help corals are dying

[oglilreef]

I have a 30 gallon jbj rimless set up and all of my corals and fish are dying. I don't have a protein skimmer. All of my levels are good. ph 8.1, dkh 8.4, cal 430, and mag is at 1440 i know it should be around 1300, but i can't explain why 500 dollars of coral has died. ammonia is zero, nitrates are zero, and nitrites are zero. This is extremely frustrating please help.

Thank you,
Lisa

 

[m0nkie]

what was the last thing you put in the tank with healthy coral? put your hands in the tank?

you should explain how they died. instantly within a day? slowly? what type of corals are they? fish eating it?

Did you do a water change? that should help if you suspect chemicals got in the tank, run carbon after

 

[oglilreef]

just put in a clown and a week ago i put a purple torche and they died already.

 

[bundybear1981]

How long have you been set up for? What do you have for flow, lighting? What else is in the tank? Was it new or 2nd hand? Has it had any copper exposure? What is your water source? tap, rodi?

 

[Mbmarkus]

How long have you been set up for? What do you have for flow, lighting? What else is in the tank? Was it new or 2nd hand? Has it had any copper exposure? What is your water source? tap, rodi?

I went and saw her tank last night, she has been set up since June, she has a mystery wrasse and a red star fish and a snowflake clown. I stressed the importance of RODI to her and she believes that's what's been used. She buys her salt, I tested all her levels and they weren't horrific. I personally believe corals are too close and they are stinging each other like crazy. I can't explain why her stuff is dying though.

 

[killinit123]

I went and saw her tank last night, she has been set up since June, she has a mystery wrasse and a red star fish and a snowflake clown. I stressed the importance of RODI to her and she believes that's what's been used. She buys her salt, I tested all her levels and they weren't horrific. I personally believe corals are too close and they are stinging each other like crazy. I can't explain why her stuff is dying though.

how does one only "believe" they are using RODI water? also what is the lighting? if params aren't horrible what are they? people cant just go off they aren't horrific. what kind of filtration is being used? what kind of flow is there in the tank? what changes have been made in the past couple weeks if any? in order to diagnose any potential problem people need specifics and detailed ones at that.

what are the specific types of corals in the tank if there are $500 worth there should be a decent amount. also a protein skimmer may be a good investment seeing how there isn't one on the tank. these are essential especially if there is no sump and no biological filter like a refugium.

the reason i asked about what type of corals are in the tank is because different types of corals have different sensitivities to water quality. for instance if only sps and lps corals are dying its a good chance it has to do with water quality. if things like mushrooms and hardier corals are dying then there is a major problem going on.

 

[m0nkie]

she posted parameters already.. however, without answering all the questions being asked, there's no way anyone can help

parameter:
ph 8.1, dkh 8.4, cal 430, and mag is at 1440 i

 

[Mbmarkus]

how does one only "believe" they are using RODI water? also what is the lighting? if params aren't horrible what are they? people cant just go off they aren't horrific. what kind of filtration is being used? what kind of flow is there in the tank? what changes have been made in the past couple weeks if any? in order to diagnose any potential problem people need specifics and detailed ones at that.

what are the specific types of corals in the tank if there are $500 worth there should be a decent amount. also a protein skimmer may be a good investment seeing how there isn't one on the tank. these are essential especially if there is no sump and no biological filter like a refugium.

the reason i asked about what type of corals are in the tank is because different types of corals have different sensitivities to water quality. for instance if only sps and lps corals are dying its a good chance it has to do with water quality. if things like mushrooms and hardier corals are dying then there is a major problem going on.

She has an Ai hydra, lots of lps brains, torches, bubbles, mushrooms, leathers. No sump. I listed the parameters above. She doesn't have a vortech or anything like that just the basic stuff that comes with the jbj. The corals are starting to lose their colors and become white. I need to find out more information from her but if there are any other questions I can answer to help get this sorted out let me know what you need. I'll have her post photos so we can get to the bottom of this.

 

[Jritter02]

One thing you didn't list was SG. And what are you using to measure it.

 

[Mbmarkus]

I'm thinking it could be phosphates but what do I know without more info.

 

[Mbmarkus]

one thing you didn't list was sg. And what are you using to measure it.

1.026, coralife hydrometer

 

[edinphilly]

I'd want to confirm the salinity with a refractometer. Are you properly acclimating new livestock?

 

[Mbmarkus]

I'd want to confirm the salinity with a refractometer. Are you properly acclimating new livestock?

okay, I just asked her how she acclimates and she said she drip acclimates everything after it gets used to the tank water temp.

 

[acabgd]

For coral I would say the light is too strong. People run AI Hydras at 50% over a 90g tank. If that's really the light she has over a 30g, she might very well be frying her corals.

 

[Dapg8gt]

For coral I would say the light is too strong. People run AI Hydras at 50% over a 90g tank. If that's really the light she has over a 30g, she might very well be frying her corals.

This if the corals are turning white good chance it's light intensity.
If she already has corals and new ones are dying that even compounds the light issue, leds can and will smoke corals that aren't used to it. What intensity is the light at?

Fish who knows unless it was all fish at once. Guessing no Qt either so that probably explains the fish if it was just the clown.

 

[Mbmarkus]

This if the corals are turning white good chance it's light intensity.
If she already has corals and new ones are dying that even compounds the light issue, leds can and will smoke corals that aren't used to it. What intensity is the light at?

Fish who knows unless it was all fish at once. Guessing no Qt either so that probably explains the fish if it was just the clown.

glad I had her turn down the intensity yesterday. It was at 50%, thats a solid theory! she def doesn't have a QT or a sump or fuge. I had her go buy a skimmer today as well.