Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > The Reef Chemistry Forum
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 03/11/2017, 02:14 PM   #1
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
Exclamation Help SPS corals dying slowly

I have 75 gal tank with 55 gal sump. You can see my build in the signature. I have my tank up for almost 3 years now and just recently start having issues.
First my huge Monti started to develop white spots, then it bleached completely. I had couple different SPS frags for 5 months now and they are all dead now. On the other hand my LPS doing fine.

My parameters are stable:
Alk - 8.4 dkh
Cal - 450
Mag - i dont test unless first two are not in range
PO4 - 0.4
NO3 - i need new test so I don't know right now. But i am doing 3 ml of NoPox everyday.
PH - from 8.25 to 8.40 by the end of the day

After a 20 gal water change coral doing better for couple days and then stay closed and slowly dying.

Here are couple pics.












__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium

Last edited by Staisman; 03/11/2017 at 02:38 PM.
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 02:16 PM   #2
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
Where should i look for a problem?


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 07:29 PM   #3
bertoni
RC Mod
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
Does the tank have a skimmer? I might try running some fresh carbon and a PolyFilter. The PolyFilter will turn blue in the presence of copper and will adsorb other metals, as well. In theory, the phosphate level is rather high, which could be an issue, but that's hard to predict. Some people seem to be successful with higher phosphate levels and stony corals.

Those parameters otherwise are fine, although I might check the temperature and SG. If a LFS could run some tests, a second opinion might be useful. It's rare, but test kits can fail and cause problems with their false results.


__________________
Jonathan Bertoni
bertoni is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 07:51 PM   #4
ric167
Registered Member
 
ric167's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Orlando
Posts: 57
besides your nutrients I did notice Aiptasia killing your acro on the 2nd pic


ric167 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 07:58 PM   #5
ric167
Registered Member
 
ric167's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Orlando
Posts: 57
I also noticed a lot of Vermetidae snail/worm which is a sign of high feedings...they can grow on corals and basically stressed the coral


ric167 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 08:52 PM   #6
ontop27
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 150
Same issue here. Your phosphate is high like mine. What's your nitrate at? Starting to wonder what happens with zero nitrates because then the no pox won't work on the phosphates. Does it just hang around haha? I did start dosing nitrate and my stuff is starting to look slightly better

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk


ontop27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 08:58 PM   #7
scuzy
Registered Member
 
scuzy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 6,499
Help SPS corals dying slowly

I had similar issue and it was the chloramine in my water that the rodi didn't filter. Check for total chlorine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



Last edited by scuzy; 03/11/2017 at 09:03 PM.
scuzy is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2017, 10:03 PM   #8
BigJohnny
Registered Member
 
BigJohnny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 1,642
Hm. Do you qt corals? Have you had .4 po4 for a while? When did you start dosing no3po4x?

You said you had various sps frags for 5 months, do you mean you had them in your tank for 5 months or have had various frags over the course of 5 months? How long do they last on average?

How are the acros dying? STN, RTN, from the bottom up, from the top down, random spots?

I would confirm your alk with another test kit, calibrate your refractomer and check your salinity, test your rodi for total chlorine (brs sells kit but I think you can amazon prime). Run some carbon in case there is a contaminate. Polyfilter is not a bad idea either and may give you some info. After confirm alk and salinity you can do large water changes since the 20g helped (to rule out contaminates)

Any changes in the tank or lighting or salt mix in the last few months?

How old are your bulbs if t5? Old bulbs can change spectrum and kill acros, happened to me and switching to new bulbs had astonishing results. Not only in terms of coral health (acros in particular) but also had some algae and cyano that went away.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk



Last edited by BigJohnny; 03/11/2017 at 10:23 PM.
BigJohnny is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 07:16 AM   #9
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
I am sorry I made a mistake, PO4 is 0.04

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigJohnny View Post
Hm. Do you qt corals? Have you had .4 po4 for a while? When did you start dosing no3po4x? I was dosing NoPox manualy for a year but only couple month ago started dosing via doser. I do not QT corals only Fish, but I dip corals before put them in the tank

You said you had various sps frags for 5 months, do you mean you had them in your tank for 5 months or have had various frags over the course of 5 months? How long do they last on average? I bought them 5 month ago, some were OK for couple month some Died after a month another after a 4 month now I have only 2 left. The acros on the fisrt picture are from my first colony which now is dead but was thriving about a year.

How are the acros dying? STN, RTN, from the bottom up, from the top down, random spots? They would stay close, no polyps, an then would just cover with algae slowly.

I would confirm your alk with another test kit, calibrate your refractomer and check your salinity, test your rodi for total chlorine (brs sells kit but I think you can amazon prime). Run some carbon in case there is a contaminate. Polyfilter is not a bad idea either and may give you some info. After confirm alk and salinity you can do large water changes since the 20g helped (to rule out contaminates). I am running a carbon all the time. My FCI and TCI are at 0. My RODI water usually 0 but when it gets to 002 I change my sediment and filters. My Salinity is at 26 but I had recently a dip to the 24. I brought back up slowly.

Any changes in the tank or lighting or salt mix in the last few months?
I had BML lights for 2 years and 6 month ago added 2 T5 bulbs

How old are your bulbs if t5? Old bulbs can change spectrum and kill acros, happened to me and switching to new bulbs had astonishing results. Not only in terms of coral health (acros in particular) but also had some algae and cyano that went away. About 6 month

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk



__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium

Last edited by Staisman; 03/12/2017 at 07:24 AM.
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 07:21 AM   #10
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
double


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 07:22 AM   #11
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
Quote:
Originally Posted by ric167 View Post
I also noticed a lot of Vermetidae snail/worm which is a sign of high feedings...they can grow on corals and basically stressed the coral
Where do u see them?


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 08:32 AM   #12
scooter86
Registered Member
 
scooter86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 380
Had a similar situation years ago. Turned out I wasn't paying attention to my TDSfrom my RODI.The cartridges need to be changed.Check the TDS coming out of your RODI.


__________________
Be nice to the people you meet on the way up, because you are going to meet the same people on the way down.

Current Tank Info: 180 reef 155 african
scooter86 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 08:46 AM   #13
Zalick
My reef tanks my wallet
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Portland
Posts: 571
Quote:
Originally Posted by scuzy View Post
I had similar issue and it was the chloramine in my water that the rodi didn't filter. Check for total chlorine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
+1

Check your total chlorine levels both in the tank and with your finished RO water.


__________________
300g custom acrylic from James 72x36x27, 4 Mitras Lx7 &6 a360, 2 Stream 3s, C2C beananimal. 100g sump, Jebao DCP- 8000 (Vectra M1 died) -> 114w aquauv -> SRO 5000ext , varios8 return

Current Tank Info: Me v Dinos - I'm winning for now...
Zalick is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 10:14 AM   #14
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zalick View Post
+1

Check your total chlorine levels both in the tank and with your finished RO water.
It is 0 for both FCI and TCI


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 10:20 AM   #15
Vinny Kreyling
Registered Member
 
Vinny Kreyling's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 7,206
Test regularly for Magnesium, it will cause problems if it falls too low.


__________________
250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.
Vinny Kreyling is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 10:49 AM   #16
kevinl
Registered Member
 
kevinl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 243
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling View Post
Test regularly for Magnesium, it will cause problems if it falls too low.
+1
I also quit testing Mg, for years it was always 1440, all of sudden it was below 1100.
I use Reef Crystals, a year or so ago I started loosing corals and found that the mixes are very low and inconsistent in Mg.
I'm back to testing each mix & they seem to be coming in around 1300 to 1350, but some mixes still show low 1200's.


kevinl is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 10:57 AM   #17
anthonys51
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Kings Park, NY
Posts: 2,789
are you dosing carbon without testing your nitrates?

also you dont seem to have a lot of fish, why are your nitrates so high. what kind of skimmer do you have, maybe its time to invest in a better one ?

also i would test alk, nitrates and phosphates at least 2 times a week. calcium once every 2 weeks and mag once a month. i noticed once i started testing my tank started doing a lot better long term. i used to also have corals do well and grow for 6 months then just die. imo there shouldn't be a need to dose carbon. i know people do it with success, but its just a band-aid for something else that is wrong with your tank. do you have any marco algae.


anthonys51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 11:02 AM   #18
WiDataTech
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Wausau, Wi
Posts: 136
Check any wetsides or magnets that may have cracks in the casing. I've seen some threads of mp40s cracking and slowly killing off corals.


__________________
Mark

I enjoy long walks on the fairway.

Current Tank Info: 28 gal cube with 2 O. clowns, 58 gal in the works.
WiDataTech is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 11:30 AM   #19
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
jUST TETSTED EVERYTHING:

Mg - 1280
Alk - 9.8
Ca - 470
Phosphates - 0.04
Salinity - 26
FCI - 0
TCI - 0

Alk and Ca little high because I just did another WC


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 11:41 AM   #20
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonys51 View Post
are you dosing carbon without testing your nitrates?

also you dont seem to have a lot of fish, why are your nitrates so high. what kind of skimmer do you have, maybe its time to invest in a better one ?

also i would test alk, nitrates and phosphates at least 2 times a week. calcium once every 2 weeks and mag once a month. i noticed once i started testing my tank started doing a lot better long term. i used to also have corals do well and grow for 6 months then just die. imo there shouldn't be a need to dose carbon. i know people do it with success, but its just a band-aid for something else that is wrong with your tank. do you have any marco algae.
I do have a Skimmer, usually there are not much skimmate. It is Reef Octopus Coral Vue


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 11:46 AM   #21
anthonys51
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Kings Park, NY
Posts: 2,789
Well let's start with testing your nitrates. We can start there first


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


anthonys51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 04:47 PM   #22
bertoni
RC Mod
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
Assuming you mean SG is 1.026, all those numbers are fine. Due to precision problems with hobbyist test kits, the phosphate might be a bit high, but I don't think it's high enough to cause this problem. Water changes seem to help for a bit, from what I understand from your first post, so I'd definitely get a PolyFilter and perhaps some CupraSorb running.


__________________
Jonathan Bertoni
bertoni is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/12/2017, 10:23 PM   #23
ric167
Registered Member
 
ric167's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Orlando
Posts: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by Staisman View Post
Where do u see them?
you see all those tubes that for the most part stick up 3rd pic...well if you stir your sand or blow your rocks you will see all of those snails cast a web like mucus to feed...at the same time they reproduce like crazy and soon not even a blenny will help with algae because of them..normally they are red...google them and you will understand I personally have taken down a tank for that reason


ric167 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/13/2017, 07:01 AM   #24
jusn317
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Akron, OH
Posts: 272
How long have you been dosing nopox? I had a very similar issue couple years ago where all my sps (established and new frags) would slowly decline and die just like yours. After months of trying to figure it out and trying all sorts of things I finally quit using nopox. For whatever reason once I quit dosing it, and the few sps that managed to survive (montis mostly) and all the new frags I have been doing great for me.


jusn317 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/13/2017, 02:10 PM   #25
Staisman
Registered Member
 
Staisman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: NY, Long Island
Posts: 313
Quote:
Originally Posted by jusn317 View Post
How long have you been dosing nopox? I had a very similar issue couple years ago where all my sps (established and new frags) would slowly decline and die just like yours. After months of trying to figure it out and trying all sorts of things I finally quit using nopox. For whatever reason once I quit dosing it, and the few sps that managed to survive (montis mostly) and all the new frags I have been doing great for me.
I was using it for more than a year but never via doser. I put it on a doser just couple month ago.


__________________
My build (75 gal DT with 55 gal sump/refugium):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2442383

Current Tank Info: 75 gal with 55 gal sump/refugium
Staisman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:51 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.