is my open brain coral dead?

[Pufferpunk]

Never hurts.

 

[mos90]

mag is right around 1270.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I keep mine around 1400. That could be why you can't keep your Ca & Alk stable.

 

[FLESHY]

Guys, let me stress that consistency is more important than "perfect" numbers.

Lots of guys and gals are reefing at the top of our hobby with pH's at 7.8 cal below 400 etc...my calcium stays at about 400...but I cant get my alk up to save my life...tried everything except a reactor.

In the end I realized that my corals were growing well, and that they were less stressed when I wasnt tinkering with stuff. So I have left it alone. Its usually around 6 dkh.

 

[mos90]

I guess it depends on the type of corals u have. Most sps corals as far I know need to have alk,mag and calcium higher.

I will raise mag back to 1350 over the next week

 

[FLESHY]

I have successfully grown many kinds of high end sps...and FAST...with the numbers I have.

Go to www.reef2reef.com and look through their "Tank of the Month"'s and you will see that there is a broader range to acceptable parameters than you would believe.

Quickly and dramatically raising levels WILL be more detrimental to your corals than beneficial. My corals stress if there is a 60ppm swing in calcium.

 

[mos90]

Did u see the December tank of the month? 220 gal reef. Awsome.

He states that maintaining steady alk is the most important

I'm sure after seeing his coral and equiptment list he has all of 10k into that tank.

 

[thisissimple]

I guess it depends on the type of corals u have. Most sps corals as far I know need to have alk,mag and calcium higher.

I will raise mag back to 1350 over the next week

Yup, this is a very common misconception. Truth is corals can only pull those elements so fast. They do it just as fast from 300 Ca and a 5 dkH as the do from a 510 and 15.

What you need is consistency. They get used to what is available and grow to it. People like higher numbers because they think that like this works like fertilizer, but it doesn't. Always use the same salt, and the same water, keep those water changes regular and most of this will take care of itself.

Mos - your dkH is fine. Just make sure it stays there. I only asked because sometimes pH fluctuations are directly related to Alk. However, in your case I think it is more likely a function of excess C02 from your Ca reactor.

pH and Ca are inversely related, so a low Alk wont keep you from a high Ca, but a high Ca can keep you from having a high Alk. You will know if you get both too high at once. Its not pretty. Blizzard!

 

[mos90]

i think a dkh of 10 is what i will stick with. i will try to keep it consistant.

 

[mos90]

this morning i glanced at the ph. after lowering the reactor drip rate last night, it was up about .1 over last night. even with the lights out. we will see what is at tonight.
i think it was definately excess co2. drip rate was just to high.