Strange problem with chalice and some other LPS...

[Smite]

Last week I had a beautiful Goldmember chalice I had been growing out for about 8-9 months. Growing very well and showing all the right colors.

Last Saturday morning it looked great.
(goldmember bottom front left corner)


Saturday afternoon it was covered in black spots, like when ink is dripped on paper. It wasn't slime but the actual pigment on the chalice.


Hour by hour it got worse. The next morning all black spots were now exposed skeleton.

Needless to say the chalice is pretty much toast as of today.

I know sometimes things just get upset and melt, but now ALL my chalices are doing the same thing! I lost a smaller frag overnight. I have a watermelon chalice that I moved to the shade and its still receding, slightly slower after a RX dip to check for pest.



Video results of the dip, double dose Coral Rx 15 minutes :
https://youtu.be/v03HUjuQmvk
Looks to be mostly copepods, amphipods and isopods. There is that one small white worm. Not flat, but movement reminds me of when my dog had gotten tape worms. Also a snail, maybe 1/16" in diameter with a few rusty brown/red stripes on it.


I'm also loosing my rainbow acans, I've lost heads off of my duncans and my scolly now looks very upset, curling up at times.

I checked all my levels:
Temp 77-78
pH: from what I can tell with API 8.-8.2
alk 9.3 kdh consistently
mag 1500
cal 490
phosphates and nitrates 0 - I feed coral foods every other day - coral frenzy, phytofeast and oyster feast

All the same as last week when I first noticed the chalice problem.

I had added 3 mangroves from the MAX show. I freshwater dipped them. I also had performed a water change on the tank. My TDS reads zero. And I always check my freshly mixed water's Alk, temp and salinity to make sure they match my display. Everything was in order.

To rule out possible heavy metals I've since added a polyfilter. It says it will change colors and let you know what its absorbing, so far nothing.

I had also found stray voltage in my tank. After trouble shooting I realized everything in my tank was leaking about 1-3 volts for a total of 28 volts. As of yesterday I have now added a grounding probe. My voltage is now zero, not sure if giving the volts a ground is a great idea but I figured I might as well give it a shot at this point.

I have one acro that is showing since of tissue necrosis. Not from the base but on the top, closest to light. I've lowered my light levels a bit. All my other acros seem happy. All fish are happy as can be as well.

I'm thinking of trying a iodine dip or medi coral dip to eliminate a fungal infection?


Has anyone else ever experienced this? None of my local pros have seen it before.

 

[Smite]

I've also had to battle dinoflagellets in this tank. My last blackout was 4 weeks ago. Not sure if maybe they caused some type of infection? Or released toxins, but seems a little late for that.

 

[MrCaveman]

I would expect it to be the super low nutrient level in the tank... In my tank the levels are low but not 0. What are you using to test phosphate and nitrate? Also, Im not familiar with coral rx but for pure bacterial infections I use seachem's reef dip which I have been pleased with.

 

[Smite]

I would expect it to be the super low nutrient level in the tank... In my tank the levels are low but not 0. What are you using to test phosphate and nitrate? Also, Im not familiar with coral rx but for pure bacterial infections I use seachem's reef dip which I have been pleased with.

Thanks for the response MrCaveman.

I am using a Hannah checker for my phosphates. I use both API and Salifert for nitrates. Neither pick up any nitrates in the tank, but I don't really care for either test.

I'll look into the seachem reef dip.

Lights came on in my tank a few moments ago, watermelon looks to be a goner now as well.

 

[tanked_life]

are you running any time of product like GFO that can reduce phosphates fast? it seems as though especially with chalices that when I ran my GFO they got bad very quickly and looked as though all the nutrients got sucked right out of them

 

[Smite]

are you running any time of product like GFO that can reduce phosphates fast? it seems as though especially with chalices that when I ran my GFO they got bad very quickly and looked as though all the nutrients got sucked right out of them

I had added chemi pure the week before in a low flow area of my sump. Mayne that was it but my phosphates have always read zero. With both my kit and my LFS.

I've removed it to try and add some nutrients back to the water column. I do feed coral good multiple times a week though.

 

[tanked_life]

I had added chemi pure the week before in a low flow area of my sump. Mayne that was it but my phosphates have always read zero. With both my kit and my LFS.

I've removed it to try and add some nutrients back to the water column. I do feed coral good multiple times a week though.

I do think that might have been the problem, chalices like phosphates at a point where it is still detectable yet minuscule at the same time. They are sort of similar to zoanthids in how they like theyre water quality so try not to eliminate the phosphates 100%. This should bring back the correct vibrant colors and textures the chalices have been missing.

Hope this Helps.

 

[tanked_life]

I do think that might have been the problem, chalices like phosphates at a point where it is still detectable yet minuscule at the same time. They are sort of similar to zoanthids in how they like their water quality so try not to eliminate the phosphates 100%. This should bring back the correct vibrant colors and textures the chalices have been missing.

Hope this Helps.

 

[Smite]

I do think that might have been the problem, chalices like phosphates at a point where it is still detectable yet minuscule at the same time. They are sort of similar to zoanthids in how they like theyre water quality so try not to eliminate the phosphates 100%. This should bring back the correct vibrant colors and textures the chalices have been missing.

Hope this Helps.

Well I removed the Chemi-Pure. I ran a poly filter for the last few days to rule out heavy metals. The filter did not change colors indicating there were any metals present.

Now I have a real issue. My acros are showing RTN, 4 of them. Still frags so it's happening quickly. I tested my water today and even though I removed all chemical filtration my phosphates are still undetectable. My nitrates are reading 2.5 ppm now.

I feel that I am down to 2 things.

1. I have a toadstool that has recently grown to come in contact with my bubble tip anemone. Could it be releasing toxins that are causing these symptoms from irritation?

2. My water mixing station has somehow been contaminated with something the poly filter isn't showing.

Does anyone have a recommendation of where I can get my water tested for contaminants?

I'm at my wits end with this problem. Just watching one piece go after another with stable parameters is extremely frustrating. Inverts and fish remain active and appear healthy. I've talked to all my local reefers and pros, when they see the pictures of the chalice turning black and the time frame they are stumped. My tank was just starting to look decent too.