everything has RTN

[jrod11]

Posted a thread earlier that I have had some ALK problems.

Been looking at my tank all night and it looks like ALL my frogspawn, hammer and and other corals are getting RTN. Im starting to get really frustrated with my tank and have had a tough time in this hobby for the last year. everything has seemed to go wrong.

is anyone that can lend a helping hand avail this weekend to check out my problem? I know that seems like a lot to ask, but im not sure what to do at this point and i'm at a complete loss. A year ago my tank was kicking ass and it took a dive. I thought i had the problem worked out, but i guess I was wrong. My tank used to make me so happy. Now it just brings pain and frustration.....

Jared

[ReefMaster]

damn sorry to hear that, I'll set a couple frags aside for you when things are better.
I know what that feels like.

[jrod11]

damn sorry to hear that, I'll set a couple frags aside for you when things are better.
I know what that feels like.

I have been really busy with work lately, so I could see how my alk slipped. but frogspawn getting RTN because of that? the part that is so frustrating is that I have no idea what is causing it.

[seesquared]

thats a bummer man..
what water do you use? what do you dose and how much? what kinda chemicals do you put in your tank? what lights do you have and whats your cycle? have you messed with anything recently?

[jrod11]

1. metal halides and actincs
2. top off with kalkwasser
3. b-ionic when levels are low

Things started going south when i started using b-ionic again.

[seesquared]

could you be putting too much in? do you use RODI water? are your test kits wack? it could be many things but if your frogspawn and things are doing bad you must be having some thing major going on. try just using scripps water thats been run through a micon bag for a while and only dose a little bionic if any. i have used scripps for a while before i had dosers and didn't dose all the time and things were growing fine, just not as fast. top off with good water and you should be fine.

[jrod11]

I use RODI water. maybe my test kits are expired?

[seesquared]

ya i dunno bud? just stop dosing if all your stuff is dying and use scripps and plain rodi with no kalkwasser. keeping it simple can work sometimes, but thats just like an opinion, man.

[jrod11]

ya i dunno bud? just stop dosing if all your stuff is dying and use scripps and plain rodi with no kalkwasser. keeping it simple can work sometimes, but thats just like an opinion, man.

lol. check your pms

[stephj03]

What size tank is this? Is there any way you can double check your alk on a different kit? Have you checked for stray voltage? When was the last time you checked PH? Do you have any angels or butterflies? How many fish and what kind do you have? What is your normal WC regimen and salt mix or do you use scripps? I might be able to swing by this weekend. If you can't find someone between now and then drop me a line.

[sgriffin760]

what is RTN

[Som1else]

Double check your salinity, and have someone else check it too. Preferably with a refractometer. High Salinity causes rtn.

[naso tang]

"kalkwasser in top off". Could it be kalk overdose (ie kalk sludge)? I've stressed frogspawn and sps before when using kalk paste due to pH swing...a little vinegar can fix that but ID the prob first, I'm betting pH is high.

Good luck and hope you don't lose any livestock.

PS. maybe run some carbon and water change too in case you got some chemical warfare going on?

[jrod11]

What size tank is this? Is there any way you can double check your alk on a different kit? Have you checked for stray voltage? When was the last time you checked PH? Do you have any angels or butterflies? How many fish and what kind do you have? What is your normal WC regimen and salt mix or do you use scripps? I might be able to swing by this weekend. If you can't find someone between now and then drop me a line.

• 125 gallon tank
• will check alk with different kit
• don't have anything to check for stray voltage. Never felt anything with hand in the tank if i have a hang nail or something like i have on other tanks before
• checked PH last week, was fine.
• I have one coral beauty angelfish that has been with me for 3 years
• Have 8 fish: hippo tang, yellow tang, royal gramma, mandrin, flame hawkfish, six line wrasse, mystery wrasse, 2 ocellaris clowns
• Have been doing about 15 gallon water changes once a week, sometimes every two weeks. I make my own at the moment.

[jrod11]

"kalkwasser in top off". Could it be kalk overdose (ie kalk sludge)? I've stressed frogspawn and sps before when using kalk paste due to pH swing...a little vinegar can fix that but ID the prob first, I'm betting pH is high.

Good luck and hope you don't lose any livestock.

PS. maybe run some carbon and water change too in case you got some chemical warfare going on?

Can you describe kalk sludge? IS that the super milky white thinck stuff? I normally will let it sit for a while so that the white junk settles at the bottom and then the stuff that gets dosed is clear.