green Brain and monti cap

Ok my brain is not turning green and is actually getting white edges, the moni cap is not turning bright or dark green just staying faded since the meeting. both in the upper 1/3 of the tank. everything else is doing great the toadstool, frogspawn, pink pallies all in full color and expansion. only other thing is my little sebae anemone is moving all over the tank.

Here is what I was able to test:

Temp 80F
PH - 8.4

ALK >300 kh/ppm (quick dip strip)


API test kits
Calcium - 580
Ammonia - 0
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0

Lighting is as follows:
PC's
8am -8pm two 54 watt 12k white lights, two 54 watt blue antic 460
10am-3pm I add two more of light type of the above lights bringing my total wattage up to 432 watts (8x 54 watts).

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Dosing anything?

Calcium is high and alk is way high. 300 ppm=16.8 dkh which is way too high but I don't trust the test strips. I'd retest with a liquid test kit.

If you're not dosing anything check salinity and have your test results verified.

Is it something you got at the meeting? It might just take more time to color up or adjust to your tank.

What kind of brain?

I'd do some water changes to start getting your numbers lined up. Small daily water changes will slowly move any parameters that are off.

I agree, Start getting those numbers down. Could be the problem. Thewhite edges,nare they fleshy or Stoney? Fleshy is probably bleaching and Stoney means it is dieting off. Exposed skeleton is not good.

ok, no not dosing anything.. salinity is .026 (hydrometer)

I will try to determine if its stoney or fleshy..

I have 10 gallons of water ready so I can start tonight changing water out.

On Friday drop some water off. I'll double check your test results with my test kits for ya.

It would be bizarre to get those results without dosing unless your hydrometer is off and your specific gravity is actually way higher than it's reading.

ok 10 gal water change and following test results:

Salinity .025-.026(hydro)
PH 8.4 (pinpoint tester)


API test kit:
PH 8.2-8.4
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 460

ALK >300 kh/ppm (quick dip strip) still showing high and this is also showing nitrates that the API test does not.

Also would not mind a phosphate and TDS test.

I will wait on any more changes until its been tested again for the other.

Salinity .025-.026(hydro)
PH 8.3 (pinpoint tester)


API test kit:
PH 8.2-8.4
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 480

ALK between 180 and 300 kh/ppm (quick dip strip) after 2 water changes 10 gallons each. I am using instant ocean salt.

Also I have not seen it but the wife said it looks like a white worm is coming out of the brain on one side? I am starting to see some green on the brain now also.

The monti-cap is not turning green yet but it seems to be holding his own and not fading more than he was.