SPS Unhappy

[bepece]

Well, I did the worst thing possible and made two changes at around the same time. One is that I changed from reef crystals to coralife salt, the other is that I went from halide to AISol. SPS are not happy, everything otherwise is great. Clowns are spawning, levels are all fine. After all these years in the hobby, I am stumped. Is there anyone that has changed their salt mix and had this issue?

Any ideas are welcome!

 

[bepece]

Might have posted in the wrong section, mods feel free to move.

 

[dc]

[moved]...

 

[Allmost]

need more info.

what are the parameters ? what were they before the change ?

what do you mean by SPS unhappy ? are they loosing tissue ? are they bleaching ? browning ? ....

 

[fishguy597]

My money would be the lights. How far apart are they? What intensity are they set at? When I made the switch I started at 35%and raised it 5% a week. I ultimately stopped at 65% by judging my corals. something else to consider is the light duration. You may want to check the Ai forum to see how they are aclamating the light from mh to led .

 

[jda]

Even after an acclimation, you might not like the Sols with your SPS. I hope that you kept them in case you want to go back. It is not ever going to be the same. You might like it better, or not, but it will be different.

 

[bepece]

Yeah, I may have to switch it up. Strange that the first few months during acclimation, every thing looked great, was growing rapidly, great polyp extension and color. I started noticing some brownish residue on the sand that you would expect with high phosphates, but other than that - nothing. Every level had been checked many times and nothing is out of scope. My other concern was that the gfo was working too well, as phosphates are zero. I have noticed that I do add more magnesium and calcium with the coralife salt.

 

[bepece]

need more info.

what are the parameters ? what were they before the change ?

what do you mean by SPS unhappy ? are they loosing tissue ? are they bleaching ? browning ? ....

Parameters are all in spec. I have kept my reefs at the same specs - 1.025 sg, 78 temp, 8-8.2 ph - a little lower since the salt, but not bad, kalk has helped maintain it, phosphates 0, nitrates 0, nitrites 0, calcium around 420, magnesium at 1400.

The SPS has lost some color and polyp extension. There is one small spot I would call browning, no bleaching.

 

[bepece]

Also, running gfo and carbon.

 

[Allmost]

make sure to measure KH often too. its more important than magnesium.

if the only Issue you have is some brown spots ... then perhaps the LED's coverage is to blame ?

 

[bepece]

Sorry, kh is between 9-11. Some die off as well. Nothing blocking the corals from lighting high in the tank.

 

[Allmost]

Id try to keep KH stable.. 2 Dkh difference can stress corals.

 

[bepece]

I meant it has been in that range since the tank was started. Right now, it is at 10, which is where it usually stays. Rarely when testing here or the lfs, is anything different. My apex tracks temp, ph and orp, they stay in line as well.