Hi Everyone,
I was a member under a different nickname some years back and now have returned to the hobby!
There is a problem with my 100g SPS tank. Calcium levels can drop from 420-350mg/ml, and alkalinity level drops from 4.5-3.5meq/l in one day. This is worrying as I do not know the root cause and if I keep topping up the calcium and alkalinity levels so rapidly, it will kill my corals and my wallet.
Some background info on the tank
3 acros around 4 inches high and 1 LPS duncan coral (quite big around 30 heads)
Some hermit crabs, sea squirts and feather duster worms
pH 8.3-8.4
Salinity 1.0265
temp 26.2-26.7
Nitrates 0
Phosphates <0.08 (my test kit shows very little deviation below this level)
magnesium 1440 (alittle high I know)
additives (ultra min fine food for sponges, phytogreen 10-15micrometer phytoplankton 1ml/day, polyplab polyp booster 1ml/day, ultra minS nutrition concentrate 1ml/day)
I usually add the calcium and carbonate powder to the sump. Measurements in the main tank and sump have no deviation.
Could anyone please advise?