Please help me prevent my tank crashing! Sudden swing in parameters, unknown source!

[journee]

I suggest a tank journal. It will make it easier to give advice

yeah i keep getting this response but im not really sure what that means, like convert this thread into a tank journal? or make a whole tank journal and then link that in this thread? if theres any info missing to help diagnose the issue im super happy to get it as fast as possible

 

[tribbitt]

yeah i keep getting this response but im not really sure what that means, like convert this thread into a tank journal? or make a whole tank journal and then link that in this thread? if theres any info missing to help diagnose the issue im super happy to get it as fast as possible

Making a thread that you add to as your tank progresses gives us far more context when you're experiencing issues. Plus it's nice to have documentation of how your tank has developed over time

 

[Mike Yasin]

Bacterial blooms (if indeed that was it) are best fought with UV. Water changes help, but not much since the bacteria are actively reproducing. The fact younger nitrite isn’t necessarily indicative of a cycle, but that something is dead/dying and creating nitrite. The coral you have (gorgonian) needs a more mature tank, and others are heavy mucus and toxin producing when irritated, so that’s going to mess with your system. Carbon though a reactor is the full time solution if you are going to keep these types specimens.

 

[Alexander1312]

just broke out my salifert alk test to check real quick, 10.9 dKH alkalinity was the reading. i use fritz pro RPM salt so it adds its own alkalinity and im using this carbon below

View attachment 80554

I know folks here like the Fritz Pro RM salt, so it seems to produce good results.

If your alkalinity measurement is correct, and if you do not dose anything else, I believe you are using the high alkalinity version of the RPM salt (redline/red box).

I do not think this variation of the salt is a good salt to use (for a softie tank) as higher than recommended alkalinity (8-9 dkh, I keep mine closer to/lower than 8) could stress corals if your phosphate is lower.

Did you measure phosphate?