Hello. Just to give some background info: I kept an SPS tank a few years ago, and am returning to the hobby after a hiatus. In the past I was able to add SPS to my tank and had them thrive with very little effort on my part, but that was a larger tank, and I was using established live rock from another system.
I added a montipora cap to my very young tank about 2 weeks ago (1 month post-cycle). For this build I used all dry rock and did a cycle with pure ammonia. Over the last two weeks, the monti has slowly declined, losing its deep rich color and turning a tan color instead. Below are my tank parameters, with info on how much variation I've had in the time the corals were in the tank. I dose ESV 2-part and use Reef Crystals.
Temp: 78.4 F, max swing of 0.5 degrees
SG: 1.024, no swing
Calcium: 415, no swing
Alk: 8.4 dkh, max swing of 1 dkh (is this the issue?)
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Phosphate: 0 ppm
PH: 7.8 (not sure if this swings at night)
Magnesium: 1300
Potassium: 410
I will attach a picture ASAP. I actually got a very large frag which I broke into 4 pieces, and even tried them in different degrees of light/flow. But all of the pieces still suffered (some more than others). I have LED lights and acclimated the frags.
Can anyone offer some insight on why this is happening? Is it just that a young tank can't support SPS? Should I have waited longer?
Thanks
I added a montipora cap to my very young tank about 2 weeks ago (1 month post-cycle). For this build I used all dry rock and did a cycle with pure ammonia. Over the last two weeks, the monti has slowly declined, losing its deep rich color and turning a tan color instead. Below are my tank parameters, with info on how much variation I've had in the time the corals were in the tank. I dose ESV 2-part and use Reef Crystals.
Temp: 78.4 F, max swing of 0.5 degrees
SG: 1.024, no swing
Calcium: 415, no swing
Alk: 8.4 dkh, max swing of 1 dkh (is this the issue?)
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Phosphate: 0 ppm
PH: 7.8 (not sure if this swings at night)
Magnesium: 1300
Potassium: 410
I will attach a picture ASAP. I actually got a very large frag which I broke into 4 pieces, and even tried them in different degrees of light/flow. But all of the pieces still suffered (some more than others). I have LED lights and acclimated the frags.
Can anyone offer some insight on why this is happening? Is it just that a young tank can't support SPS? Should I have waited longer?
Thanks