Coral not doing so great.

[Sandy]

Okay Gerwin,
Thinking I might have the heebie geebie hex from you now. I remember you saying you never could keep zenia alive in your tank back in the day. I had loads of it at the time. Now I bring that beautiful blue one home and it has gone down hill every since.
I placed it on the bottom at first and have moved it up halfway to the top. Looks kind of pitiful. What could it be?????
Damn corals, some good, some bad, some mean, some nice, some tough, some wieners, what the heck????

[Gerwin]

iodine is a key supplement for xenia sp.
I would start there

[Sandy]

Okay, so I am hoping you have some, if so hold one for me and I will be there tomorrow to get it.
Thanks!

[Watkims]

You can always sell it to me LOL

[Sandy]

Okay, so I am adding the iodine so we shall see if it makes a difference. Also checked other water levels:
Calcium is 580. You asked how I liked the new stuff, well, I really like it. I only add it about once a week, and it doesn't cloud the tank.
Nitraites are at 0
Phosphates at 0
KH is around 8 , do I need to get this number up more. and what do I need to add, buffer of some sorts?

May be back to the shop to get some rock. May take a swim this weekend and move some rocks around.
Depends on the round-tuit.

[Gerwin]

yes I would work on the KH getting up to be more in line with the Ca. As of now I would say you are a little out of balance and also your Ca a little to high. What is the Ph?

[Sandy]

don't know on the ph,,,, need to get a test kit..

[phisher]

Some xenia species do better in a more nutrient rich environment, which is typically the opposite of what we try to keep our tanks.

[Sandy]

Some xenia species do better in a more nutrient rich environment, which is typically the opposite of what we try to keep our tanks.

I have read that before also. A few years back I had it growing like weeds, then I became more aware of the water conditions and what they needed to be, now I can't seem to keep them alive. Oh well, I guess we have to give up some things to have others.

[Sandy]

Gerwin, I had a brain fart and remembered I had a ph checker. I may need to bring it by for you to check out. I know I need to buy some stuff for it. If it is working right, my RO water without salt checks at 7.45, and my tank water checks out at 7.70. What do you think, is that good? Also, are you getting in goodies this week, if so what day?

[Gerwin]

your PH coming from the RO is suppose to be low, I was always under the impression on the acidic side at 6.5 or so, but I spoke with the ESU RO filter guys awhile back and they said there are many factors and that is not always the case although most often it is but 7-7.5 can be the case. I would also say your water should be soft out of the unit as well as checking your phosphates to make sure your membrane is still good.
7.7 out of you tank is not perfect but again in much reading (and not on the blogs) it is still with in a safe range for the reef and moving up to fast can be a bigger issue. Alk/DKH need to be checked this is a important reading in the balancing of your PH as well as maintaining it at a steady number. Idae range is generally thought of between 8.1 and 8.3.

Goodies , yes Thurs and Friday that's right its a double week people code word MOASS (Mother of all Saltwater Shipments) vs the ASS ( Avg Saltwater Shipment) thats right I gots me some acronyms too ya'll did not think that Reef Central with their LFS was all my imagination was capable of coming up with did you? come on...those that know me know I am capable of Fantastic things even if its only great to me

[Archie]

you can not accurately measure ph of ro water, as it has no buffering capacity(capability). yes Gerwin is correct, post ro water should be soft