Help SPS corals dying slowly

[anthonys51]

Well let's start with testing your nitrates. We can start there first


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[bertoni]

Assuming you mean SG is 1.026, all those numbers are fine. Due to precision problems with hobbyist test kits, the phosphate might be a bit high, but I don't think it's high enough to cause this problem. Water changes seem to help for a bit, from what I understand from your first post, so I'd definitely get a PolyFilter and perhaps some CupraSorb running.

 

[ric167]

Where do u see them?

you see all those tubes that for the most part stick up 3rd pic...well if you stir your sand or blow your rocks you will see all of those snails cast a web like mucus to feed...at the same time they reproduce like crazy and soon not even a blenny will help with algae because of them..normally they are red...google them and you will understand I personally have taken down a tank for that reason

 

[jusn317]

How long have you been dosing nopox? I had a very similar issue couple years ago where all my sps (established and new frags) would slowly decline and die just like yours. After months of trying to figure it out and trying all sorts of things I finally quit using nopox. For whatever reason once I quit dosing it, and the few sps that managed to survive (montis mostly) and all the new frags I have been doing great for me.

 

[Staisman]

How long have you been dosing nopox? I had a very similar issue couple years ago where all my sps (established and new frags) would slowly decline and die just like yours. After months of trying to figure it out and trying all sorts of things I finally quit using nopox. For whatever reason once I quit dosing it, and the few sps that managed to survive (montis mostly) and all the new frags I have been doing great for me.

I was using it for more than a year but never via doser. I put it on a doser just couple month ago.

 

[Staisman]

I found API kit that was still good and it showed 0 Nitrates. I gonna get better one ASAP and will re-check it. Anyway I think if I would have high Nitrates API kit would show something.

 

[scuzy]

With all the testing might consider doing a triton test


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[anthonys51]

I found API kit that was still good and it showed 0 Nitrates. I gonna get better one ASAP and will re-check it. Anyway I think if I would have high Nitrates API kit would show something.

API suck


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[Staisman]

Bought a POLYFilter and a new Nitrate kit. NO3 shows 0.0 on both Kits.

 

[Staisman]

Tested everything again today.

Alk - 9.8
Ca - 480
Mg - 1280
Sg - 1.026
No3 - 0
PO4 - 0.04

Maybe my problem because I stripped the water to 0 ? I guess when I put NoPox on the doser it was too much?

 

[anthonys51]

I would raise / dose magnesium. Yes if your dosing nopox with those numbers. I would say stop dosing


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[bertoni]

Maybe. You could try backing off on the carbon dosing.

The magnesium level is very close to the canonical ocean average of 1275 ppm. I don't think raising it will do anything.

 

[anthonys51]

Don't think mag is your issue either. I would just raise it a little


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[Wu Tang Clams]

Your dosing nopox and your dkh is 9+ get it back down to 7-8 and see how you go....you don't need it that high

 

[Coralsandcars]

You said you use carbon what kind? BRS rox carbon is very very strong and can cause stn in sps.

 

[nereefpat]

I'm not an SPS guy, but I'll give my opinion anyway.

Water is too clean (especially the 0 NO3), coupled with alk being on the higher end.

I would either feed more, stop carbon dosing, or dose NO3 into the 3-5ppm range. I would also let alk drop to the 8-8.5 range.

 

[Coralsandcars]

You should pick up a triton labs test kit. It would be well worth the money for sure. Might shed some light on whatever issue your tank is having.

 

[Staisman]

You said you use carbon what kind? BRS rox carbon is very very strong and can cause stn in sps.

I do run a 0.5 gal of BRS Rox carbon in the Canister filter and replace it maybe 3 times a year.

 

[Staisman]

I'm not an SPS guy, but I'll give my opinion anyway.

Water is too clean (especially the 0 NO3), coupled with alk being on the higher end.

I would either feed more, stop carbon dosing, or dose NO3 into the 3-5ppm range. I would also let alk drop to the 8-8.5 range.

It is because of the WC, I am using RED SEA PRo salt and it has high value of the Alk in it. Usually I am at 8.4.

 

[Coralsandcars]

I do run a 0.5 gal of BRS Rox carbon in the Canister filter and replace it maybe 3 times a year.

I had a issue with it causing stn when i ran it. Now i don't run it in a canister anymore i just run it in a mesh filter bag. And i also run a half to a 1/4 what brs recommends. Did you start having a issue after you recently changed the carbon?