polarbear Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 I just added a buffer to my 29 gallon to raise the ph because it was low (7.3). I then added a drop of iodien that I got at the aqua dome. Went by the instructions. It said to add a drop per 25 gallons once a week. When I added this my brain coral deflated and let out all of this brown stuff. This is the first time this has happened. Everything else is fine. Should I be worried? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 How much did you raise the ph? You can over dose iodine but I can't believe 1 drop would be the cause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polarbear Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 I added the amount of buffer that the directions said to. It's the type that raises and maintains the ph at 8.3 so I don't believe I over doesed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 The brown stuff is zooxanthellae, the symbiotic algae/protozoans the provide food for the coral. Has it fed heavily recently? This can cause an algae dump too, IME. It's just doing a internal water change due to the change in your pH; most likely. I agree the iodine shouldn't have caused it. Keep an eye on it. These coral are pretty hardy and it should be fine. How much did you adjust your pH? Any change should be gradual. Ideally, IMO, parameters should be in the ballpark and stable. As opposed to on the button 'perfect' and swinging wildly. Remember that the pH scale is logarithmic, so a change in 1 is 10x change in H ions. So going from 7.3 to 8.3 is a 10x jump in alkalinity; that's huge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 PH is like salinity it needs to be adjusted over a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polarbear Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 I'm not sure if it was raised to fast. The buffer instructions say to add daily until ph raises to 8.3. It says it will take anywhere from a day to a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 What is it now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 What is your PH now? I personally like 2 part solutions over buffers. You add them daily and it is easy to maintain a consistent balance. Something else that may have jumped considerably is your Kh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polarbear Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share Posted October 21, 2009 Well the brain coral is doing a little better. It's opened today but not to the point as it was before. I think it will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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