Red Planet Acro Looks Dead

[jam.jo]

I got this Red Planet Acro recently, it isn't doing well and I am not sure what is wrong or if it is dead. I checked my parameters last night:

NH4, Nit, and Nitrate are all 0
470 Ca
dKH 11.9
MG 1300
PO4- >.03
Iodine .06 ppm
pH 8.2-8.3
Temp 77.5 degrees F
Salinity 1.026

I have 5 powerheads running in a 40 gallon at 500 gph each, I have a 2 gallon CPR refugium HOB, I have a classic 90 Reef Octopus HOB, Phosban Reactor, Galaxy Hydro blue and white lights.

I also have tried feeding zooplankton, supplementing potassium (Red Sea Coral Colors B, and Kent Marine Coral-Vite.

I am not sure what is wrong or why it is dying.

 

[itz frank]

Alk shock for 100, Alex.


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[BBLINKS]

What is your NO3 sitting at?

 

[jam.jo]

Nitrates are 0. How do I reduce Alk? Is there another way besides water changes? I think my red sea coral pro salt maintains it at 11 dKH, it has always been 11 with that salt.

 

[BBLINKS]

Nitrates are 0. How do I reduce Alk? Is there another way besides water changes? I think my red sea coral pro salt maintains it at 11 dKH, it has always been 11 with that salt.

I would change your salt to a brand with lower alk reading to reduce the alk in your tank, regular red sea salt should work and its cheaper or just let the corals consume it, of course stop any manual dosing if you dose at all.

 

[BBLINKS]

Are you using any biopellets or zeo stones? Realistically if the tank is fairly new, it might just not be ready for sps yet. I would just keep everything steady and see if the coral will adjust to the new condition before doing anything drastic.

 

[jam.jo]

I do not run biopellets or zeo stones. The tank is a month old so maybe that's why, I just figured since the params were fine, that it would be too. Although alk is on higher side. That is a good idea maybe I will try switching to regular red sea salt and try manually dosing cal, alk, and mg.

 

[nemodan]

I added to my tank Acros at 1 month and no issues, but my Alk was ~ 7 dkh . 70 % did it until my first crash a year later and others until my second crash 2 years after i started the tank. Both cases my fault.

So I bet it was what have been said.... alk too high in a brand new tank with low nutrients.

 

[Reel North]

Most of that reef raft stuff nukes with alk that high. Mine grow like mad around 8. They start to suffer at 9 and if I go higher, I have a funeral

Alk shock for 100, Alex.


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[jam.jo]

Alright, thanks for the advice everyone! Luckily this is my only SPS frag in the tank, I am looking to switch to the brightwell neomarine salt which has a lower alk in it. I wish they didn't have the alk so high in this salt. ugh.

 

[krzyphsygy]

How old is the tank?

 

[jam.jo]

It is very new. I started cycling on May 11th and added the Acro probably 3.5 weeks after that.

 

[krzyphsygy]

It is very new. I started cycling on May 11th and added the Acro probably 3.5 weeks after that.

Alk is not the problem IMO,the tank is too new. Lots of reefers run high alk.

 

[jbvdhp]

Red Planet Acro Looks Dead

I've successfully transferred my colonies of acro and SPS into 100% brand new water and sand without a problem, added new maricultured and wild colonies no problem.

I feel it's your high Alk.


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[jam.jo]

I am going to try switching from red coral pro salt to the brightwell neomarine salt that has a little lower alk. It could be high nutrients too I suppose. My skimmer is just starting to break in to where it is skimming well. I dont have mechanical filtration because I have no sump. Just hang on the back equipment and a hob cpr fuge.. so maybe switching salt will help and better nutrient control. This is my test sps coral before I add anything else I am waiting until this one colors up much better. At least nobody has said it is dead so that makes me feel a little better.

 

[krzyphsygy]

I've successfully transferred my colonies of acro and SPS into 100% brand new water and sand without a problem, added new maricultured and wild colonies no problem.

I feel it's your high Alk.


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Was your new tank using live rock from an old system? It not recommended to keep acropora is a new system like that. Tank switch overs are different, unless starting brand new. Their are plenty of people running high alk like that. Yea maybe it might work, maybe you can keep it alive. But it's not a favorable situation. Why expose the coral to that.

 

[jbvdhp]

It's my old live rock. At this point, 11-12+ years old


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[krzyphsygy]

I am going to try switching from red coral pro salt to the brightwell neomarine salt that has a little lower alk. It could be high nutrients too I suppose. My skimmer is just starting to break in to where it is skimming well. I dont have mechanical filtration because I have no sump. Just hang on the back equipment and a hob cpr fuge.. so maybe switching salt will help and better nutrient control. This is my test sps coral before I add anything else I am waiting until this one colors up much better. At least nobody has said it is dead so that makes me feel a little better.

Your nutrients should not be high in a new system, it's more like lack of nutrients causing this because of the new system. Your salt mix is not the problem. Switch to lower alk if you prefer. But your tank needs time to stabilize. Should not add acropora till at least you see some new coralline growth. My opinion....wait 6 months. Nothing comes quick in this hobby but death.

 

[krzyphsygy]

It's my old live rock. At this point, 11-12+ years old


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That's why you didn't have issues.

 

[jbvdhp]

That's why you didn't have issues.

You think so? I felt my UG to double the water volume, with all new water and sand would have made it a "new tank". Maybe I just got lucky? That and I check my params frequently.


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