What am I doing wrong? Or am I just being impatient ?

[albert_dao]

Alk is high. Are you vodka dosing or anything? High Alk + probiotic = lethal.

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Alk is high. Are you vodka dosing or anything? High Alk + probiotic = lethal.

Hi no I don't dose anything. I am using RO/DI water why would my alkalinity be high and how can I bring it down and how can I prevent that from happening again?

[albert_dao]

Probably your salt mix. What brand are you using? Can you test the salt after you've mixed it overnight prior to adding it to your tank?

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Probably your salt mix. What brand are you using? Can you test the salt after you've mixed it overnight prior to adding it to your tank?

Oh no I just bought two big 40lb tubs of Red Sea Reef Salt from BRS and thats what I've been using for my last couple water changes - before that, when I got the tank set up at my house from the move from my bf's I used Instant Ocean (I think the Reef Crystals was the one)

This exact stuff I am using now http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-se...-pro-salt.html

How can I bring the alk down? Is that the only parameter that seems out of place/bad?

[albert_dao]

Well, to be honest, it's probably not your alk that's causing the issue since you're not running probiotic.

FYI, natural SW kh is between 7-8.

I don't have any beginner-friendly ways to bring down alk, so I'll just keep my mouth shut there.

In any case, test the freshly mixed (ish, 24 hour mix) water first and we can panic after.

[Reefer Rob]

Your tank is too new and unstable to be keeping invertebrates. I would try to get them into someones tank that is more mature.

First priority should be to get your skimmer hooked up, and don't use chemicals to control things like green water...Keep it simple and take your time.

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Your tank is too new and unstable to be keeping invertebrates. I would try to get them into someones tank that is more mature.

First priority should be to get your skimmer hooked up, and don't use chemicals to control things like green water...Keep it simple and take your time.

Ok. As far as I know I'm not using any chemicals I don't know what you mean about that?

I thought my system was simple: dual carbon gfo reactor, water changes weekly, top of the line lights, no dosing, skimmer, RO/DI water. What am I doing wrong?

I feed 1 frozen cube of food a day, but I split it up into 3 different feedings throughout the day. This is literally all the maintenance I do with my tank, as well as testing with test kits and using a magnet cleaner...

[chris121277]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Alk is high. Are you vodka dosing or anything? High Alk + probiotic = lethal.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree, I keep my Alk at 11 and have for years....granted I'm not using probiotic

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by chris121277

I'm sorry but I have to disagree, I keep my Alk at 11 and have for years....granted I'm not using probiotic

... That's a fairly relevant exclusion wouldn't you agree? :P

Originally Posted by albert_dao

High Alk + probiotic = lethal.