Luckylouse
New member
Things have been going very well in the last 2 years even with a tank upgrade. SPS have always thrived in my tank but recently I had some struggles that i can't really pin point. I've lost 4 acros colonies thus far and few more are struggling. Some of the issues are Burnt tip ( looks like from ALK increase) and the colors are REALLY PALE! The biggest concern is the continuous discharge of mucus film from the tips of the acros. . So... i'm turning to the best SPS pros in the world... Yes you.... For your Help!
This is the only type of Mili that is struggling. The rest are fine??? I had to frag this one in 3 pieces.
This is a Strawberry Shortcake that was the first to show signs. ( look at tjhe bleached areas of white near the base. Now the main branches are pure pink with no green base. Green base still on the bottom though. Polyp extension is very small.
This one started to thrive as soon as the others stated struggling. go figure.
I've also lost 1 large colony of Cali Tort and my Echinata is trying to get survive
I think my issue might be combination of a few things. First off I run a very low nutrient system where No3 and Po4 are near zero. So dosing Amino's has always been important...
Ca - 400/ 410
Alk - I recently had a ALk spike which I figured was the cause the initial burn up. I usually run a ALk at 7.77 to 8.2. It went to 10.8. ( this was of undiluted Sodium Bicarbonate in my Balling canister!!!!!!).
MG- 1410
Temperature - 77.5 - 78.5
just changed 4 new T-5 Bulb on my ATI PM. No way it's a lighting issues.
Skimmer ( BK 180) performing very well
Run Ozone 2 time a week for 2 hours. ( to keep the water clear).
Use Balling Light Method and I religiously do a 8-10% water change every week if not more.
I've been running the Bio Pellets for 10 months. Yes I'm Bio Pellet Pioneer.
My Flow is exceptional with 1 Tunzy 6065, 2 Vortechs MP40 and 1 Red Dragon 6.5 Return ( 1500 GPH).
This is what I have eliminated so far.
The source water from the tap is very clean . My area does not use Chloramines so my RO-DI unit does a great job keeping my water purified. I just changed all filter to eliminate the possibility of bad stock water.
Nitrates read 1.5ppm which is a sign that the tank is well cycled and the water does have some level of nutrients in it.
I think I hsve narrowed it to 2 factors and are the result of 2 changes in my practise.
1. I recently changed from DDs to Royal Nature Salts. Is it possible they hd a bad batch? Is it just a coincidence that I'm running into this issues after the switch?
2. I was not showing any signs of Po4 but I had some Hair Algea. I added 1 Litter of GFO in a reactor to reduce the traces of Po4. Could it be that my complete elimination of Po4 is the cause for the Acros struggling?
Further notes. No sign of Red Bugs ( I also just treated for them), No signs of Flat worms either, All LPS are thriving.
Let me know what you think.
Here's a video of my tank from last week when things started to south on me. I have pics if you need them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf5hJ8xKtaM
This is the only type of Mili that is struggling. The rest are fine??? I had to frag this one in 3 pieces.
This is a Strawberry Shortcake that was the first to show signs. ( look at tjhe bleached areas of white near the base. Now the main branches are pure pink with no green base. Green base still on the bottom though. Polyp extension is very small.
This one started to thrive as soon as the others stated struggling. go figure.
I've also lost 1 large colony of Cali Tort and my Echinata is trying to get survive
I think my issue might be combination of a few things. First off I run a very low nutrient system where No3 and Po4 are near zero. So dosing Amino's has always been important...
Ca - 400/ 410
Alk - I recently had a ALk spike which I figured was the cause the initial burn up. I usually run a ALk at 7.77 to 8.2. It went to 10.8. ( this was of undiluted Sodium Bicarbonate in my Balling canister!!!!!!).
MG- 1410
Temperature - 77.5 - 78.5
just changed 4 new T-5 Bulb on my ATI PM. No way it's a lighting issues.
Skimmer ( BK 180) performing very well
Run Ozone 2 time a week for 2 hours. ( to keep the water clear).
Use Balling Light Method and I religiously do a 8-10% water change every week if not more.
I've been running the Bio Pellets for 10 months. Yes I'm Bio Pellet Pioneer.
My Flow is exceptional with 1 Tunzy 6065, 2 Vortechs MP40 and 1 Red Dragon 6.5 Return ( 1500 GPH).
This is what I have eliminated so far.
The source water from the tap is very clean . My area does not use Chloramines so my RO-DI unit does a great job keeping my water purified. I just changed all filter to eliminate the possibility of bad stock water.
Nitrates read 1.5ppm which is a sign that the tank is well cycled and the water does have some level of nutrients in it.
I think I hsve narrowed it to 2 factors and are the result of 2 changes in my practise.
1. I recently changed from DDs to Royal Nature Salts. Is it possible they hd a bad batch? Is it just a coincidence that I'm running into this issues after the switch?
2. I was not showing any signs of Po4 but I had some Hair Algea. I added 1 Litter of GFO in a reactor to reduce the traces of Po4. Could it be that my complete elimination of Po4 is the cause for the Acros struggling?
Further notes. No sign of Red Bugs ( I also just treated for them), No signs of Flat worms either, All LPS are thriving.
Let me know what you think.
Here's a video of my tank from last week when things started to south on me. I have pics if you need them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf5hJ8xKtaM
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