All SPS Dying After Tank Transfer

[ggrillo]

About 2 weeks ago I transferred my 55 to a 120 and moved everything together as to not start a new cycle. The new tank has almost all new mixed saltwater from RODI and Reef Crystals, new sand, and a few new pieces of dry base rock. All my SPS corals turned dark brown shortly after and now one after another are all RTNing

I have a couple ideas of what could've done it, but not sure. All fish, duncans, ricordeas, rock flower anemones, and zoas/palys are normal.

I added 2 150W metal halides in my canopy and had them on for 3 hours, after that I felt the water and it was HOT so I opened the canopy, shut off the lights, and the temp want back to normal after a few hours. A couple days later is when the corals started dying off. Also both of my serpent stars died at the same time (now both back alive somehow?) I've added fans in the top of the canopy and the water temp has stayed since.

Water Params are as follows
Red Sea Pro Kit
Cal -360
Mag -1160
KH -6.7
No Idea why these are so low with new water

SG at 1.025 (measured with calibrated refractometer)

Ph is 8.0 with salifert kit

Phosphates show just under 0.25 (with old API test kit)
Nitrates show 0 (with old API test kit)

Any ideas? I'll get some GFO tomorrow and start running that. I have carbon in a reactor right now. The SPS started browning almost instantly when transferred.

 

[ggrillo]

Some pics










Here's what they used to look like

 

[sirreal63]

Did you add salt to RO water or water to salt?

It will be very difficult to trace down the true cause but with those water parameters I would suspect a precip event, something on the dry rock added or ammonia. You have several things going on that could be a factor.

 

[ggrillo]

Added salt to the water very little at a time. I have a feeling it was a combination of everything.

 

[Ajskennels]

i had the same thing happen to me when i set up my 105, i transferred everything all at once from a 90g and lost a few fish, shrimp, and a SSC colony i grew out to about 8 inches in diameter from a 1/2" frag. I'm not sure what happened as i used all the water from the 90, didn't add anymore rock or sand, just had to mix some water to add for the higher volume and that was it. if i ever upgrade again ill make sure the other tank has been run and stable for a few months b4 the transfer.

 

[ggrillo]

Yup same thing. My problem is the tanks usually need to be in the same spot.

 

[sirreal63]

The heat didn't help but I am amazed that a pair of 150's were able to heat the water that much in a short time. Even with an unvented canopy it would take longer to change the temp much on a tank that size. Are you sure the heater didn't stick on as well?

The chemistry alone could be enough to cause some damage if the corals were used to much higher levels. .25 on the po4 is also very very high but I suspect the test is wrong. How long was the new tank set up before the transfer?

 

[ggrillo]

For lighting I also run 4 t5s as well so all of that was basically in a sealed canopy. The temp spike actually happened 2 days in a row and I don't run a heater so I couldn't have been that.

I'm sure the po4 test was wrong, but I guarantee I have some in the tank with the dry rock and sand. I treated the transfer like a large water change so it wasn't set up at all before transferring. I mixed up the water, added the contents from my 55 over along with about 30 gallons of old water, and then added the new mixed water until full.

 

[sirreal63]

Vent that canopy ASAP, removing the top is the best way because heat rises, so no top and no heat builds up. A small fan either in the canopy or over the sump helps but considering the high humidity in FL I would put the fan in the canopy to help exhaust heat.

Did you happen to measure the actual temp it got to? What temp does the tank normally run at?

 

[ggrillo]

Already did. Cut out the bottom half of the back and added 2 large fans to the front of the top piece and it solved that problem. Fans pull air in from the back over the water and lights and exhausts out the top. Didn't get to measure the water temp but I'd guess it got close to 90f normally it hovers around 76-78

 

[sirreal63]

That much change quickly would be an issue, added to that, the chemistry change and it is a recipe for disaster. Things sometimes happen, we just learn from them and go on. If any of the sps are still alive, frag off the live portions. You don't really start to learn until you make mistakes. I still make them even after 10 years. I am assuming you have already got the water parameters corrected, especially alk, cal and mag, if so things will be ok, it just takes a little time.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Oh man that sucks. I have a move to my new house next year and have the same fear of moving and losing all sps. How long did you mix the water for? Ive upgraded to a bigger tank once and left the water mixing for about 2 hours and hink that contributed to the bleaching of some corals. I guess when doing large wc's or changing the whole water of the tank, it is best to leve the water mixing overnight to have the ph stabilize.
Did you make sure the temp was the same as the old tank/ water? I thing temp or alkalinity swings are the main reasons that would happen...keep us posted. Sorry about the loss

 

[slojmn]

I am really sorry to hear of your losses. I am a firm believer in using as much of the old water as possible when transferring corals to a new tank. I have done it a few times and have made sure to transfer 50-75% of the water from the old tank to the new tank. This has been super successful. The combo of 100% new water and heat was probably the issue. Once SPS start to go it can be difficult to save the pieces. Frag off the live and healthy parts and get rid of all the dead and dying parts, that just fouls your water even more. Good luck and know this is a learning moment. We all have them, year after year, hehehehehehe.

 

[catman78]

I am really sorry to hear of your losses. I am a firm believer in using as much of the old water as possible when transferring corals to a new tank. I have done it a few times and have made sure to transfer 50-75% of the water from the old tank to the new tank. This has been super successful. The combo of 100% new water and heat was probably the issue. Once SPS start to go it can be difficult to save the pieces. Frag off the live and healthy parts and get rid of all the dead and dying parts, that just fouls your water even more. Good luck and know this is a learning moment. We all have them, year after year, hehehehehehe.

+++1
I have moved several tanks. Used at least 50% of water from old tank.
I'm not sure how much the new sand played a factor.

 

[scottwhitson]

What were your parameters before the move? I am betting on a large ALK swing.

 

[that Fish Guy]

Did you add salt to RO water or water to salt?

It will be very difficult to trace down the true cause but with those water parameters I would suspect a precip event, something on the dry rock added or ammonia. You have several things going on that could be a factor.

Why does it matter if you add Water First or Salt First?

 

[sirreal63]

Steve, adding water to salt will cause precipitation and mess up the chemical balance.

 

[that Fish Guy]

Steve, adding water to salt will cause precipitation and mess up the chemical balance.

What exactly is Salt Precipitation and how does it mess up the Chemical Balance?

I have never heard of this before.

 

[sirreal63]

I will look up one of Randy's articles for you tomorrow. Add salt to water, never water to salt, it messes up the parameters of the mix.

 

[GroktheCube]

What exactly is Salt Precipitation and how does it mess up the Chemical Balance?

I have never heard of this before.

If you add water to salt, the water ends up with calk and alk above saturation points, and a very high pH. Cal and alk precipitate as calcium carbonate as a result. At the end, you're left with very hazy water with depressed alk and cal numbers.