HELP WATER PARAMETERS

[RICKY81]

ok ok. so i get home today, and i see that my mandarin is no longer swimming around in the tank, my yellow tang's color looks as if he is stressed out, i have a closed and open brain's and look shrunken, and so i figured something must not be right i decided to check water levels and my results were
ph. 8.0
nitrate 20
alk. 1.7
nitrite between .05 - 0.1
phosphate 0.5
Calcium 560
salinity 1.028
temp 82
so now my question is what is the fastest and safest way to fix this levels, i'm thinking of 15% water change ASAP, add activate charcoal, some phosphate removal pebbless. what other suggestion do u guys have... any will greatly be considered and appreciated... thanks

[SoLiD]

If you're registering Nitrites that means that you have or had an Ammonia spike. I don't see that in your list of tests.

Test For Ammonia ASAP!!!

Ammonia is absolutely the Worse Substance you can have in any aquarium. It kills corals and fish alike. The ammonia could be from the mandarin decomposition or some other die off. Water changes are always helpful in any emergency. I'd do at least 2-3 20% water changes for the next couple of days to get your Ammonia and Nitrite levels down. Also how long has your tank been up (is it fully cycled), and what kind of biological filtration do you have in there (IE. live rock, deep sand bed, refugium). Your biological filtration is you best friend right now. It will convert the Ammonia and Nitrite to Nitrate and Nitrogen Gas (The bubbles in your sand bed) which aren't Toxic (with levels in reason) to your tank's inhabitants.

Activated Carbon wouldn't be a bad idea, but it doesn't bind to ammonia very easily. It will remove the iodine in your saltwater pretty easily though, so remember to check those levels too if you plan on using it. But maybe water changes will replace all the iodine being sucked out.

In closing, do multiple water changes, and make sure you have enough Biological Filtration. If you don't, get some in the near future.

Good Luck

-David

[ErikH]

Drop that salinity as well, 1.028 you are looking for trouble. The temp is also a tad high, go to Walgreens and buy a clamp on fan, that should drop the temps to normal. Water change your way out of the woods.

[RICKY81]

oops sorry my bad for got to mention Ammonia 0 ppm. don't seem to have a problem with this one.... my filtration systems is i have a wet/dry with built in protein skimmer, and have about 130 Ibs of Live Rock. My Tank 75 gal mixed reef has been set up for 1 year, but adding coral slowly, and just have regular substrate, i woke up this am and realized the mandarin was swimming around with no problems...seems like it was probably hiding some where so that was atleast some good news..i'm considering in doing the water changes. thanks for the info....

[alton]

What salt are you using because 560 is too high. Besides getting your salinity down you need to use a low calcium salt like instant ocean to lower that and raise your alk with a reef builder. Use phosban for phosphate removal. When you add RO water to lower salinity add a buffer so your alk doesn't get any lower.

[JimD]

What salt are you using because 560 is too high. Besides getting your salinity down you need to use a low calcium salt like instant ocean to lower that and raise your alk with a reef builder. Use phosban for phosphate removal. When you add RO water to lower salinity add a buffer so your alk doesn't get any lower.

Good advice.

[RICKY81]

my salt is Red Sea Coral Pro Salt... but i think that what caused my Calcium to go too high is that i just recently added a homemade, kalkwasser calcium drip, to maintain calcium but was running at about 25 gtts/min, then had to lower it down to 10 gtts/min (gtts = drops).. so currently i am working on the water change, and will consider adding some...so with higher salinity the alkalinity drops??