Corals are slowly dying and I can't figure out why??

[jschottenfeld]

I've had my 125G reef running for 3-1/2 years and for most of that time....successfully. During last summer (2010) I had some problems with A) the regulator on my CO2 tank for my calc reactor and B) my pH probe...combined with the fact that it WAS THE SUMMER!! This lead to some wild swings in my alk which I battled to correct but eventually did using 2 part solution.

For the last few months some of my caps and SPS are bleaching out and dying, some of my SPS's have tissue that is receding from the edges, and some of my zoas are not thriving as much as they previously did or are just remaining closed when they had been doing fine for years. Other zoas and SPS's in my tank are doing just fine, but generally speaking I don't appear to be having the same growth that I have had in the past. Also just to mention, my clowns, tangs, wrasses, and gobies are all doing just fine.

First let me describe my system, I'll try to be as complete as possible because I hate when posters forget key facts that could help diagnose their problem. As mentioned above, my display is a 125 gallon bare bottom with 3x250 MH bulbs and 3 Tunze streams on a controller and a Wahoo return pump. I rotate the bulbs out yearly being careful to adjust light periods when the bulbs are new. I am running a Bermuda Aquatic 3C skimmer, an MRC Calc Reactor, Phosban reactor, carbon, filter socks changed weekly, Chiller to keep temp below 81 degrees, 60 gallon sump, 30 gallon fuge with DSB and Chaeto, (fuge also acts as a frag tank). I'm running a RKE controller to keep all devices in line and controlled. Using RO/DI water with 15 gal changes pretty much every week. I feed the tank 2 to 3 times per week with food and toss in BRS Reef Chili once or twice a week at night.

Here are my current tank parameters:
SG 1.025 Mag 1420
Calc 490 Temp 79.8
pH 8.38 NO3 0
Alk 9.6 PO4 0

For the first two years my tank was fairly bulletproof, most of my SPS's and zoa's flourished. At that time my Calcium level was keeping stable at around 320-360 and I always wanted it to be higher. After much trial and error my problem was caused by not having a consistent higher level of Mg. I had been adding liquid Mg but could never be consistent with it. At the beginning of this year I purchased a dosing pump for my Mg and from that point on I've been keeping a steady 1400-1500 level. Little by little I am tweaking the pump to bring it eventually down to 1350. As soon as I started using the pump for the Mg my calcium stayed consistent in the 500 range and my Alk stayed consistent 9.6-10.0.

As I stated above, I had swings in Alk from 7 to 13dKH during this past summer, but since 1/1/11 my parameters have been fairly consistent with the charted values above.

Two of my very large caps (green and grape), bleached out and died, and not just in my display tank but also frags of the same species in my fuge also bleached. Some Acros that I have are bleaching in spots and the spots are spreading. I do not see any infestation of any kind of worms upon inspection. Overall I do not see the different colored tips of my acros showing new growth.

I know this is a bit lengthy, but would appreciate any help that someone could provide as to why my corals are not thriving.

Thanks!

 

[HighlandReefer]

I don't see any reason for your bleaching problem from what you have described.

GAC can bleach corals if too much is used at once after not changing it for a long time or if you just start to use it and run too much.

Increasing lighting all at once can bleach coral (for example changing bulbs that are very old or switching bulb types).

Adding to much micro-nutrients (including the heavy metals) can bleach coral.

Allowing water temperature to climb even for short periods above 85 degrees F. can bleach coral.

Sudden increases of copper can bleach corals.

There are viral and bacterial diseases that will bleach coral and can be specific to genus or species.

Just a few possiblilities. Sorry to hear about your problems.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Are you adding anything to your tank except alk, calcium, mag & food?

 

[jschottenfeld]

I don't run that much activated charcoal. about 1 cup that I change out every couple of months. I did add Brightwell Aquatics Neo Mag Magnesium Media to my calcium reactor in addition to my standard aragonite. Some people on boards mentioned that they did not like that product, although I don't know why.

Mostly dosing a bulk magnesium liquid, running aragonite in my calc reactor, the phosban in my reactor is old (maybe 7 mos).

I checked the calibration on my refractometer.

Lighting isn't the issue because the same corals that died in my display also died in my fuge which is in my basement.

It's just really concerning because i believe that all of my parameters are in line. I do have Kent's Essential elements, but have NOT been adding it to the tank. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals for my salt mix.

Has me puzzled??

 

[HighlandReefer]

Usually diseases like bacteria and virus start at one point on the coral and progress out from the point of infection. You can see bands of infection at the leading edges as it works out. If so, removing badly damaged coral and fragging well beyond the visible diseased parts is best.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Good quality close-up pics of your coral may help.

 

[myaerica]

Have you put any new sps in the tank lately that could of some kind of pest?

 

[tmz]

I've had similar troubles when I used a calcium reactor a couple of years ago and had alk drops. It persisted for a while, I fragged quite a few pieces and the frags survived. Some colonies did too . Seems like once the calcification or growth process is interrupted and the coral starts downhill, it's difficult for the coral to recover.
Alternatively,is it possible a toxin or metal got in there ,somehow? If so some poly filter and/or cuprisorb might help.

 

[L.R.fisherman]

The only thing that i can tell is maybe bad phosban "the phosban in my reactor is old (maybe 7 mos). " This seems like its really old IMO.

 

[tmz]

I don't think the phosban would do harm but if it is no longer adsorbing PO4 I'd remove it.. If you haven't changed it in 7 months ,how are you keeping PO4 at 0?

 

[bertoni]

The PolyFilter sounds like a reasonable idea to me. I'd get second opinions on all the measurements. You've done that for SG, but I'd get the other kits checked as well. Also, I'd consider stopping the magnesium for the moment. What product are you using? What other exact products are going into the system?

 

[steelhead77]

Man this sucks! In addtion to the previous suggestions, here are some other things to think about that many people don't:

1) Did you fertilze your lawn and then stick your hands in your tank?
2) Do you use any air fresheners?
3) Did you vacuum with any of that carpet fresh stuff?
4) Change the oil in your car?
5) Add gas to your lawnmower?
6) Smoke?
7) Stray voltage?

I'm sure there are many others, but you get the idea. Think of things that you've recently done that might have inadvertantly introduced something into your tank. None of those things I listed would be detectable on a test kit, but could potentially have a deadly impact on your tank.

Good Luck

 

[jschottenfeld]

I do use poly filter socks and change them out every week.
I post on another board as well and someone came up with the idea of Iodine....or a lack of it. They mentioned that they had a similar problem as I am describing and they found that they were dificient in iodine. They started dosing small qty's of iodine and the corals perked up and healed.
Here's my story regarding Iodine:
I have a lot of xenia in my fuge. From what I understand they are iodine sponges. I have so many xenia that I harvest them like macro algae and trade them at my LFS.

Lately my 2 shrimp have bought the farm. I believe they are consumers of iodine.

My macroalgae has dwindled in my fuge, (TMZ...that's how I was keeping PO4 at low levels)

To me....this points to a low iodine level.

as an aside...I am very careful to not have toxins on my hands when they are in the tank.

 

[colubrid]

Recently, I went through a similar experience with my corals. It also began with my caps fading and dying. Then my sps tips burned and i had recession and overall bleaching. Most of my sps perished. Interestingly, my fish and many of my lps were fine (couple of chalices receded). I was quite frustrated as you are as all my parameters have been dialed in for years. Eventually, I found that the plastic casing on 4 of my 6 tunze stream magnets made by Algae Free had cracked exposing the neodymium magnets to the water. All were oozing oxidized metals into my tank. I have read that many of these magnets are plated with nickel and possibly nickel-copper alloys making for a heavy metal nightmare. I ran a poly filter and changed water daily for a week and a half to dilute the polution caused by the magnets. Two weeks later and everything is looking much better. Many of the corals that I thought had perished are growing new polyps and are regrowing over skeletons. Check your magnets if you use them!

 

[jschottenfeld]

Colubrid, I have 3 tunze streams in my tank. What should I look for?

 

[colubrid]

If you use magnetic mounts, check the seam on the plastic casing on the magnet. Mine were all heavily encrusted with coralline and had to be scraped to notice the split seam. One appeared intact, but I split it open with a hammer and discovered that it was filled with rusty water as well. My magnets were 5 years old. I think that I will be changing mine out every 2.5 years now just to be sure.

 

[Maivortex]

The one thing that jumps right out at me is the lack of feeding. My tank went thru some similar thing that u explained and I initially blamed it on alk swings. I was being stingy with the food. I started feeding 2 cubes a day and sps did better, no more bleaching , colors improved. Feeding the fish makes food, amino acids for the corals. You also dont have a a very large DSB that would prodcue some coral food as well. I would consider that your corals are starving.

 

[palyam]

I do use poly filter socks and change them out every week.
I post on another board as well and someone came up with the idea of Iodine....or a lack of it. They mentioned that they had a similar problem as I am describing and they found that they were dificient in iodine. They started dosing small qty's of iodine and the corals perked up and healed.
Here's my story regarding Iodine:
I have a lot of xenia in my fuge. From what I understand they are iodine sponges. I have so many xenia that I harvest them like macro algae and trade them at my LFS.

Lately my 2 shrimp have bought the farm. I believe they are consumers of iodine.

My macroalgae has dwindled in my fuge, (TMZ...that's how I was keeping PO4 at low levels)

To me....this points to a low iodine level.

as an aside...I am very careful to not have toxins on my hands when they are in the tank.

Iodine could be the issue here. Try Kent Lugol's solution, 4 drops once a week after water change, and see if it helps.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not believe that any corals we keep have a need for supplemental iodine, aside from certian gorgonia. Many if not most experienced reefers that have dosed iodine and stopped noticed no change in their aquaria, including me.

 

[tmz]

I have dosed iodide on and off with no discernible effect, positive or negative. I am very skeptical that dosing it it would prevent the problems you noted.FWIW ,I suspect it has more to do with alkalinity and PO4 effects on calcification.