All LPS Dying

[rffanat1c]

So I've got a 55 gallon tank with a HOB skimmer, MP40, Hydor Koralia, Aqueon heater, and two Mars Hydro lights with lenses removed mounted 4" above the water at about 20% power. I use IO and have a RODI system. Also have a Tunze ATO. Salinity is 1.026, temp 78, nitrates less than 5, phosphate is negligible, alk is 9, calcium 400, ph 8, magnesium is about 1400. Tank has been running for about 343 days.

All my sofites are doing great but amost all my LPS are starting to die over the last two months. My torch and hammer are fine, but acans and war coral are dying or dead. Blastos are doing good. I bought a couple of Acans three weeks ago and they are already dead. The only change I've done is added API Algaefix as directed about a month ago. Lights are on a timer. Whites on 10a-3:30pm blues on 10-10. I think I've covered all the bases for tank stats.

All i can think of is needing to adjust my lights. Fish include one clown, one blie spotted goby, one cardinal, one royal gramma, cleaner shrimp, pom pom crab, emerad crab.

 

[aromano]

algaefix is for killing algae in freshwater tanks. Its basically similar to non copper swimming pool algaecide. Not sure how safe it is for LPS corals but I suspect its a most likely culprit.

 

[rffanat1c]

Its the Marine version. And according to a thread here, it is the exact same ingredients as the freshwater one as confirmed by API. I agree it is the only wild card but it dissapates after 24 hours so it doesn't explain the new corals.

 

[organism]

Have you calibrated your refractometer with calibration fluid? How exactly did the corals progress until they died?

Could be your white LED's are too high or any number of things.

 

[rffanat1c]

I have not recently but I will. They stayed pretty much stagnant snd then just withered away. No real growth, just status quo then death. They discolor then leave skeletons.

 

[rtparty]

Get all your numbers double and triple checked by a LFS or other reefers. Calibrate all equipment. Take each piece of equipment out, clean it and inspect it like crazy. Watch for rusted magnets, especially on the Vortech.

 

[organism]

Watch for rusted magnets, especially on the Vortech.

So true, those vortechs have killed so much stuff in my tank...

 

[rffanat1c]

Ok so I've got some updates. My buddy used his digital refractometer and found my salinity is a little low, 1.024. He used his red sea kits vs my API and found:

Calcium is around 320
Magnesium is 1400
Kh is 13.7
Nitrates are 0

My vortech magnet is not rusting. I haven't used algaefix since the first week of January. The only other change i forgot to mention was I added an aquatic life 100 gpd rodi system. Prior to that I was using treated tap water.

This problem has coincided with the algaefix and rodi system. I still can't figure it out.


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[ClownNut]

if you using tap water check PO4 lvl. also KH at 13 is high.

 

[rffanat1c]

Stopped using tap almost two months ago but I'll check po4. Not sure how to balance other parameters. I do a 20% water change each month and barely have any coral.


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[rtparty]

Calcium is too low and alk way too high. If you're not dosing anything, your salt is bad. Make sure to mix up the salt first and then make a 3-5 gallon batch. Test that water after about 12 hours of mixing. See if those numbers are close to your current parameters.

In the meantime you'll probably want to add some calcium and get it closer to 400-450.

 

[rffanat1c]

I will test tomorrow when I can get it to my guy, thanks.

 

[rffanat1c]

Alright all, seems my salt might be the issue. I mixed some up last night and had my buddy test it today.

Salinity 1.026, temp 78
Calcium - 350
Magnesium - 1400
Kh - Over 15. Verified by an API and a Red Sea kit.

He used 1ml of Red Sea fluid and it didn't even change the color from blue to orange. API took 15 drops to change from blue to yellow. Kits do work as my buddy tested his tank water and premixed IO water. His Kh was 8-9 in both sources of water. He also tested his premixed IO and Calcium was 400, magnesium 1400, and kh was 9. I bought this salt at the end of December and it is sealed properly and still in the box. Apparently it must be a bad batch.

This makes sense since the parameters in my tank match my premixed water and I've done two 20% water changes since buying this salt. It appears it is time to get a new box. I'm going to post a couple of pictures from my other LPS that seem unaffected by these parameters in Tapatalk. I'll also post the one coral that was dying that my buddy now put in his tank to save.

 

[rffanat1c]

All LPS Dying

Dying corals

Thriving corals

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[rtparty]

It looks like there are some other issues that need to be taken care of as well. Cyano, hair algae, maybe bryopsis and I think I see bubble algae?

 

[rffanat1c]

Correct there are. And manual removal has been implemented but it keeps coming back. Bubble is only a few pieces, cyano is very minor and I do need more flow.


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[KAKLANGLEY]

Any zoa/palys? Running Carbon or Chemipure? Had an issue month or so ago when I added a coupe of Acan pieces to my display. Checked everything, all seemed fine (within range). However I had removed my TLF PhBan150 with carbon to replace the media and never put it back. After losing one of the colonies and searching RC for a little while and seeing a few with this same scenario I connected the TFL reactor back up, and within 2 days time there was noticeable improvement in the Acan and Euphylias.

However the "hair" algae and cyano are definitely clues of some sort also.

If not already using GFO and Carbon I'd get some soon and maybe another couple cleaners(hermit/snails) - small changes and time. I'd skip the additives all together if any way possible, if there's algae then the Algeafix is only a bandaid at best. HTH


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[rffanat1c]

I have three colonies of zoas/palys. You can see one in the pics. No more than 15 heads total between all colonies. I run nothing as far GFO/Carbon. They all are living well but growth on everything alive is slow at best.

I just noticed all my crabs have died over the last two weeks or so or they are hiding. Some snails have died but most are going strong.

I think my rock is still leaching as my tank is only 350 days old.


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[KAKLANGLEY]

Probably treated tap water and additives, get some good carbon and GFO soon. I like to use each separately but sometiming like Chemipures product contains both and could be used until you found the setup for those medias that works best for you. The zoa and paly toxins as well would be removed with the carbon. Another coral like the hammer? Sitting above the purple palys may have finally gotten close enough for the polyps to feel threatened and release the toxin in defense. I'd run carbon/ GFO as soon as possible.

You mention the crabs have died as well recently, again the addictives, be it tap water "purifier" and/or algaefix, have finally built up to a more toxic level. If your doing 20% WC the levels of toxicity may have been remaining low until the addition of the algaefix and then that allowed some chemical to slowly kill off crabs/ inverts, and then the corals start dying off from the chemical and crab die off (ammonia, nitrate)

The additive may have contained copper or other metals that are not being tested, therefore cannot be detected as a problem other than invert die off. I use the TLF Meta-Sorb in case of metals. Hasnt changed color showing metal(s) present in the last year or so but did have a temp sensor years ago that was rusted and didn't realize it being I had stuck it in the overflow and didn't think to check it. I like the product because you don't see many metal test kits available to us on Aquarium sites, they are but the shiny new controller, lights, and wave pump get our attention most of the time. HTH



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[rffanat1c]

Thanks for all the info. I got lucky today and am picking up a 90 RR with all the gear for cheap. I'm going to put in brand new sand and 100% new water with my RODI and Seachem Salt so hopefully that will help. I will research all you have said.


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