I can not keep SPS anymore :(

Did you start using a different brand and/or more GAC when you switched tanks? This can sometimes induce terrible RTN and STN. I'm sure it's terribly frustrating. I would go as basic as you can (feeding more, removing GAC and GFO, keeping up on water changes, and testing daily/weekly) and then add in each part of your system back individually, giving each item a month or two to get settled so that you can see exactly what is causing the issue. This includes using your e-cigg near your tank. If things start looking better, introduce that variable again to see if it's causing problems.
 
What socks are this.

Here in Brazil a friend of mine had the same issue and discovered that the sock were poisoned.

It kills all the corals he had but fishes was fine.

Try to remove the socks for one or two weeks to see if things improve.

Otherwise, DID you check your cutting board to see if it is High density Polycarbonate ?
 
Yeah I dont think my sock is poisoned. I had 20 new socks I ordered that were used and my tank was fine. Then after I washed them I started noticing problems just about that time but who knows.
 
I've stopped using socks all together for the past three weeks due to concerns of leftover detergent. It's too soon to report a full recovery but all of the STN'ed area has started to re-encrust. My tank is a vinegar dosed 90 gallon and the major changes I made were in the following order:

1) bringing my nitrates up to a detectible level with potassium nitrate
2) dosing some amino acids

3) pull the socks

4) rodi chloramine unit from brs
5) increase mysis/brine/krill feeding to fish

6) feed reef roids every 3rd night with pumps off for one hour

7) after researching the affects of dosing iron... I decided to dose iron to eliminate the possibility that it was a limiting factor. (Natureef brand)

My nutrient levels were almost undetectable and now I'm rocking nitrates at 2.5 and Po4 at .05-.08 (hannah ulr)
CA 430
Dkh 8.3-8.6
Mg 1295
Sg 1.026
Weekly 10 gallon (10%) water changes with Red Sea blue bucket salt.
 
Ahhhh I forgot the true #1 thing I did was remove my DSB and chaeto from the fuge. They were super effective in keeping the no3 down and I suspected that combined with carbon dosing, I was beginning to leach po4 from the bed. Now I just have live rock in the sump with no lighting. The only thing is that without the socks I will have to rinse the live rock off at least every 2 months to battle detritus.
 
my tank has not done good ever since moving last year. I didnt change anything that I know of either. I think tank moves can set tanks back for unknown reasons. I would double check your RO/DI water though. The house I moved to has 60 year old galvanized plumbing and now I burn through DI resin fairly quickly. In a few weeks I'm redoing the plumbing because of this. Once I finish this 60 year old electrical disaster ;)
 
Just googled GE silicone 1 windows and doors in a reef tank and there is so many yes and nos to use it. I would say 75 to 25 percent that its reef safe so Im not going to be tearing apart the sump and fuge just yet. I removed the socks and will go sockless for a month to see if corals do any better. If not ill be tearing apart the sump and fuge and if that dont do it remove the cutting board. After that if things dont improve maybe just go FOWLR. Those are my last 3 options. Other then that I tried EVERYTHING
 
Southreef said:
Ahhhh I forgot the true #1 thing I did was remove my DSB and chaeto from the fuge. They were super effective in keeping the no3 down and I suspected that combined with carbon dosing, I was beginning to leach po4 from the bed. Now I just have live rock in the sump with no lighting. The only thing is that without the socks I will have to rinse the live rock off at least every 2 months to battle detritus.
Click to expand...

How does removing the DSB and chaeto make your sps better?
 
Can someone explain this for me. I had 2 monti frags that looked just like the 2 mother colonies after my issues. No color in the skin with some polyps. I had my lights off in the frag tank because i had a little cyano growing. 3 days later I turn the lights on and the color is returning to the skin and polyps fully extended. Mother colonies still look horrible but with the lights out the frags look wonderful????
 
me too I'm fighting regularly with this kind of problems.
the problem occurs with the tips that begin first brown and then lose the coral tissue with obvious signs of discomfort until sometimes die.
now when the first symptoms begin I perform 5-6 consecutive changes of 10% every day and the situation improves.
Look like signs of poisoning but some corals seems less affected.
My alk is steady in the 7-8 range.
In common with what I read I also have:

1- Filter socks
2 - Dosing vinegar
3 - Use Red sea blue bucket.

Now I stopped the vinegar dosing and adding more food hoping to fix the problem.
 
bigbuckdown said:
Can someone explain this for me. I had 2 monti frags that looked just like the 2 mother colonies after my issues. No color in the skin with some polyps. I had my lights off in the frag tank because i had a little cyano growing. 3 days later I turn the lights on and the color is returning to the skin and polyps fully extended. Mother colonies still look horrible but with the lights out the frags look wonderful????
Click to expand...

with the light off PO4 and NO3 arise because bacteria need light.
This could mean that tank suffer for nutrient too low.
 
To the OP: Do you use any kind of filter sock on the exit hose of your gfo reactor? I use a 100 micron DIY small filter sock and I'm amazed at the gfo particles that would of ended up in my tank without the sock. It's quite shocking really. Just a thought. I hope things improve for you.
 
Last edited:
bigbuckdown said:
The silicone had no mildew inhibitors. I asked on another board which silicone to use and people told me that this was the one. I bought this cutting board from cuttingboard.com and told them it was for a fishtank. They said many people have called for this. My SPS are not the only corals effected its also some LPS but zoas are doing fine. I have a ground probe in the sump. As for my ranges its varies within the ranges I gave. Not a big change so didnt think it is that. My old setup would jump alot more with no effects on my tank. Tds reads zero on my meter. I was losing corals using BRS GFO and still losing since switching to rowaphos. I am doing less then recommended with rowa and carbon
Click to expand...

Was it neutral cure (virtually no smell while curing) or acetoxy cure (vinegar smell while curing)? Thick beads of acetoxy silicone can take a few weeks to cure.

bigbuckdown said:
What do you guys think of the Ecigarette smoke? Do you think that could be doing something to the water
Click to expand...

My tank is in the same room as my computer, and I vape in there all the time, sometimes even with windows and doors closed. Zero problems. However, I imagine that the e-liquid could cause problems if any of it got into the water.

Any chance you're blasting them with too much light? How much are you feeding? If I slack off on my normal feeding routine for a couple weeks, my SPS often don't look quite as good.

How deep is your sandbed, and how often do you clean it? I'm switching over to BB, and I'm shocked at how filthy my 1 year old sandbed is, despite fairly frequent cleaning. Just a shot in the dark.
 
Im BB. Just amazes me that my frags look great after shutting my lights down for 3 days. My frag tank is attached to my DT so why would they look great after lights out? I saw the one poster said that bacteria rises with lights out but my main tanks lights stayed on
 
bigbuckdown said:
I just called the company and the told me their cutting board is made from High density polyethylene
Click to expand...


Great So it's definitely not the cutting board. It is exactly the same I use for years with no issues.

SPS suffering from too low nutrient I don't think so. Mine is Zero everything and we all no that absolute zero does not exist.

I don't believe that the Silicon on the sump is the problem UNLESS it has anti-fungi/Bacterial elements. Did you check this on the bottle ?

Mine was glued only 3 days before been filled.

My best bet is on the socks.

Keep us updated and best of lucky for you.


PS. Your frags look so great because without lights they have to extend polyps to feed, otherwise they starve because the Zoaxanthele don't feed the coral anymore. I think.
 
Yes I ruled out the cutting board :) Didnt rule out the silicone even though there is nothing on the tube that says mildew inhibitors. So even though most sites say the ge1 windows and doors is fine i will judge that if I have to redo the fuge and sump
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
SPS Pest?!
Replies
10
Views
172
griss
griss
A
Keeping barnacles alive
Replies
4
Views
573
SantaMonica
S
A
New Naso Tang breathing heavy and not swimming much anymore
Replies
2
Views
436
griss
griss
H
New Crocea Clams - Some opening some not?
Replies
3
Views
529
hilde123
H
B
Threw in the towel - Free SW stuff
Replies
0
Views
194
BSAJim
B
Back
Top