Corals dying slowly. Please help!

[DerekG4]

I gotta get a magnesium test kit, I have no idea what's the magnesium level in it, every LFS I've been to doesn't test it either. I do have a battle of magnesium though.

My dad always used carbon. The tank's been using Carbon ever since the tank got cycled 'till now. I personally don't know what Carbon does, I just know my dad was recommended to use it, I'm sure he knows what it does though.

 

[wakesetter]

Do yourself and your tank a favor. Go buy a set of quality test kits. I suggest salifert: Ca, kh, nitrate, phophate, mag. Get comfortable with using them. With all the money that you have spent and are now losing on your tank, it would be money well spent. Then post with exact test results, not "low" "medium" etc. Without that info, you will get no real answers to your problem. Do not trust lfs to test your water. Half of them don't even do it right.

 

[Paso Winemaker]

I wonder how this all ended up? Are there any living creatures left in that tank?

This thread has been an interesting read for me. I almost spit my coffee all over my computer when I read some of the comments!

Your tank has algae and cyano? Your water is too clean!

Derek's dad doses Ca every week! How would he know how much to dose w/o testing?

What are your applicable water parameters for a SPS/LPS reef (alk, Ca, Mg)?
22 days later, STILL no reliable results yet!

11/26/15 The tank is crashing? Add another fish!

Two helpful reefers chime-in... one is called "rude" for making completely appropriate comments, while the other seems to have had his thoughtful suggestions ignored/rejected completely.

This thread is an prime example of why I don't spend any time on internet reefing forums.

That said, since everyone (well, at least a few of you) is trying to help this kid out, I'll throw this out there from a completely different direction:

Derek said: "Back then for the first 4 months we only did 1 water change and never again did we do it. Matter of fact, the problem started when changed the water more regularly."

Derek, tell us about your water change protocol.

Where do you get your water? Do you mix your own, or buy pre-mix at the LFS?
If you use your own water, is it chlorinated municipal water?
If not, is it water from your own well?
If so, do you "shock chlorinate" the well?
Could an upstream neighbor be "shock chlorinating" their well?

Is your water "softened" or ozonated? Or perhaps treated with permanganate?

Bottom line: Derek, could there be chlorine (or chlorine derivatives) in the water you're adding to the tank?
Or perhaps some other foreign compound? Could there be (ionic) copper or other metals introduced? Is your salt water in contact with brass, bronze, copper, or any substance other than food grade plastic before it's introduced to your tank?

One more thing: If you mix your own, do you dissolve the salt then let it circulate aggressively with a powerhead overnight before using your new saltwater? If so, is the water being heated to your tank temperature while circulating?

Watch these with your dad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erFZ_57BlNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjFWU-TUII4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCnqAnn0yxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVI69xOb_JM

Let us know how things are going. Don't give up!

Sincerest Best of Luck, Derek!
R~

 

[Ocean envy]

Geez this thread seems to be running a bit at cross purposes.

Lps like some nutrients in the water, hence nitrates will tend to run a bit towards the higher acceptable levels. This is true.

Also true, is the fact that since Derek does have an algae problem, he had and may still have high nutrient levels.

So other aspects of husbandry are likely amiss. I agree Derek should try running carbon. I run a couple bags of chemipure elite and it seems to help cut down on the harmful aspects of chemical warfare. Also the tank is running a bit warm, which maybe accelerating the reactions. So I would keep it more around 77 or so for awhile. Good luck with it.

 

[ulli]

Watch your Blenny..
My Dotdash had an appetite for my Lps.
My Acanstrea lost few polyps and unable to find the problem i removed it to my work where it grew back, then i brought it back and sure enough it started to shrink again and die, was not until i spent a couple of hrs watching the tank towards the night that i caught it eating it, i put a top of a cola bottle on top of it and he sure got mad when he could not get to it, after 2 days of trying to get him i finally caught him and my Lps has fully recovered.