Soft coral problem

[guppie]

I have run out of things to check or do, about 75% of my leathers, and my button polyps are noth opening up, all my levels are good, I do water changes every two weeks, plently of flow, nothing new to the tank in the last 8 months, I run carbon that I change every 3 weeks. I can not find the problem, looking for any help i can get thanks.

 

[singold]

What kind of lighting do you use?
What is your ALK level?
Maybe over-doing Carbon usage, IMO. I know leathers as a whole benefit largely from zooanthanelle (sp) production from light. But, there is something to be considered in stripping essential elements constantly.

 

[singold]

Also, how old are your light bulbs in your lighting system? Spectrum within light bulbs deplete with age. Average I have read, in many light systems is 8-10 months, for the bulbs.

 

[stymee69]

do you have a iodine test kit ?

 

[gflat65]

Lights and alk are two excellent starting points, esp. if it's all your corals.

My rule of thumb on lighting-VHO or PC's-no more than 6 months, SE MH-9 months, DE MH-12 months, T5's-9-12 months. That is a complete generalization, so some bulb/ballast combos could need much more frequent changes. I don't let mine go longer than the time frames listed, though. There may be a little life left on the bulbs, but better to replace before a prob lem develops. A par meter can come in handy in judging when to change (if a local club has one, etc.).

 

[pimpman75]

i say its the lighting.

 

[stymee69]

must have been something or he gave up on us... lol

 

[deviilsadvocate]

LOL, Stymee.. Yeah it was probably the lighting.. If nothing has changed in such a long time, I'm sure the bulbs haven't either.. lol =)

 

[Aqua_boy]

Check with the lighting. It should tolerate fairly low light levels.