is my open brain coral dead?

[FLESHY]

See the thing is "the perfect reef tank" is just something in your head. You will find that when you get your tank filled in like puffer and I have (I need a more recent pic because yes, the montis have grown since the last you guys saw them.) You realize that you dont have room for the things you want...its constantly changing environment. I actually envy some of you, completely open to do whatever you want. I cant add any corals, if I did, they would probably be killed immediately.

Puffer, I commend you on great choices coral wise, things are looking healthy, and there appears to be little fighting. Maybe someday I will get down to chicago and see this thing in person. Plus a puffer or two to finally convince me to dedicate a huge tank to one.

 

[mos90]

i still like the idea of a fowlr tank with some aggressive triggers,tang,angels. definately would be less work then a reef.

but i had to try a reef tank.


forgot to add. i raised the drip rate of my calcium reactor to get alk and calcuim a bit higher. i noticed today that the ph is a bit depressed at 8.0

 

[thisissimple]

Wow puff, well done. That is gorgeous. How old is that tank?

Mos, what is your Alk?

 

[FLESHY]

i still like the idea of a fowlr tank with some aggressive triggers,tang,angels. definately would be less work then a reef.

I will tell you this right now, my 125g agro FOWLR is 2x the amount of work my reef is. The reef is to the point where it is a pretty balanced ecosystem.

 

[Pufferpunk]

+1 on FLESHY's comment. I rarely do much for my reef tanks. FO tanks need a lot more cleaning 7 upkeep.

That pic was from last year. Yes, the aquascape is constantly changing with coral growth, some fighting, fragging/breaking stuff off.

 

[mos90]

alk is right around 11dkh. i was shooting for 12.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Why so high? I keep mine at 9-10.

 

[mos90]

a little higher alk seems to keep calcium where i want. 420 ish. if i keep alk at 9 my calcuim levels appear to be a little low. maybe im loosing my mind. idk.

 

[Pufferpunk]

What is your mag level?

 

[mos90]

i havent checked it in a few weeks but it as at 1350. it doesnt seem to drop any if at all.

i just rechecked alk.it is up to 14dkh. i guess i bumped the reactor up a little too much. the good thing is, the water from the reactor comes out at 14dkh and calcium 450. so the dkh cant go much higher but the ph comes out at 6.8, that must be why my ph dropped some. i slowed it down to where i had it before when my alk was 10. it may take a few days to drop.

calcium is at 430. ph 8.02 right now.

should i do a mag test just to be safe?