Lost or losing all my SPS - still not sure why.

Alright, incase anyone was wondering, my tank still sucks.

The bubble has died, recession slowly continues on what is left of 2 SPS. 1 of 2 unaffected frags has started recession. A coral I moved over from the girlfriends tank (was originally in my tank) has died (typical tip abrasion, sanded look). So as far as SPS, I have 4 unaffected: yellow porites frag, small millepora (which I moved over the the gf's tank, and then back), a very small frag of green acro (samoensis?), and purple encrusting montipora. These, plus a few large frags of poccilopora with a dead base, are pretty much the only SPS pieces I have left. The galaxea is still missing tissue between the polyps, but otherwise looks well. Zoas, kenya tree, clam, hammer, frogspawn and all motile inverts are unaffected.

I have started a series of waterchanges with IO salt (stopped mixing it with oceanic).

A few more things to think about...

I definantly have a nutrient problem, which is driving me nuts. Algae grows on the glass after as little as a day. As far as nitrates, my new API kit put them around 40. The salifert kit is hard to read, but my best guess was somewhere between 25-50. This is bugging me because I couldnt get nitrates in my last tank if I tried. There shouldnt be nitrates... too much flow in the tank for anything to settle and rot... barebottom frag tank with high flow... I even have powerheads in all the sections of my sump to keep crud from settling. I'm skimming pretty wet with an oversized skimmer. I guess I am feeding a lot though... I might cut back to once daily. I'm really not comfortable with that however, as I have 8 anthias in the tank. I know people say they are fine eating once daily, but I know its more natural and healthy for them to eat multiple times. I can't blame this on my new water either - RO water tests 0, as does freshly mixed batches of IO, Oceanic, and 50-50 mix.

Also, the angelfish is definantly picking on the corals. At the risk of sounding like one of those parents that can't admit their kids do anything wrong, I don't think he is the cause, I think he is picking because they are receeding. My main support for this is that corals in the gf's tank are receeding in the same fashion (abrasions, tissue thinning).

I'm pretty upset that the bubble and anemone died. I tricked myself into thinking I didn't need SPS, and that I could keep some hardier stuff, but that didnt even work. I DONT WANT A TANK FULL OF ZOAS :lol:.
 
Here are some pictures. The first 3 are from the gf's 37g.

100_1438.jpg


100_1439.jpg


100_1442.jpg


These are from the 75:

100_1445.jpg


100_1446.jpg


100_1449.jpg
 
Phosphates wrecked havoc on my tank twice. They did the same thing to my corals. Phosphates cause your corals to stop calcifying, so it's where most growth or highest metabolism occurs is where it starts IMO. Your fastest growers will usually die first IMO.

Phosphate reduction/ removal and high trates could be the answer. Get a refugium with Macro algae and get a phosphate reactor. At first you’ll need to change your Iron based media in the phosphate reactor more often. Your media will get saturated in 2 weeks or so depending upon how much is bound up in your rocks, tank, algae, etc. Use less media, change every 2 weeks. Use a great test kit like DD Merck, Hack, Elos, or colormeter or send to AWT. If you already have a fuge & reactor, be aggressive & change the media every 2 weeks.

You must export the same or more nutrients than you put in. Overfeeding, tap water, high phosphate foods, etc. Use a phosphate reactor with some phosar or ROWA or whatever, and something to lower nitrates like a fuge, AZNO3, or whatever.

check out:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
 
I have been running GFO in a reactor.

However, I am having a nutrient problem. I am registering nitrates. When I clean the glass, it has more algae growth by the time the lights go off at night. I have been doing 30g water changes with IO salt and RODI water (nitrates 0) every few days for about 2 weeks. I cut back feeding a lot, and also installed a 7" RDSB in a 5g bucket in my frag tank. I am picking up some cheato this weekend.
 
I suggest to you replace your gfo every 2 weeks until things get corrected (just put less in there), and check out either AZ-NO3 or a sulfur denitifyer. IMHO.
 
Mate, I have seen this happen before to my own tank as well as a friend's and I think its rust poisoning! A couple of years ago a friend of mine had a well established and equipped SPS tank and his corals showed great growth and colour. Suddenly everything started dying in a manner identical to yours. He checked everything too to no avail. Almost by accident he discovered a big rusting piece of wire that had been encrusted over by a piece of his live rock and this had been killing his corals. In my tank the symptoms were identical, but it was a rusting impellor. Hope things work out for you.


Gary.
 
Angel101,

Since the problem began I have checked all plumbing, pumps, etc. Basically tore the system apart and put it back together. The only thing I haven't done is taken all the LR and sand out of the main tank. My first goal is to lower the nitrates, if that doesnt stop the problem then I am going to empty the main tank, and put in new sand, and clean and inspect all LR.

The only other problem with this theory is that it is happening in two different tanks in my apartment.

mclaman,
Salinity is 1.025 via refractometer. It is calibrated with RODI water. I know this isn't ideal calibration, but I doubt it would be far off enough to cause this. However, on my next premium aquatics order (whenever that may be) I am also getting a bottle of salinity calibration solution.
 
Happening in 2 seperate tanks on 2 seperate systems or do they share a common sump? I would guess more of some type of infection as it seems over the last couple yrs you are not alone in this happening. Seems most have solid params also so I lean toward infection. I do not think NO3 would have anything to do with sps dieing at all.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11607680#post11607680 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by j.prostrata
Happening in 2 seperate tanks on 2 seperate systems or do they share a common sump? I would guess more of some type of infection as it seems over the last couple yrs you are not alone in this happening. Seems most have solid params also so I lean toward infection. I do not think NO3 would have anything to do with sps dieing at all.
Click to expand...

although you may very well be correct in your assessment, I have personally seen phates & trates kill coral and their are numerous threads of tips being "burnt" when it's phosphates. At least, he'll be getting his nutrients in control which worse case scenero, make his corals less susceptible to other issues.
 
I agree po4 can cause problems but 100% unless no3 it out of this world it will do nothing.. I run 10-20ppm no3 and I feel my corals look by far the best with no3 present. If I do not show no3 seems like the corals get washed out some. I think it must be some kind of infection. I think a thread by Kip is very similiar to yours. If its po4 that is really the cause you should have some green skeletons as it seems to be a green boring algea I have seen with high po4.
 
I had the same kind of tissue loss on 3 wild caught acros in my tank, tried an iodine dip, did nothing. About a week later I tried a freshwater dip for 30 seconds. The bottom of the container was full of transparent/white flat slugs. It seemed like they were comming out at nite for a feast then crawling underneath during the time the lights were on. All three have recovered after dipping and removing any egg patches that I found during the dip/inspection


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11607715#post11607715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by j.prostrata
Also have you tired dipping any corals to see how they react or do they continue to decline?
Click to expand...
 
I've seen this before I was told a long time ago they would continue to decline until total loss. I was also told to pull them it's catchy if other coral tastes tissue loss it would continue to pass on to others. Sorta like a sickness. I would always frag the Good portions while still in good health and get the rest of the dead stuff out fast. If your gonna have total loss anyway then what are you really losing. Its always worked for me. A far as it being passed on to lps and other spices dont know this may just give you a startin point. It dosn't sound like you have anything to lose. Good Luck
 
Any chance the LR is new with this set-up? It's possible something lies within them that is not necessarily reef safe if they are new.... "like a box of chocolates you never know what you'll get"
 
Nope, all the LR was from my old tank. Some of it was originally dry, but I bought it a few months before the move and kept in in my refugium/frag tank to seed it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Help: SPS peeling strangely.
Replies
5
Views
207
griss
griss
hrdneglcry
Why can't I grow coral?
Replies
3
Views
89
Reefing102
Reefing102
Lebowski_
Why do SPS need "aged" tanks?
Replies
5
Views
438
shred5
shred5
F
Starting tank again
Replies
6
Views
173
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
griss
New Acquisition
Replies
14
Views
242
griss
griss
Back
Top