My caps need help!!

[Mchllmarsh]

I dont know whats going on with then, they're my first SPS's. I'm running 150w phonix 14k mh... Theyre getting fadded white spots. I checked my peramaters and everyting seems right on. Any suggestions?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

what size tank? And what are the actual parameters? Everyone always says "parameters are fine" and about half of them end up havin some freaky high temps or something.

so whats:
amonia
nitrite
nitrate
phosphate
temp
pH
sg
and i suppose the other stuff like mag and calc.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

20gal
amonia:in between 0 and .25
nitrate:0
nitrite:0
ph: 8.2
temp 82.3
not sure of the rest of the stuff, ill check for sure tomorrow

 

[ADA33]

amonia should for sure be at 0 how old is the tank and how much flow do you have? What is your sg?

 

[Zoos]

Salinity?
Phosphate?

 

[Zoos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8222270#post8222270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widefx
What is your sg?

Beat me to it.

 

[just dave]

You need to check that the white spots you are seeing are not a result of the dreaded montipora eating nudibranch.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

amonia:in between 0 and .25

see? i'm right again...people keep saying that their levels are "fine"...amonia at all is not fine, and sps need perfect water.

But like said above...flow and sg? sps need pretty heavy flow.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

My amonia is inbetween only because i'm using the big box test kit and i cant tell which color it is, but the color of the water is always the same everytime I do the test.

My salinity is 1.024
I cant test those other things because my boyfriend has them, for his tank.

The tank is relativly new, but it is an upgrade from a 10gal. Everything in the tank was transfered over so it's only like 1/2 new...

I feel like they are getting worse by the day.

Ps. I found some hair alge growing on my green star polys, how do I get rid of it!

I go to MACNA, and everything goes dont hill!!! Yikes.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8223451#post8223451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
see? i'm right again...people keep saying that their levels are "fine"...amonia at all is not fine, and sps need perfect water.

But like said above...flow and sg? sps need pretty heavy flow.

I definaltly need more flow.

I am almost postiive my amonia is 0 but i cant tell the differnece in color on the color chart.

 

[dirtyreefer]

Take it easy on the scolding guys, and have a look at her website. She's cute

 

[TCU Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8224130#post8224130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dirtyreefer
Take it easy on the scolding guys, and have a look at her website. She's cute

Well, in that case, we'll give you the right advice.

Really, SPS require stable, established system, which your tank may not be just yet. When I set up my 215g this year, I put two caps in it about a month after setting it up with established live rock. They started bleaching and I was forced to remove them. After a few more months, I introduced them back into the diplay and they did much better. Better color, growth, polyp extension.

I'm a firm believer in keeping calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium at the desired level in order to keep SPS with success. These factors are just a few (nitrates, phosphates, salinity, etc) all play a huge role in your success. Stability is the other key.

Good luck.

 

[waterfaller1]

Alk/Ca and MG must be kept in range as well. Are you dosing the tank?

 

[Mchllmarsh]

Honestly I just started really getting into my tank, and really trying to take care of it. I just got those SPS about 3 weeks ago. I've had LPS for like a year or so and they are doing fine. I want to expand my tank and start getting more things. However I am still learning... So long story short, if I sound like I dont know what I'm doing... I probably dont.

No I'm not dosing, I'll look into it though... thank you.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

Yeah I went through the same problem when I first got into sps. Just make sure your params stay perfect. Any little jump will send them down hill fast. Keep up on ca/alk and mag and make sure you do regular water changes to keep your trates down. Also take a flashlight at night and look for any nudibranches on the top or underneath the caps. Good luck and Keep your head up.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

Thank you all so much... I'm going to post some pis of what they look like. I'll keep you all updated.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

 

[Mchllmarsh]

update.

my boyfriend came over and brought his test kits.
Ca. 380ppm
Alk. 3.09
Kh. 8.6
PO4. 0.03

he doesnt have a mag test but we are gonna get one tomorrow. I also did a 5 gallon wc today so hopefully they will get better.

 

[TCU Reefer]

They definitely look like they're bleaching. It could be that the tank is not established enough. Your parameters look okay. Calcium is a tad low but acceptable. Hope they pull through.

BTW, you're probably the hottest reef chick on this forum. Can I add you as a friend on MySpace?

 

[archie1709]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8224130#post8224130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dirtyreefer
Take it easy on the scolding guys, and have a look at her website. She's cute

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I thought you were gonna say "Take it easy on the scolding guys, she has honest questions" or something empathizing.

You have enough light. It looks like you have two hang on the back filtration. How do you keep a stable water parameters? I am only asking because I've been itching to buy one of those Monti caps but I don't think I can keep them. I have HOB filters too:

Nonetheless, do you dose at all? Purple Up? Kent stuff?

Hair algae is a definite sign of either nitrate or phosphate problem.

Keep us posted.

PS: your toilet picture is cute in the sense that you cannot make of the situation. You definitely were violated. Trapped in a 2x6 with your pants down isn't a good situation. Cute face on that pic! Well, in all pic, but especially that funny one.