SPS wont color up

[allsps40]

Ok, good skimmer. I dont think you have enough flow for one. 30gph total flow for a sps tank is low. You only get that if both mp10's are going full blast. Most people dont use them that way, one primary one slave in a wave mode is the way to go. I would have gone with 2 mp40's and turned them down to 75-80%. IMO you need a lot more flow, I have 72gph in my sps tank. 30gph is good for softies and LPS. Some pics of the corals would be helpful.

 

[Grant W]

Hey I just noticed a posting that will give you an idea of what I was talking about with the lighting mix, a few posts below your is one titled Garf bonsai, the picture by Reefbass is my garf bonsai have a look

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

I am not an expert, but 1/2 a cube of mysis every other day my guess is the corals are starving

 

[allsps40]

I agreed that he should feed more. However starving sps normally go pale not brown.
Pics

 

[saltyh20]

sps can turn both brown or fade out due to starvation. IMO feed everyday and keep feeding until you see some nitrates, and get something that will eat the algea. try to figure out how much you can feed until your nitrates go up, then try to keep it level in the 0-3 range. worked for me
Y did u start dosing vodka?

 

[jimrawr]

I started vodka dosing in hopes that it may help with this turf algae I have since NOTHING will eat it. I tried Mexican Turbos, Sea Hares, Urchins, Foxface, Yellow Tang, and other assorted CUC. Nothing wants to touch this stuff, so thats why I have been feeding such a low amount to try and cut off its food source but I think the algae can survive just by the light at this point.

My thoughts were also that the corals are starving but I cant be sure and at this point I dont want to fuel the algae growth by feeding too much.

 

[dzhuo]

Sorry for the persisting algae problem. I commented on your other thread but I think it's worth mentioning them here again:

1. Your 2 MP10 aren't nearly enough flow for a 90g. Even with a powerful skimmer, the waste and organic matter has to get to your skimmer fast enough. I don't think these 2 powerheads alone are enough to lift the uneaten food and heavier particulate matters from the bottom, rocks, sand, etc over the overflow quickly to the skimmer.

2. When you have such a dense algae problem like this, they trap a lot of craps at their base. Think of each patch as filter floss or socks. Things they trap at their base will continue to decay and refuel the algae. You need to find ways to get rid of these dense patches. If none of your fish eat the algae, you need to manually remove them.

3. Have you figure out what's wrong with your RO/DI yet? With such a high TDS going into your tank, I am not sure water change will actually help or hurt the corals?

 

[jimrawr]

Yea I will probably be adding a koralia k4 soon to the tank. As far as tds it was never higher than .002 but now I am refreshing the di resin every couple weeks to maintain 0 tds. The reason for this is a low ph water from my well.

Thx for the input

 

[saltyh20]

ok. IMO unless your nitrates read high on a test kit like 10-15 and water changes dont bring it down then id say carbon is an option. ive starved corals in the past and never got rid of the algae and the corals starved to death and turned brown first. the only way to get rid of the algae again IMO is to 1) scrub the rocks clean of the algae and then the snails can control the diatoms or 2) get new rock. alage wins in the fight for food every time starving if there isnt enough organic compound for the corals. its alot of work but worth it. and +1 on flow. it gets all the heavier stuff into the water current so it can be broken down and skimmed out. flow is very important. you got a pic of the tank?

 

[jimrawr]

Yea you are probably right saltyh20. Believe me I have tried everything to get rid of this algae short or replacing all the rockwork. Nothing wants to eat it, NOTHING. The problem is that its all over my marco rock, and INSIDE my marco rock. So even when I scrub it, I cant possible remove it all. All the rock that its covering is at the base of the rockwork so to remove it and scrub it down would be a huge job, and I dont think at the end it would solve anything because it would just grow right back. I was actually thinking of doing a 100"% rock swap which would be much easier, but then I am worried that spored from the algae would eventually just start to grow on the new rock.

Here are a couple pics

 

[Grant W]

Jim I know you have a good sized fish load already but my Tomini tang would tear that stuff up, maybe another worker is needed.

 

[jimrawr]

Grant the thing is I have added a lot of things to this tank to try and eat it, and nothing wanted to touch it so I am really hesitant to try something else, especially a larger fish.

Hermits
Astreas
Mexican Turbos
Urchin
Sea Hares
Foxface
Yellow Tang

Nothing wants anything to do with it lol.. must take like sewage!

 

[dzhuo]

I thought you mention that John thinks this is a type of invasive chaeto algae?

 

[jimrawr]

Yeah he did think that but not really sure. I sent him a shipment of this algae that I could harvest and hopefully he has something that will eat it, and maybe also get a better idea of what exactly it is

 

[jimrawr]

Well I order two Koralia Evolution 1400's. That should be more than enough flow now I believe

 

[chercm]

Grant the thing is I have added a lot of things to this tank to try and eat it, and nothing wanted to touch it so I am really hesitant to try something else, especially a larger fish.

Hermits
Astreas
Mexican Turbos
Urchin
Sea Hares
Foxface
Yellow Tang

Nothing wants anything to do with it lol.. must take like sewage!

are u using any zeovit ?

 

[jimrawr]

are u using any zeovit ?

Nope

 

[Laddy]

Jim I know you have a good sized fish load already but my Tomini tang would tear that stuff up, maybe another worker is needed.

Ya, if you could get a tomini in there I think you may be pleased. I've seen them nibble tanks down to nothing.......although you're on the right path with water quality thinking--sometimes it just takes a little help from within.

Good luck.

 

[jimrawr]

You guys think a Yellow Tang would allow any other tang in a 92g tank? I think he would go bat **** crazy and harass the crap out of the Tomini

 

[elijaher]

Are you having any growth.