corals not looking too good

[Dockstoy]

I have an established 150 gal reef tank - the last 2 months all my corals, cuc, shrimps seem to be wasting away - all chemisty looks good - any help..! Water changes 30 gal every 3 weeks.

 

[ccCapt]

Welcome to Living Reefs!

all chemisty looks good

Can you post exact munbers?
pH =
nitrate =
ammonia =
salinity =
alkalinity =
calcium =
magnesium =

 

[wontonflip]

+1 CC....And how old are your lights

Welcome to LR!

 

[parrotchute]

My early bet is going to be a badly calibrated refractometer or hydrometer.

 

[Jmck]

All chemistry cant be good if their wasting away, unless you have some for of metal in the tank that could be wrecking everything?

 

[little_fish]

Hello and Welcome!

We will get you figured out!

 

[Jmck]

Hahaha, good to see your being nice LF :D sometimes i forget that :S

 

[Smitty]

Welcome to the site....on top of revealing your water parameters, has your tank come in contact with and cleaning (chemical) solutions, aerosol sprays, copper? Or last but not least, maybe a stray voltage somewhere?

 

[little_fish]

Hahaha, good to see your being nice LF :D sometimes i forget that :S

Thanks, im not totally a soulless monster

 

[Jmck]

hahaha on the contrary, your basically never a soulless monster! Unless someone kills a seahorse :grumble: then I can see you getting mean :mrgreen:

I was saying you were making up for my less than welcoming post

 

[little_fish]

i know, i dont know why i forgot my usual ;) smile. Its my favorite one :D

I guess it has been a looooooong day

 

[Dockstoy]

Nitrate 0
PH 8.4
Salinity 1.25
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 1.0 - I doubt this is correct as I have had this mis-reading before probably a bad test kit - LFS show's 0
Phos 0
Cal 400
Carbonate Hardness 53.7 - this seems low
Temp 78F
Magnesium I have no way of testing - I have been dosing w/Magnesium at the recommendation of the LFS

 

[Dockstoy]

pH = 8.4
nitrate = 0
ammonia = 1.0 I doubt this is correct as I have no nitratea and nitrites - I have had this mis-reading before probably a bad test kit LFS shows 0
salinity = 1.25
alkalinity = ???
calcium = 400
CBH = 53.7
Temp = 78F
magnesium = ?? I don't have a test kit for this -
at the recommendation of the LFS I have been dosing with Magnesium and essential trace elements

Live Stock in tank
Yellow Tang
Sail Fin Tang
Wrasse
Percula Clown
Damsel
Niger Trigger - leaves the corals alone
Cleaner Shrimp
Red Blood Shrimp - I haven't seen him in a while - they are pretty shy
2 PJ Cardinals

Corals
Many mushrooms
Several Bubble type corals
Many leathers
Green Buttons
Large Toad Stool - has skrunk to half it's size

All looking kinda drab

 

[Dockstoy]

1 Minute Ago pH = 8.4
nitrate = 0
ammonia = 1.0 I doubt this is correct as I have no nitratea and nitrites - I have had this mis-reading before probably a bad test kit LFS shows 0
salinity = 1.25
alkalinity = ???
calcium = 400
CBH = 53.7
Temp = 78F
magnesium = ?? I don't have a test kit for this -
at the recommendation of the LFS I have been dosing with Magnesium and essential trace elements

Live Stock in tank
Yellow Tang
Sail Fin Tang
Wrasse
Percula Clown
Damsel
Niger Trigger - leaves the corals alone
Cleaner Shrimp
Red Blood Shrimp - I haven't seen him in a while - they are pretty shy
2 PJ Cardinals

Corals
Many mushrooms
Several Bubble type corals
Many leathers
Green Buttons
Large Toad Stool - has skrunk to half it's size

All looking kinda drab

 

[parrotchute]

I wouldn't dose mag if you don't have the capability to test for it. That could certainly be causing issues.

 

[ccCapt]

I agree in not dosing mag if your not testing for it. Magnesium test kits are readily available. If you can't find 1 locally, order 1 online.
Magnesium Test Kit - 50 Tests | Magnesium Test Kits & Refills | Test Kits & Refills | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

Your alk is extremely low. Assuming 53.7 is ppm, that's about 3 dKH. It should be around 8 dKH.

What brand salt are you using? Are you measuring salinity with a swing arm type hydrometer or a refractometer?

 

[Dockstoy]

I'm using Instant Ocean Salt -- I'll get a Magnesium test kit this weekend - How do I raise the Alk..?