SPS experts, please help!

[Tim Duncan]

The last few months, most of my SPS have started to STN. I have no idea what is wrong, so this is my last ditch effort to figure it out before I quit.

A few pieces started to STN in random spots, some started at the base, others on the tips, and some in the middle. I didn't think anything of it because all my pieces still had great color and nice PE. Even while STN'ing, PE was good and they looked happy. I constantly checked my parameters, which were all good. At one point, my calcium dropped into the low 300's, do to my doser malfunctioning, but I caught the issue and slowly brought it back up to 420. More of my SPS started to show STN and I got more concerned. A friend tested my water and told me my salinity was a bit high at 1.027. I slowly brought it down to 1.025, hoping it would resolve the issue, but more pieces started to STN. Now I started to panic, so I took everything I had left to a friends house to hold. All the pieces that are currently in his tank have STOPPED STN'ing and have started to heal.

So what is wrong with my tank? Everything else seems fine.....softies, zoas, chalices, fish are all looking good. Even my monti's, digi's, and birdsnests are unaffected. I was told to send my water to get professionally tested. Is there anything else I can do to figure out what my issue is? I really love SPS and don't really want to keep my tank unless I can keep SPS too. Please help.....any advice is appreciated. Thanks :headwally:

I almost forgot.....my parameters are all stable and I am pest free!

 

[Eastone]

I see you mention calcium but nothing about alkalinity, alk is the single most important parameter when it comes to keeping sensitive SPS (Acropora, specifically)
How do you maintain alk and what does your alk read at? How much does it swing daily?

 

[toothman]

If any of my acros look bad I generally do a 15% water change 2x a week for 2 weeks, usually perks them back up. Salt can be a issue, so many salts mix wrong right out of the container. Reef crystals kh can be 10, 11. Try aqua vitro salt. could be your light, kh, phos, nitrate all kinds of things.

It will only make your tank better almost no matter what with a good water change. Assuming you use good ro/di water.

 

[Tim Duncan]

I see you mention calcium but nothing about alkalinity, alk is the single most important parameter when it comes to keeping sensitive SPS (Acropora, specifically)
How do you maintain alk and what does your alk read at? How much does it swing daily?

I dose 2-part and my alk stays around 8, so I am pretty sure alk is not the issue.

 

[Tim Duncan]

If any of my acros look bad I generally do a 15% water change 2x a week for 2 weeks, usually perks them back up. Salt can be a issue, so many salts mix wrong right out of the container. Reef crystals kh can be 10, 11. Try aqua vitro salt. could be your light, kh, phos, nitrate all kinds of things.

It will only make your tank better almost no matter what with a good water change. Assuming you use good ro/di water.

I don't really understand your post? I already said my acros don't look bad....they actually look happy, that's why I don't understand why they are dying. I've had other issues with early tanks, like pests and parameter swings, which make the coral mad and PE goes away....so I understand when my SPS aren't happy. I've also used Reef Crystals for years now with no issue.

I also mentioned my parameters were all stable, so that isn't the issue either. Can anyone else help with any ideas?

 

[Eastone]

8 is about where I keep mine. How often do you test this? I'm of the school of thought that alk shouldn't move more than 0.25dkh a day, I assume you're dosing it via the pump and this is the case. Do you supplement Potassium? Magnesium?
What's the flow and lighting like, often SPS STN from the base when there is too little flow or light.

Another possibility is phosphate being too high or low, too low phosphates and nitrates will definitely cause what you're explaining. Do you get a dusting of brown algae on the glass every few days?

 

[Tim Duncan]

8 is about where I keep mine. How often do you test this? I'm of the school of thought that alk shouldn't move more than 0.25dkh a day, I assume you're dosing it via the pump and this is the case. Do you supplement Potassium? Magnesium?
What's the flow and lighting like, often SPS STN from the base when there is too little flow or light.

Another possibility is phosphate being too high or low, too low phosphates and nitrates will definitely cause what you're explaining. Do you get a dusting of brown algae on the glass every few days?

Flow is via 4 MP40's and lighting is 10x54w ATI Powermodule.
PO4 is around 0.03, Nitrates 0.....and yes I get algae on the glass, I clean it every 2-4 days.

 

[tripdad]

I am sorry to hear of your problems, it can drive you nuts when things go bad without a clearcut reason. You seem like a careful reefer from your posts and responses, so I will assume your normal params are good. I would look in a few places at this point. 1) a parameter that you are not currently monitoring such as iodine( rarely a problem), potasium,iron, etc. 2) bacterial infection of acros, try dipping in a medicinal type dip several times over a few weeks 3) stray voltage 4) any environmental changes i.e. plug in air fresheners, new windows in house causing CO2 changes, new or old heating equipment, etc.. As a chance effort try putting some Polyfiter in the system and see if it reacts indicating a contaminant. Basically look where you haven't. Good luck.

 

[toothman]

that is funny for me dying would mean they look bad. Rc are not my favorite salt. possibly red bugs, flat worms

 

[Tim Duncan]

I am sorry to hear of your problems, it can drive you nuts when things go bad without a clearcut reason. You seem like a careful reefer from your posts and responses, so I will assume your normal params are good. I would look in a few places at this point. 1) a parameter that you are not currently monitoring such as iodine( rarely a problem), potasium,iron, etc. 2) bacterial infection of acros, try dipping in a medicinal type dip several times over a few weeks 3) stray voltage 4) any environmental changes i.e. plug in air fresheners, new windows in house causing CO2 changes, new or old heating equipment, etc.. As a chance effort try putting some Polyfiter in the system and see if it reacts indicating a contaminant. Basically look where you haven't. Good luck.

Thanks for the response, but that is a lot of stuff to look for. Sending my water to be tested will cover most of the trace elements, so maybe I'll start there.

 

[Tim Duncan]

that is funny for me dying would mean they look bad. Rc are not my favorite salt. possibly red bugs, flat worms

Toothman, please read my posts.....u are stating things that I've already said are not the issue. My first post said I am pest free.

And a coral can be dying, but the living tissue still looks great. Thanks for your expert advice though

 

[bogg]

One thing to think of also is how old is the live rock, maybe old tank syndrome?

 

[trueblackpercula]

Anyone thought about aefw? Can you post pics?

 

[cugly]

I say if you can take the coral out use a magnifying glass or a microscope and see if you can see anything where the polyps are ..

 

[Tim Duncan]

You guys aren't listening.....NO PESTS. I've checked and rechecked.

My tank is only 2 years old, so I don't think old tank syndrome would fit.

 

[bogg]

Was the live rock purchased new?
There is so many things it can be from a white bug to a pathogen to instability flow lighting so many variables
What's your Guess?

 

[cugly]

You guys aren't listening.....NO PESTS. I've checked and rechecked.

My tank is only 2 years old, so I don't think old tank syndrome would fit.

How did you check reason why i am asking you cannot see it with a naked eye. You said everything looks great and all parameters are good..so it could possibly be a white bug. No dips kills it , only interceptor.

 

[SneekaPeek]

take an infected piece and put it into another system to make sure it is either your tank/water or the coral causing the problem. This will help narrow your diagnostic. dip the infected corals. dip has been known to stop stn rtn in sps. Also a full complete test on your water will help. Hope everything turns out okay and good luck. thanks for posting here and please post your results. I have had problems in the past due to unusual behavior and your situation has really intrigued me!

 

[toothman]

Why do you just try Salinity aquavitro salt, salt does matter. You said you have been using rc and there is a problem so something has to change. a full tank shot and some close ups would help.

 

[Avenger]

Sometimes it can take a coral a few months to get back on track.