Input On Water Parameters

[nub]

I have a 29 gal. Biocube that's been running fine for about 7 months. This was a new setup and my first shot at SW. I used about 15 lbs. of live rock (not enough maybe) and about 20 lbs. of live sand and mixed in some crushed coral for the bed.

In the back I have my heater in the first chamber spilling onto a polishing pad on top of a pair of tall foam pads. In the rest of the second chamber I have a bag of Seachem Matrix before going through the bubble trap and through a bag of activated carbon and back to the tank. I'm still using the stock lighting on household timers.

Up until a couple weeks ago everything has gone pretty good. My water according to my test with a API master saltwater kit with a few additions has always been safe and stable.

To the point...I bought some various frags from my LFS early on to add some color. They all grew really fast so I felt comfortable with what I was doing. A couple of weeks ago they started to wither back and in a couple cases die.

My water parameters (What else could I or should I be testing for?).

Temp: 78* F
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0- .1 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0-2 ppm
PH: 8.2
KH: 161.1 ppm
Calcium: 480 ppm


My fish and cleaning crew have been fine. Am I missing something?

 

[dallen2233]

Maybe you lack some trace elements. What salt mix do you use and how often do you change your water? Also, do you dose your tank with anything?

 

[nub]

Maybe you lack some trace elements.

This is actually the point of the question I guess. What additional elements should I be testing for?

For salt I've been using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. My water change schedule had been 30-40% every two weeks. The last month or so that I've noticed the decline I've been doing about the same or a little less every week.

The only thing I'm dosing is Kent Marine Nano Reef parts A & B.