LPS in Distress

[Attreui]

For some reason, recently I am having problems with my LPS coral. I have a brain, candycane and a hammer coral that are receding. It's very frustrating because the brain and hammer coral have been doing fine in their present locations for over a year. All of my chemistry checks out fine:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~0-5
Ph 8.1
Alk ~9dKh
Salinity 1.024

Nothing has changed with lighting or flow that I know of, all pumps are working properly. Anyone have any ideas? My hammer has been with me for 3 years and I would be heartbroken if I lose him. All fish, inverts, and soft corals are fine.

 

[luther1200]

I just went through the same thing with my SPS. I lost a birdnest that I grew from a 1" frag to a 12" colony. It was like a small basketball. And a blue tort that was probably 10"tall. The only thing that I think caused it was an accidental overdose of GFO. But I am not really sure thats what it was. I am also suspicios of a large sarcophyton I have that may be releasing chemicals.

 

[311Style]

Try bringing your salinity up to 1.025-6 and see how that does.

 

[luther1200]

Can you explain why that might help?

 

[Attreui]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14666113#post14666113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 311Style
Try bringing your salinity up to 1.025-6 and see how that does.

I thought it may be that, but I have had the same salinity within .001 for about 4 years and this is the first trouble I have had with LPS.

 

[Attreui]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14666091#post14666091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
I just went through the same thing with my SPS. I lost a birdnest that I grew from a 1" frag to a 12" colony. It was like a small basketball. And a blue tort that was probably 10"tall. The only thing that I think caused it was an accidental overdose of GFO. But I am not really sure thats what it was. I am also suspicios of a large sarcophyton I have that may be releasing chemicals.

Now this is interesting.. Can you tell me why you think you overdosed GFO? I do run it and have on and off, but it is in a reactor.

 

[davewbush]

What is you phos at?

 

[luther1200]

I think I may have overdosed the GFO, because I accidentally put in about twice as much as normal. I don't know what I was thinking when I did it. Then I asked around on the internet and many people said that an overdose of GFO can cause coral bleaching. I forget the exact reason, I will look it up and get back to you.

 

[Attreui]

Didnt think that was possible given that it's just a chemical sponge.


My phosphate is 0 thanks to the aforementioned GFO

 

[luther1200]

I can't seem to find it right now, but I think it had something to do with the iron reacting with the zooanthella do to the bright lights. But I am not 100% on that. And I did run it in a reactor, and I still do just at a lower level, and only when I need it.

 

[snorvich]

What do you measure your specific gravity with? A calibrated refractometer? What is your phosphate? Measured how.?

 

[ser_renely]

hmmm, interesting about the gfo...would like to know more aabout that.

 

[mc-cro]

when was the last time you did a water change? sometimes a very larger water change, on order of 75-80% will do wonders

 

[Anemonebuff]

If you have softies you should also run GAC. It will remove the chemicals that the softies produce.

 

[luther1200]

I was reaidng the tank of the month article on the home page and he says that he also overdosed on GFO a few years ago on his last tank. Maybe go to the TOTM thread and ask him he may know more about it than me. Or maybe the reef chemistry forum.

 

[Attreui]

I use a properly calibrated refractometer. I doubt it would be a salinity issue anyway since all inverts and my anemones are all fine. Phosphate is checked with a AP test kit.


I do run GAC.

 

[luther1200]

Just out of curiosity how much GFO do you run?

 

[walkthedog]

If you never run GFO then start with full dose it can crash your system. Also GFO drops you KH just a little but if you overdose and already had KH a little low it can crash your system. If you have been running GFO for awhile it is hard to overdose it. Sudden PO4 drops WILL bleach your corals. The higher the PO4 the slower you want to add GFO to correct. If your PO4 is already at 0 and your just changing your reactor out you would really have to add a lot to cause any problems.

 

[THE ROOK]

Possibly time to change the bulbs?

 

[Attreui]

That's interesting about the GFO I didn't know that but I have always run it. So I dont know why it would be the culprit. If it were is there any reason to suspect it would only hit the LPS?

The lamps were replaced in Aug.