Time to humble myself

[1meantank]

I need help 240 gal cube over 150 sps tons of high end stuff recently started having things RTN some stuff STNing. Normally I can correct with no problems been a month no improvement. Tanks been up 7yrs is a down grade that was up for 12 yrs

Current condtions as of last night:
Alk 8.0
Cal 450
mag 1500
Phos ? but run GFO half required dose
Never test for amnonia, nitrites or nitrates
temp 78
Ph 8.5
3 250 watt 20k xm
Little support will help

 

[Volcano1]

All of my RTN/STN issues seemed to come from some sort of a spike. Something out of the stable levels. Most times it is ALK, sometimes lighting, spectral shift, Temp.If all of your levels posted have stayed constant, you may want to check Nitrates/phosphates. They can slowly climb in older systems.I had a remote DSB that caused this over several years.Make sure all of your reagents are good.I know it's a PITA to find a cause sometimes.
HTH's.

Todd

 

[small_polyp]

This is one of the scariest things about an older tank..im going to assume with the age of the tank the colonies are rather large. Ive seen this happen to a few tanks over time and i can tell you it may b as simple as water flow. If all the params check out ok..i would look at flow first. Once the colonies get really large the whole dynamc of flow in the tank changes..
Ive seen tanks totally colapse as you are describing..but ive seen them come back from the brink also.
Move your power heads etc etc around..add more flow..prune your colonies. Think back to how the flow was set up in relation to the corals when they were smaller...remember what worked and try to emulate it.
I wish u the best of luck.

 

[catman78]

Have you tried a somewhat large water change. Maybe 25% or so.
Check for improvement in day or two.
Worth the shot

 

[1meantank]

I had mag go up very high but again 2 months ago water movements is not a issue for sure

 

[Aslmx]

Do you have cheato ? if so check for amonia. I had a bunch of cheato to die and almost all of my sps are paying the price. Its bad when you cant pin point the problem. It happens to everybody. Luckily none of my stuff is high end but they were large and had sentimental value. My tank is also 7 years old but im building a new one shortly. Also, do you have gas heat in your house? Check your ph at night with lights out. Ive read stories about gas heat causing huge ph swings at night with lights out.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I know the feeling for me it was the DSB that needed some cleaning.

 

[1meantank]

No cheato at all I do weekly water changes 25%

 

[flamron]

Have a close look for AEFW.

 

[1meantank]

Positive no flat worms

 

[flamron]

What makes you so sure? Did you so an extensive six to eight week dip in a separate QT for every coral you've put into the system?

 

[SPotter]

Post some pictures so we can see how things look. Whats your fish load like and how often do you feed? I would definitely get your po4 and no3 levels tested. Its possible that your water is too clean. I would never use gfo even at half the suggested amount without knowing my po4 level before using it.

 

[Chriskid]

I would start with the test your leavening out, nitrates.

 

[1meantank]

I do not add corals that does not go through
qt

 

[1meantank]

I agree steve
I have never owned those test kits

 

[SPotter]

when was the last time you replaced your gfo?

 

[TOM BLEVINS]

Alk / PH seems odd to me, this time off year closed houses with cold temps
PH seems to be an issue,my 2 cents.

 

[1meantank]

GFO changed 2 weeks

Tom that something I think about every year so I try to keep a door open or Window crack dailey

 

[russeko8]

good advice

good advice

This is good advice worth looking into I have personally had this problem with gfo, and would never recommend running gfo or carbon without knowing the existing parameters.

Post some pictures so we can see how things look. Whats your fish load like and how often do you feed? I would definitely get your po4 and no3 levels tested. Its possible that your water is too clean. I would never use gfo even at half the suggested amount without knowing my po4 level before using it.

 

[SPotter]

Did you replace all the gfo at once? Rapid reduction in po4 can cause RTN and if it was an issue before you swapped out the gfo it could have made it worse. When I change gfo I usually add it over a 3 week period so not to strip too much too fast.