't think to and I trust in Roberts advertising)

Nitrate hanna hr 46.3
alk hanna 7.1

1.) This has me a little confused as I surly thought the alk would have been at least 8 if not slightly over. I'm not sure if it's possible for this tank to consum that much alk in a short period of time?

My main tank has probably 3 times the coral Including sps and it doesn't consume nearly that amount. I'm still getting by with dosing 5 mil AFR per day and 5 gallon natural salt water enhance every 1.5 weeks. The main tank holds steady with that routine.

Is there anything that could cause alk to drop in such a manner that I maybe missing?

I may consider not using AFR on this tank a d stick to the esv 2 part and esv mag if needed. My goal in this would be to get more understanding of maintaining parameters individually over the easier AFR option I've taken on my main tank.

Not really a question but I like to know if anyone here is or has used the esv 2 part/mag for manual dosing?

Goal is to try to figure out daily consumption of alk for this tank.
Hopefully if i have 2-3 days in row without water change variable it would be enough to safely identify daily alk consumption?

2.) I took heed to the recommendations and bought a hanna nitrate high range checker today. The result was 46.3. o
Online search says under 20 is considered the ideal range. My Nems are very wonderful but hammers
aren't. I've asked recently based on a color chart. With this specific number from the hanna check Is Nitrate enough to cause it to effect the hammers?

I would assume seeing the alk up and down that could be a effecting them as well. Especially not having a dosing routine identified and in place yet to keep them steady.
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I’ve had nitrate around that range before and still had puffy hammers so I don’t think that’s it. I do recall seeing your hammers in the 65 when I went over to help trouble shoot your vortech pumps so I see the issue you’re mentioning. But I don’t think the high nitrates are your issue
 
MarcosDelgado0 said:
I’ve had nitrate around that range before and still had puffy hammers so I don’t think that’s it. I do recall seeing your hammers in the 65 when I went over to help trouble shoot your vortech pumps so I see the issue you’re mentioning. But I don’t think the high nitrates are your issue
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Thanks I didn't think it likely after responses from the previous post. I just wanted to completely rule that out as a possibility hence getting the hanna.

I'm torn between alk and lighting, but the nems are so dang happy I don't wanna really think it’s a lighting issue. I couldn't confidently rule out either.
 
MichaelB said:
Thanks I didn't think it likely after responses from the previous post. I just wanted to completely rule that out as a possibility hence getting the hanna.

I'm torn between alk and lighting, but the nems are so dang happy I don't wanna really think it’s a lighting issue. I couldn't confidently rule out either.
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I know it’s here somewhere but remind me what PAR your hammers are getting?
 
MarcosDelgado0 said:
I’ve had nitrate around that range before and still had puffy hammers so I don’t think that’s it. I do recall seeing your hammers in the 65 when I went over to help trouble shoot your vortech pumps so I see the issue you’re mentioning. But I don’t think the high nitrates are your issue
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+1 my nitrates are higher than yours right now and my alk swings are bigger and my euphyllia are big and happy and growing, though I’ve only got a couple.

Just because those are the only two things you’re testing doesn’t mean they’re the problem. :)

If you are doing regular water changes I doubt that water chemistry is your issue in a tank that size unless your salinity is way off or something.

Hammers are pretty easy so I do agree it is weird they aren’t happy - maybe they just need a bit of time. Alk swings causing problems is a myth, IMO, unless they are massive - and even then, they usually don’t cause problems. It’s just an easy thing for people to blame because it’s a parameter that tends to move around some.
 
derek_SR said:
+1 my nitrates are higher than yours right now and my alk swings are bigger and my euphyllia are big and happy and growing, though I’ve only got a couple.

Just because those are the only two things you’re testing doesn’t mean they’re the problem. :)

If you are doing regular water changes I doubt that water chemistry is your issue in a tank that size unless your salinity is way off or something.

Hammers are pretty easy so I do agree it is weird they aren’t happy - maybe they just need a bit of time.
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Lol, part of my problem my main tank is in my room i wake up looking at it, and fall asleep doing the same. I go in the living room and see the hammers in it, and ggrrr it sucks lmao. The comparsion between the two is what’s getting to me more than anything else. I haven't lost a single head yet but sometimes one or two pull all the way in.

I did add two filter socks today so I will see if it helps. I added one last week and i noticed the skimmer wasn't being filled up every single day. So hopefully with two it will preform as desired and stop the risk of bottoming out po4.
 
MichaelB said:
Lol, part of my problem my main tank is in my room i wake up looking at it, and fall asleep doing the same. I go in the living room and see the hammers in it, and ggrrr it sucks lmao. The comparsion between the two is what’s getting to me more than anything else. I haven't lost a single head yet but sometimes one or two pull all the way in.

I did add two filter socks today so I will see if it helps. I added one last week and i noticed the skimmer is wasn't being filled up every single day. So hopefully with two it will preform as desired and stop the risk of bottoming out po4.
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It is strange. You have happy acros in that tank right? What is your po4? Looks like you haven’t tested in a bit so could it be zero?
 
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