sps corals dieing?

[ataylo13]

I have been having strange issues with some of my montiporas and acroporas. Some are having issues with polyps not coming out anymore. Not all of the acros are having the same problem but I have one starting to bleach white and no others are having that issue. Anything possible issues come to mind?

 

[jski711]

what are your water parameters???

 

[hansnfrans]

The first question that comes to mind is what are your Alk and Ca readings? But I'd prefer that you post all parameters:

Alk/Ca/Mg/PO4/NO3/pH.........

 

[ataylo13]

Alk = 2.5 (Low I know)
Ca = ~350 (Low I know)
Mg = ?
PO4 = .1
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = Trace
pH = 8.2
Salinity = 1.025
Iodine = ?
Ammonia = 0
Temp = 78

 

[maxima k2]

I think you answered your own question. I would work on getting the Ca and alk straightened out, I would also test your Mg, it is probably low as well. Next I would work on the phophates, how often are you doing water changes?

 

[ataylo13]

Water changes... doing 10% a week. Just making sure that they was not any type of parasite that I should be on the lookout for.

 

[desjardiniidj]

How is the alk measured? meq/l or DKH? Either way, that'll do it.

 

[ataylo13]

The test results came from a LFS. I ordered teh Salifert Ca and Alk tests kits and only the Ca came in. The other is on backorder. I am not 100% comfortable with the readings I am getting on the Ca tests. I have been using the LFS tests as a sanity check. Therefore I am not 100% how they are measuring Alk just that I am 2.5 and I should be 3-5.

 

[squibley2]

I would get a mg test asap and try to get your mg up (i am assuming it is fairly low) with your mg low it will be really hard if not impossible to get your alk and ca where you want them. I would also for the short term get some phosphate sponge and start using that. I use the Kent one but there are several out there. Phos ban is not really effective unless it is in a reactor but the phosphate sponge works fairly well in a bah in the filter. I would also look really closely at the corals just to see if there is anything out of order. There are lots of little bugs that can attack sps but you would need to know what you were dealing with before proceeding.