What questions to ask... to help RS members with coral problems

[nanoreefing4fun]

What questions to ask... to help RS members with coral problems

Got the idea this morning to create a new sticky - we could link to (or copy & paste) of what questions we would like to see answered to help RS members with coral problems.

add on your thoughts to this thread & I will compile & create a sticky

When RS members say they are having "tank problems"...

Here a start...

Tell us about your setup - like tank size, equipment, do you have a skimmer, what kind of lighting and schedule? etc...

What are your water parameters?
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Phosphate
Calcium
Alkalinity
Magnesium
pH
Temperature
Salinity (or Specific Gravity)


How often you do water changes? What % do you change? Do you use ro/di?

Do you dose? if so what?

Do you run chemical filtration? if so what & how frequently do you change it & when was the last time?

How much Live Rock do you have?

Any recent addition or changes to the tank?

How old is the tank? If it's a new tank, did it "Cycle"?

Do you have a cuc? If so what does it consist of?

Can you add pics?


If anyone knows of a current RS thread... listing all or some of this... please add a link


- add on your thoughts to this thread ... what else needs to be asked to help?


Then we can tell members, answering as many of these questions as you can, will help RS members give you their best advice, to try to help you have success.

 

[steved13]

Good idea, I took the liberty of adding lighting to your post above.

 

[DaveK]

I like the idea. I would also say that the form could be used for fish problems or for that matter any aquarium problems.

Here are a few suggestions...

First question should be "What is your specific question, problem, or issue?"

Second question "What have you done so far?"

Related question areas should get grouped together something like this...

Filtration -
.....Biological -
..........Live Rock -
..........Other rock -
..........Live sand -
.....Mechanical -
..........Skimmer -
.....Chemical -
..........Carbon -
..........GFO -
.....UV -
.....Ozone -
.....Other -

I'd also like to see a few notes on filling out the form, such as "Please try to quantify as much as possible, statements such as 'all my water parameters are fine' don't tell us anything."

This is minor, but I'd pit the Salinity (or Specific Gravity) and Temp as the first two items under water parameters, since they can effect other readings, especially calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.