mtb9989

Ive got no idea how to lower my DKH. It is at 14.8 when I mix my water and my tap water is at 4.8. How can I get it down around 12

also I have an elegant coral that is starting to show signs of stress. It's tentacles are are starting to look dried out/withered on the ends. Any ideas would be great...

temp-78
pH-8.4
nitrite-0
nitrate-0
ammonia-0
dkh-14.8
calcium-450

help help help??

ATP

Are you sure your nitrates are 0 when you're using tap water without a skimmer and only 15lb of live rock?

aquarist48

Welcome to Fish Lore MTB. I hope you enjoy the site. I'm sure our salt tank members will help you out. We love photos and videos around here
Ken

pepetj

Which species of Corals are you keeping? Without knowing the answer we are quite limited in helping you out here.

What are you measuring with?

What is your salinity/specific gravity reading?

What are your phosphates levels?

Your Calcium levels are adequate for corals.

In my opinion, using tap water is likely the source of this problem. What salt mixture brand are you using?

You could try with either a mixture that is prone to "low" alkalinity (like Coralife, which I use) but if you do change, do this gradually so you don't stress your fish. Consider this: In my 20gal Nano Reef, at pH 8.1, temp 86F, SG 1.026, Ca 520ppm, my KH gradually drops from 9 to 6 DKH. I do keep Nitrates and Phosphates in low end by means of refugium and a efficient protein skimmer (which removes a lot of dark stuff from my tank).

Considering RO processed water would be another option. I use RO processed drinking water (TDS <20ppm) that is quite cheap locally (5 gallons for USD 1.25 delivered at home). You could begin by using it for top-off and maybe mix it with your tap water in your water changes so you don't drop KH drastically.

Adding more live rock should help you with this as well.

I do have a question on your lighting. Your aquarium info states aquatic life 30". I found the product description so you have two 24W T5HO actinic and two 24W T5HO at 10,000K (I won't list the lunar LED). You are definitely at a really low end for keeping corals.


The nitrates at zero is either a typing error or a measurement error.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

MizRamzi

Are you dosing with anything? Where in the tank is your coral placed? +1 on the use of RO/DI water. I too would think your hardness may be coming from your water source. Try a water softener pillow, they work and it would be gradual.

harpua2002

It appears that your tank is pretty new, and I've read many times that an elegance coral is not an easy one to keep. Maybe consider slowing down on new additions and letting your tank mature. Also, exactly what kind of lighting do you have? I wasn't able to get an idea of what you're working with from your aquarium info.