SPS colonies dying-What would you do?

[iriejp1]

Ok so Im at a crossroads as to what to do. Recently I decided to give the pellets a try as my Nitrates were really starting to get out of hand (up to about 40). I started noticing my SPS were really starting to look ugly. Really browning out. My Phosphates were also at .11 according to my new Hanna. And it was time for new RO filters and light bulbs. RO water was at about 003-005 TDS. So bought new filters and bulbs. Started my lights down to 1 hour a day with a 5 hour T5 actinic time.

Because of the high Nitrates I bought a small TLF reactor with 500ml of pellets that were already started (he had it on his tank but ended up selling his tank). As I performed more research I found out that for my size tank I actually need 1000ml so I bought an additional BRS reactor and BRS pellets and put that online as well. The first reactor seems to either be too small or doesnt have enough flow to make the pellets tumble correctly, but the BRS one was tumbling perfectly. So I figured I would simply leave it alone and work on the small one later...this..I reasoned...would be a way to ease my tank into pellet life anyways. One catch I have though is that my skimmer is plumbed directly to my drains. According to most users...the pellet reactors output is supposed to be plumbed directly to the skimmer intake so as to skim the bacteria up and out of the tank more efficiently. Mine are going to have to return through the display and then back and around to my skimmer with my setup. Didnt think this was that big a deal...maybe less efficient as worse case scenario.

Because of the high PO4 I also replaced my GFO in my TLF reactor with BRS high cap. Filled the TLF to almost half. Cycled it real good with RO and then put it online. (The next day my clam and Powder Blue died...this made me wonder if I put too much...but let it ride since my PO4 was so high).

During this period I also found my calcium reactor no longer perforrming correctly. As in almost no CO2 flowing into it. This in turn made my Alk plummet. Down to about 7 DKH. So I started adding baked baking soda to try and bring it back up. I added enough to bring it up 1DKH about every other day or so to slowly bring it back up. I also started boosting the amount of Kalk I was putting into my top off as well a bit (up to 4tbs per 5gal from 2...The 5gal are then added to about 10 gal of freshwater and used with an ATO). Figured this would probably be better as it would add Calcium as well and keep from getting things all out of balance. However I found this boosted my PH up to about 8.4 or so...so a little high.

My SPS are really getting worse now. Almost everything is not happy.

Fast forward about two weeks. I now have 2 colonies starting to STN. I also finally figured out that my reactor wasnt working due to a stuck check valve. So I got it unstuck and it began working correctly again. This was good news as I really needed something to bring my PH down a little bit. Still at about 8.3-8.4. PO4 is unchanged at .11. Nitrates are coming down...down to 20. Still have hallides on just 1 hr time as one or two colonies high up have bleached a bit. Decided to let my water change schedule slow down a bit as I am starting to wonder if changing it weekly is keeping my PO4 high. Thought Id give it an extra week to help the GFO do some work.

Last week...SPS still not looking good. STN is spreading. Upped the hallide photo to 2 hrs and simply moved the bleaching colonies down. No other ones are bleaching. Just really brown and no polyp extension.

Fast forward to today. Now my SPS is straight up dying. Ive got like 4 colonies really starting to go. And several others showing signs that STN is about to roll. My alk is now pretty high...up to 12. PO4 is still at .11 (???) and PH is now down to a more reasonable 8.2-8.3 according to my API kit. Nitrates are at 15-20.

- My wife tells me my tank was looking really good until I started using the pellets. She may have a point. But my nitrates are coming down! Maybe I should ditch the pellet thing...

- Could it be the ALK swing?? But it wasnt really THAT fast...I mean over a couple weeks at least.

- Was it the high PH??

- Was it just too many changes all at once??

- I also notice that most of the death seems to be occurring near the returns from my sump. Could this be from not having the pellet reactors plumbed correctly? Is it from the Kalk coming from the sump?

My plan today is for massive water changes. I plan on doing about 70gals for my 210. Also planning on running a bunch of carbon. Something in that water aint right.

Ive also unplugged the pellet reactors. On the fence as to whether they will ever come back on.

What would you do??

 

[StarF]

stop all the changes u made.

1: its important that the outtake from the pellets are infront of your skimmer, also its normal that your tank will go through a fase with kh svings, ph swings and so on when starting with pellets, esp if you dident start slow. That why in my view its better to use it on a new system, rater than a already runing system..

2: get kh stable, and lower it.

if your no3 is really that high, you need to get it under control someway, feed less, vsv, or something.. (personaly i am using vsv, after i tryed both zeovit and the pellets)

they way your corals are dying, seems to me, that there hasben to many changes in to little time. so first thing is to get it stable, then bring kh down to 8-9 and keep it there. Then bring down the no3 slowsly.. big drops in anything, can lead to isues.

i really feel for what you are going though, ben there once.. not funny! hang in there.

 

[coralreefhq]

My main concern is the KH because with that number spiking it's usually a problem.
High P04 is ok, it just causes corals to turn brown, with tons of algea growth in your system.
High nitrates is a threat to corals, but small amounts is good since it is food for them.

A water change with the proper parameters will definitely help you out.

 

[MammothReefer]

My money is on alk swings. I say leave everything else alone keep the gfo/pellets online get your alk rock hard stable at about 8 (for pellet use), give it about 2-3 weeks at 8, and see if things come around. I had the same issue where I swung from 8 to 6, then up to 9/10 things freaked it's been 3 weeks now since I stabilized back at 8, and everything is really coming around.

Remember GFO will drop alk so you need to compensate for that when you replace it.

I (as well as I few others) purposely put our pellet reactors facing towards the return pump. It allows the bacteria to go back in the tank and feed things. That was the original reason behind bac dosing. (now pellets).

I also always run carbon, and I would slowly increase your lights 1 hour a day.. that can't be helping.

 

[iriejp1]

Remember GFO will drop alk so you need to compensate for that when you replace it.

Did not know that! Good to know!

I just took both pelllet reactors offline and did a 45gal w/c with RC. Unfortunately my Alk is still at 11. I'm planning on letting it ride as is until things settle down. Once settled I'll try bringing the BRS reactor back online.

Thanks for the response!

 

[sslak]

Remember GFO will drop alk so you need to compensate for that when you replace it.

I learn something new EVERY DAY on these forums! :idea:

 

[coralreefhq]

Ya GFO absorbs a lot of the nutrients in the tank.