Help! Bleaching and Browning

[Reef_Me]

Hey guys. I am extremely concerned about my bonsai and seasons greetings sps. They both were browning and now the bonsai is starting to bleach. I have low lighting(2x24watt t5ho) and all other parameters that i check are good. I have had these corals in my tank for about a week and a half now and i feel as though theyre on the brink of death. Do you think tap water could cause this? I just recently did a water change with RO water so hopefully after a little while i can get all those heavy metals out.

Water params:
Nitrate - ~15
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Phosphates - 0
Cal - 400
Alk - 11
pH - 8.2
Temp: 82


I put pictures of both of them in the attachments
Thanks for your help!

 

[Reef_Me]

Forgot to mention that the bonsai is like 3inches from a xenia..... didnt even think about alelopathy.. so yeah any help would be really appreciated

 

[SPotter]

Way do question if tap water could do this? you mention doing a water change with rodi....do you normally use tap? your water temp is a little and the nitrates are on the high side for sps too. tell us more about your system....size, age, equipment etc

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[Reef_Me]

i have a 30 gallon(30x12x18) and its been running for about 7 months. im running a 48watt t5ho on it now one actinic and one 10000k about 4 inches from the surface. Im about to put on another fixture with the same specs. i am running a protein skimmer and activated carbon. i have 2 ocellaris clowns 1 sixline wrasse 1 blue damsel and 1 hawkfish. also i have a bunch of hermits snails and a CBS.

Yes i have been using tap water but have started using RO water now because ive heard terrible things about tap haha.

I just did a param check and my alk was actually 16. should i start testing/dosing magnesium? i read that this might be the problem

 

[SPotter]

is that 16 dkh? if so I think thats part of your problem. What is sg?

 

[stevedola]

his alk is 11 not 16.

Id be concerned with using tap and the metals you mentioned along with low light. WHat is youre flow like? what pumps? What is your magnesium level?

 

[Reef_Me]

Yes exactly. I have been trying to find ways to lower my alk to a 12 but so far it looks like water changes are the best option.. i have a hydrometer that says the sg is at 1.026

 

[Reef_Me]

I hav pretty good flow. No sump yet. I have activated carbon and a protein skimmer running. Do u think magnesium deficiency is the problem? I havent measured it actually..

 

[SPotter]

his alk is 11 not 16.

Id be concerned with using tap and the metals you mentioned along with low light. WHat is youre flow like? what pumps? What is your magnesium level?

he restated his alk level in post 4 as being 16

Yes exactly. I have been trying to find ways to lower my alk to a 12 but so far it looks like water changes are the best option.. i have a hydrometer that says the sg is at 1.026

Why is your alk so high? what supplements are you dosing into the tank? what other corals do you have in there and what kind of salt are you using?

I would definitely get a mg kit and see where that level is.

 

[stevedola]

I hav pretty good flow. No sump yet. I have activated carbon and a protein skimmer running. Do u think magnesium deficiency is the problem? I havent measured it actually..

your alk is 16...problem
not having mag measured...problem
nitratites 15ppm...problem
48w of T5...problem --1 being an actinic bulb which gives no par.

theres plenty of issues that could lead to your corals stressed state.

 

[Reef_Me]

I have been dosing kents essential elements, coralvite, and lugols once a week. i have also been dosing a pH buffer. I am getting a mg testing kit and better lighting today also because i know the lighting is extremely subpar for coral. do you think the bonsai has a chance if the problem is a mag deficiency?

 

[MHG]

that looks like tissue loss not bleaching... if your nutrients are low than the dkh should be less than 9... over that things tend to RTN on ULN systems.... My bonsai was brown until i upped my potassium....

 

[Reef_Me]

I have no idea why my alk is so high.. i tested the wc water and it came up at a 12. I am using marinemix reef salt(disappointment) for now. I will be using instant ocean reef crystals next. I have a frogspawn, war coral, zoos, pulsing xenia, star polyps, the bonsai and monti in the pictures. I am upgrading my lighting and getting a mag test today so hopefully that will help. if i added on another 48watt t5ho would that be enough to keep my corals happy? i have been in an ongoing battle with my nitrates but i am finally getting them to drop so hopefully my levels will be ~5ppm soon

 

[Reef_Me]

that looks like tissue loss not bleaching... if your nutrients are low than the dkh should be less than 9... over that things tend to RTN on ULN systems.... My bonsai was brown until i upped my potassium....

would these nutrients be in coralvite or essential elements? i dose these once a week but the nutrients very well could be getting used up fast

 

[SPotter]

Ok...you've definitely come to the right place because you'll get the answers you need.

First....stop the ph buffer. chasing Ph levels with additives will only lead to trouble. you can control Ph thru your alk and ca levels. Also the Kent essential elements I've heard can cause cyano outbreaks.

I could be wrong but mg isn't the problem here. I havent heard of low mg causing a problem with sps.

IMO the problem is not enough light, high alkaline and high nitrates. I believe lighting should be 2-3 watts per gallon so you definitely need more light.

I think if you get appropriate lighting, get your alk down to under 10 and lower your nitrates you'll be headed in the right direction. do you have any friends with reef tanks that have better lighting? they might be able to house your sps until you get your system back on track.

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[stevedola]

spotter has a good idea about giving that frag a new home.


as for why your alk is high...probably youve been using a salt (Instant ocean) with high alk and dosing all of those coral supplements which can raise your alk while having nothing to use the alk/calc in your system. I would change your salt to something better in line with what levels you want to keep and start doing water changes. Alk/Calc will naturally fall from consumption but not quickly if theres little to use it up. The water changes will help with your Trate issue too.

In my experience, low mag will definitely adversely effect coral. Maybe not in the 1100 range but 1000 and under and Id be surprised to see happy healthy sps. Mag should be 1300-1400 ppm.

 

[Reef_Me]

I really apreciate all of ur help. Whay would you reccomend doing to lower my alk?and unfortunately no haha... ive only found a couple people in baltimore that reef. Hopefully the new lighting will help. My bonsai is looking worse every day

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

using a PH buffer to raise the Ph is also going to raise your alk they work hand and hand. If you haven't already stopped using it then please do so.

In my opinion, and it's just my opinion from what I have read so far is that you jumped in with both feet in this hobby, which isn’t a bad thing but can make your hobby experience short lived. What I would suggest is take a step back and educate yourself with the needs of these corals as well as how to achieve a healthy thriving reef tank. Here are a few threads and articles that should benefit you, read this thread which will give you some basics as well as this one which is jammed packed with great information.

I hope that you don't take this the wrong way, and I hope that you take some time and read through those articles. And understand we all started out at the same point you are at right now, and the ones that have succeeded in this hobby has either learned the hard way and persevered or have read through many articles and threads to gain the knowledge needed to be a successful reefer.

 

[stevedola]

switch salts to something with a lower alk like tropic marin (I use TM pro because the alk level is 7dkh 420 calc 1300 mag) and do water changes to dilute the concentration (so to speak).

 

[Reef_Me]

yup i would agree with you haha i did jump into this hobby. I have trouble taking my time with some things and im realizing that having a reef tank is definitely something you do gradually. also i asked for help haha no one is being offensive and i do appreciate constructive criticism because you guys know what you are talking about. I will start doing more frequent water changes and switch salts to see if that helps.

I figured the pH buffer was a main contributor to the rise in Alk so yes i have stopped using it. I now have 4x24watt t5ho on my tank so that should also help the lighting issue