Help im loosing acro's

[heller792]

Dont know whats going on but one by one im loosing acros's i have undetectable phos and no3, all levels are stable. My tank runs dsb and over sized skimmer. I change 60Litres a week and have also just started adding reef energy as i thought my problem might be to low nutrients due to the dsb and skimmer

all acros are looking very pale at the moment, not sure whats happening.

thanks, Dave

 

[[17]shawn[17]]

Aefw?

 

[heller792]

no pal, ive used a turkey baster on the corals for years as i used to have aefw. Even if i did have them its a different kind of event and aefw leave eggs on the receding corals. This is kind of a bleeching event but isolated to a few branches but im sure more will follow
Dave

 

[power boat jim]

Its possiblle the dsb has gone septic, A possible cracked MH bulb or maybe stray electrical charge. Hope you can find a reason soon.

 

[danil]

based on what I see the tank is mature so you know the tricks. I would say low/lack of nutrients too. DSB - cant see one on the picture. Looks like shallow one for me so don't see the problem here. I would look for any change in your routine (even minor) checking your equipment, re-check Alk to be sure it stays around 8 and run all uncommon tests for potassium, iron, I02.

 

[heller792]

i have used a lot of carbon recently and removed it this morning incase that was the problem, as for the dsb its in the display tank but the tank is built with a 6inch plympth to hide it (see pic)

im going to take a water sample round to a friends so we can do some test with his kits tonight.

 

[heller792]

also going to add zeo bac with the tank being reletivly new it wont hurt to get some bacteria in there

 

[heller792]

ok, i checked on a coral an hour ago and it hadnt changed and just checked again and it expelling its algae. At least i know its prob not a parasite

 

[ghostman]

Do you run Zeo? Your corals all look very pastel in color, so that is why I ask. I don't see many fish, so do you feed much? Maybe adding some AA or CV from Zeo would help. My guess would be too low nutrients in ULNS. What temp are you running at and what Alk level?

 

[heller792]

my temp is 26, alk is 8.4

fish load is
1 yellow tang
1 kole tang
1 purple tang
1 chalk gobie
1 yellow watchman gobie
2 clowns
1 lepoard wrasse
1 cleaner wrasse
1 midas blenny
1 anthias

1 feed flake 2 times per day, ive just bought the red sea reef energy which is an amino supplement

 

[jc-reef]

I agree with what others have stated above, you may need to feed more....maybe try some smaller foods like planktons or one of the 'feasts' on the market. It helped greatly with my tank when earlier on I had a few corals with sudden RTN like you are seeing. Corals need more than light (carbs)...they need to feed (protiens/fatty acids) to generate tissue.

Also have there been any recent 'changes' in/with your tank? (new equipment, salt, supplements, maintenance, ect).

------

 

[heller792]

not really changes but the tanks still only 20 weeks old as all the stock was moved from my old tank.

Just got back from my friends and we tested phos and no3, phos was 0.01 and no3 was undetectable.

Dave

 

[jc-reef]

i have used a lot of carbon recently and removed it this morning incase that was the problem, as for the dsb its in the display tank but the tank is built with a 6inch plympth to hide it (see pic)

im going to take a water sample round to a friends so we can do some test with his kits tonight.

I missed this...this can definately be the or at least part of the issue you are seeing. The carbon could have stripped the tank too clean too quickly shocking your corals....especially if you used a lot.

 

[heller792]

thanks jc, part of me is thinking this too. Maybe the acros were suffering with lack of algae and then the change of lights finished them off.

Dave

 

[Finland]

Another thing which is often overlooked, is the salinity. We all test CA, PO4, nitrates, etc., but often overlook the salinity. I know with dosing 2 part in my tank, the specific gravity likes to creep up and it stresses my corals. Just a thought.

 

[gon08]

Look no further. JC-Reef is on the money. Heavy use of carbon suddenly in a tank thats already starved of nutrients will bleach the corals. I'm going through the same thing myself. I installed a new phosban reactor with GAC and within 2 days 20% of my corals began bleaching. Some species were worst off than others but all were affected. I would reduce the use of GAC a bit and feed more and give them time to recover. Also make sure your alkalinity remains stable.

 

[heller792]

thank alot, carbon is out now. I wouldnt say i suddenly started using carbon but last time i changed it i left the old bag in and added a second bag, the new bag had about a cup full more than usual.

Dave

 

[MammothReefer]

no pal, ive used a turkey baster on the corals for years as i used to have aefw. Even if i did have them its a different kind of event and aefw leave eggs on the receding corals. This is kind of a bleeching event but isolated to a few branches but im sure more will follow
Dave

Turkey baster isn't enough on it's own. I found this out the hard way to. After months of basting and thinking I had the problem licked I was convinced to give blasting with an MJ1200 a try again.. and poof what did I find. AEFW. Now baste whenever I have free time or am bored and just staring at the tank, but once a week I go over everything with an MJ1200 right before I do my water changes.

I agree with others though, check salinty as well. Refractometers can easily become uncalibrated, and feeding just flake seems pretty light,. but I'm also not seeing that pastel look that somebody else mentioned corals look fine to me (minus that one that is dying)

I donnu whenever something is really funky and I can't figure it out I do water changes. Then again have you switched salts at all recently either brand or just a new bag/box?

 

[denash24]

I doubt that the carbon is causing your problem, even if you used double the normal amount it wouldn't cause the corals to "starve". I really think your tank is not mature enough (only 20 weeks old) and if you used the sand from your old tank, that may have a lot to do with your problems. I suggest not trying to do everything at once, start by checking all your equipment including the filters on your RODI and if you haven't replaced the membrane in a long time make sure to do so. Chech and replace old bulbs and make sure the light placement isn't closer to your corals than it was on your previous set-up. Don't make drastic changes to ALK, I have found that fluctuating ALK is extremely detrimetal to the health of your corals, and also very important check Mag levels. Good luck and I hope you resolve your problem.

 

[heller792]

things getting better since ive turned the skimmer off. Heres the tank today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CmnzfAWoe6w#!