New readings - do I need to fix anything

[milomlo]

Ok guys, I noticed another snail dead. Don't know why these large ones keep dying. Maybe not enough algae

This is the 2nd one in about 3 weeks
Anway I did a water test and here is what I have
SG 1.025
ammonia .25 (because of dead snail I guess)
trate 10
trite 0
PH 8.0
Calcium 560 (OMG THIS IS THE LOWEST MY CALCIUM HAS EVER BEEN

)
dKH 12.2 or alk 4.34 meq/L
Mag 1500 (this is the first time I have ever tested this so this one is new to me)
Phosphates - DOES ANYONE HAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SALIFERT PHOSPHATE TEST - I LOST MINE

I am mixing water now to fix the ammonia/nitrate problem. How does the Mag/alk and PH look? I know they all sorta work together.
What could make my large turbos keep dying?

 

[wax32]

Sometimes Turbo snails die from acclimation shock even when you do everything correctly. Inverts are also touchy about things like alkalinity. Has yours been swinging around?

 

[milomlo]

Yes actually last time I tested it was on 2/15 and it was 9.6 before that on 2/12 it was 10.9 before that on 2/8 it was 9.0 on 1/30 it was 11.2
What can I do to help control that? Also do you happen to have the instruction for the Salifer Phosphate test?

 

[turningtim]

milomlo YGM. Everything looks pretty high to me. Are you using just straight salt or are you dosing somthing? I'm at the other end, Calc -400, Alk 9 dkh, mag 1300, PH 8.2.
Sorry I just bought some salifert kits but not phosphate. Do they have a web site?
Hth
Tim

 

[milomlo]

NO I don 't dose anything at all. Just do water changes.

 

[milomlo]

anyone have suggestions about why my alk goes up and down??? Should I be testing for something else? Should I be dosing something???

 

[saltfan]

You using tap water or RO? Tap water, you need to check water for metal content. High copper content will smoke inverts.

 

[drew2005]

Heres the instructions for the Phos test.
Warning!
Irritating: PO4-1 contains < 3.5 M HCL.
R36/37/38: Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
S26: In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
Instructions:
1. Add with the syringe 10ml of water in the test vial.
2. Add to this 4 drops of PO4-1 reagent and swirl the test vial gently for 10 seconds.
3. Add to this 1 level scoop of PO4-2 reagent and swirl the contents gently for 30 seconds.
4. Place the open test vial on top of the color shart on a part of the chart which is white and compare the colors looking from the top. Read the corresponding phosphate content. An intermediate color corresponds to an intermediate phosphate content.
The phosphate values are in ppm Phosphate. If you prefer a reading in ppm Phosphate-Phosphor then divide the reading by 3 or use the table given below.
Higher Sensitivity
Should you require an even higher sensitivity then double the water sample and the reagents. The scale should then be divided by 2.
Phosphate Table
ppm Phosphate ppm Phosphate-Phosphor
0.03 (good)
0.10 (critical)
0.25 (coral growth retarded)
0.50
1.00
3.00

 

[milomlo]

thank you for the instructions. Also I am using RO water and I do a weekly water change of 3 gallons on a 29 gallon tank

 

[unleashed]

i would boost your ph a bit to at least 8.2 i keep mine at 8.3 I found with ro water I had to buffer my ph .I dont know what all you have in your tank or how long its been up but from my experiences although some things may survive in lower ph they dont strive.if my ph dropps to 8.1 my spiney boxfish puts and hides behind the rocks until i adjust it.as for you cal its quite high if its a reef tank you could lose corals do to it but its its a Fo or Fowlr
those levels dont harm fish or inverts

 

[milomlo]

I thought dosing was bad! I used to dose the PH in the beginning and was told not to do that.
Won't dosing make my alk higher. My alk is high. As far as the calcium goes that is good for my tank. It is usually around 650. In the past everyone has said not to worry about the calcium. No one has ever told me what I could do to lower it. I have been told to just do water changes and that would take care of everything.
Anyone else think I should dose?

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by milomlo
I thought dosing was bad! I used to dose the PH in the beginning and was told not to do that.
Won't dosing make my alk higher. My alk is high. As far as the calcium goes that is good for my tank. It is usually around 650. In the past everyone has said not to worry about the calcium. No one has ever told me what I could do to lower it. I have been told to just do water changes and that would take care of everything.
Anyone else think I should dose?
well good levels of cal for corals are 350-450 i always have to read my test instructions for alk levels .but I use IO salt mix and my ph and other levels are never the same and Ro does remove some of the ph somehow.b4 i switched to Ro water I never had to buff my ph it was constant at 8.2.yes water changes can reduce cal and alk levels ther are other ways to go about doing that also if this is reef tank if not then dont worry about those levels.oher than water changes i dont know how to lower them but other more experienced reefers should.I use ph buffer 8.3 by seachem.how often are you doing water changes and how much at a time? i do 25% weekly

 

[milomlo]

I do a 3 gallon water change everyweek. I have a 29 gallon tank
I do have Kent's PH buffer stuff that I used in the very beginning. I thought my ph needed to be at 8.4 so I always buffered. Then I was told to stop buffering :scared:
Now I don't know what to do.

 

[bang guy]

Please don't use the buffer. Your Alkailinity is already too high and you will undoubtable cause a precipitation event if you dose more.
Are you using Oceanic salt? Just wondering.
How long have you had these snails? It's quite possible they are starving.

 

[milomlo]

Yes I am using Oceanic and I have had these snails since October.
I was wondering if maybe they weren't getting enough I should put in an algae wafer or a sheet huh? I only have 2 of these left. I did put in a small sheet yesterday and one of them jumped on it (not literally LOL - but you know what I mean)

 

[bang guy]

If they are Turban Snails then I do not believe supplemental algae will help them. I may be wrong but my understanding is that they require Diatoms. Lots & lots of Diatoms.

 

[wax32]

Checking in like you asked.
pH of 8.0 is nothing to worry about. Your alk is already high (along with your Ca) and dosing a pH buffer (which raises alkalinity) would only make things worse.
Sounds like your tank is too clean for your Turbo snails. I bet you are doing like lots of people suggest and starving your fish, although I know you made up your own seafood buffet for them.
Lack of food will probably kill off snails till you have the right amount. If you don't want to see them die, bring some to an LFS for credit. Preferably one with dirty tanks.

 

[milomlo]

LOL - thanks Wax! I overfeed big time as my phosphates are usually high. I have a hard time not feeding all the time.
Well I guess I just won't worry about it. I know that if I hang an algae sheet in there those larger snails go to it and eat. So that is what I will continue to do.

 

[wax32]

Good, I am glad they eat the sheets.