Sps help

[scbc29]

So I have a 6 month old bio cube that I have removed all bio balls and I'm running full apex with Dos. I have Chemi Pure, Phosguard, and Bio Pellets in back sump. Tunze 9001 will be in tomorrow. All my water parameters are fine when I checked this morning except I couldn't check Mg as I am out of the test 1. I run a Kessil 360 about 6.5" from the surface and the 2 corals in question (ONLY) are my spongodes and my setosa. They are middle to high in my tank and first noticed the spongodes not fully extending after I made 2 changes which I'm sure one is the culprit. The setosa started to lose some of the color and take on a blueish white but not bleach white. I lowered them both to the sand bed for now. So the 2 changes where dosed 1 center cap of ions Aquavitro and a few days prior I raised the kessil up 5%. All my LPS and other SPS are doing fine as of now. I haven't been feeding plankton or coral amino as I had some brown sand algae issues. Lighting is only on for 8 hours a day with the intensity of the Kessil maxing 30/35%.

Edit

I forgot my Green Slimmer is alive but browning not bleaching also. Animal is still green but the skin is brown.

 

[Pife]

How are you running bio pellets on the rear chamber of a bio cube?

And after re reading your post what is your question?

 

[scbc29]

Bio Pellets were added on Monday. Just used a net bag and only used a small portion of them. My LFS said he has heard of them causing issues with the SPS but never seen it himself. He was leaning more on the Kessil or the bio pellets. Kissel hasn't changed enough to effect the LPS so I don't think thats the issue. The problem I'm having is the Slimmer is brown not green, setosa is pink in areas but blueish white and the spongodes has retracted throughout. I did check the Mg and it was only 1140. Kh is 10 and Cal is 460 NO3 0.

 

[JammyBirch]

i think you're too clean...are you able to measure nitrates or is it a 0? i try to run my tank with detectable nitrates. i also run an LED system and have a lot of filter capability. i run my skimmer way low now and do water changes as needed rather than every other week. I still run the GFO to manage algae growth but try to leave some detectable Nitrates in the water. My Red Cap was not bleached but lost some significant color, once i let the tank alone with filtration it came back to full color.

Are you sure your corals eat Phytoplankton? I also used to feed Phyto, but got some advice on switching to a different food source, such as reef roids or oyster feast. This help growth in my tank, feeding this stuff also helps keep Nitrates in the water column.

 

[scbc29]

Cant be sure they are eating the Plankton. I do weekly water changes and haven't had any issues until I added the bio pellets and ramped up the Kessil from 30 to 35. Didn't see the light as a cause to these corals but its just my SPS that are having issues. All my LPS are fine. Not sure on Nitrates.

So I was reading the bio pellets will cause the water to be clearer and allowing more light to penetrate the water so it could be both. Also read that Cyanobacteria can be produced bc of the changes in chemistry. I've fought that battle once too many times. I am just running these pellets in a bag so is that an issue and I don't feed my tank often enough so is there a need for these pellets? I don't have an reactor and my skimmer won't be in until tomorrow and thats if that even skims. Should I remove or leave alone and add to the media basket with carbon and phosguard?

 

[Pife]

Bio Pellets were added on Monday. Just used a net bag and only used a small portion of them. My LFS said he has heard of them causing issues with the SPS but never seen it himself. He was leaning more on the Kessil or the bio pellets. Kissel hasn't changed enough to effect the LPS so I don't think thats the issue. The problem I'm having is the Slimmer is brown not green, setosa is pink in areas but blueish white and the spongodes has retracted throughout. I did check the Mg and it was only 1140. Kh is 10 and Cal is 460 NO3 0.

As far as I know bio pellets don't work this way. They need to be ran in a reactor.

 

[scbc29]

Interesting. LFS said throw in a media bag and place in heavy flow. Well I wonder if it will hurt to remove it now?

 

[Pife]

You need to get your big three in check and keep them stable. Also keep your N 03 and p04s low.

 

[Pife]

Interesting. LFS said throw in a media bag and place in heavy flow. Well I wonder if it will hurt to remove it now?

I don't think it would hurt anything to remove them. All they are song is taping detritus in your case. IMHO

 

[scbc29]

I have a DOS from Neptune and I have very little swings. Now Im wondering if they just needed to make a quick 30.00 sale bc I won't be using these without a reactor and doesn't seem as if I even need them. I don't have a heavy load. Never ran these in my 220 and all of a sudden this is a must... Oh well. Thanks!

 

[baxinabox]

I agree with Pife. remove the pellets and run a skimmer.
if you are going to run pellets you need a skimmer + reactor..
the reactor exit needs to be placed in front of the skimmer water entrance.
you need to focus on getting your big 3 in check as he said.
browning of sps usually means too many nutrients.. ( from what i have read anyways. i could be wrong here. )

 

[scbc29]

My Ca is 460 Kh will be between 9 and 10 and Mg tested late today but was 1140. I test every morning at the same time. A bit overboard by some but with a tank this small one thing swings it all swings quick.

 

[scbc29]

Well I haven't figured out how to load images but since removing the bio pellets the spongodes is having extension again. Not full but I imagine it will take a couple days to return to normal. Hopefully with the skimmer going in tomorrow things will bounce back to normal. Thanks again for everyones input.

 

[scbc29]

Before removing the bio pellets.

 

[Pife]

Glad to here it.

 

[scbc29]

After removing bio pellets and a couple hours pass.

 

[Buddhatank]

I've lost sps using bio pellets. I learned the hard way make sure to do the research. Start slow if you decide to use them. Also remove them slow if you decide afterwards you don't want them. Both could create big swings for our tanks.

 

[Moonfroz]

I've lost sps using bio pellets. I learned the hard way make sure to do the research. Start slow if you decide to use them. Also remove them slow if you decide afterwards you don't want them. Both could create big swings for our tanks.

+1 here also, I won't use bio-pellets except for Fish only tank. Lost thousands of dollars on coral because of bio-pellets because they remove too much nutriments that corals need in IMO

 

[scbc29]

So I'm bringing this back in hopes to gain a little more help with this coral. It's gained it's color back but still isn't as dark green as it should be. Parameters are 9.2 dkh 440 ca 1400 mg 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates. I use reef energy A and B. I have switched to ATI dimmable t5 and have been using them for a couple months now. I run them at 55% power for 8 hours and ramps up and down 1 hour for a total of 10 hours. I also have a reefBrite led that runs for 8 hours. My satosa is also not as pink. Both corals are 24" from the light.

 

[scbc29]