Hey all - still having troubles. I attached some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about. These have started to STN, taking anywhere from 2 weeks to a few months to start. I'm really curious what you guys think is going on. I just can't figure it out, and it doesn't seem like anything is wrong with my tank. I'd really like to get to the bottom of this, as it is frustrating to keep losing these corals!!!
What's wrong with my SPS?
- Thread starter sgrosenb
- Start date
feed them...i was in the same boat as you. params solid but couldn't keep any sps alive for long. Pale out followed by stn from the tips and base. Zeo solved my problem and I couldn't be happier, Wish I started zeo from the start. Just pellets, carbon and zeo for me. No GFO Good Luck
Thank Mike - what do you mean by Zeo? Do you mean the Zeo method? I am currently dosing Reef Biofuel and Microbacter, and began running a bunch of carbon. I also run GFO. Are you suggesting to stop the GFO and start dosing something else? Please advise. Thanks for the help!
yes i was talking about the zeo additives. I would not suggest stopping GFO if you have a phosphate problem. I'm not running GFO because my biopellets keeps my phosphates low. I would go easy on the carbon and GFO. If you're running biofuel and mb7 then I'm fairly certain that your sps aren't getting enough nutrients (If all other params are stable).
Just a couple of months ago I was in the same boat as you. Running carbon and GFO changing them out every month. also dosing vodka and mb7 and couldn't understand why my sps would be pale and stn. This lasted for more than a year. Then I started feeding my corals with zeo additives and things turned around quickly.
Corals that once had signs of stn are now making a recovery. Some faster than others.For a year my sps had little to zero growth. Now I can see them growing :dance:
Not saying zeo is a cure all but if your params are solid and no foreign matter is in your tank then I think it can help. I'm a firm believer
Faisal1976us
New member
check your PO4 level with Henna low range meter , i think you have hi po4 level in your tank .
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
What kind of carbon are you using and how much? Is it ROX carbon?
PasserAngelfish
New member
if i were you,i shall check filtration equipment to make sure that they are enough, and check closely with NO2,NO3.
shaggss
Active member
Definitely do as above, too much GFO is not good and cut back WC to 10% every two weeks.
As others have said Alk is too high as well, 7-8 is better.
Plus feed them. If you haven't got the food then feed your fish more in the mean time.
Also, remember nothing GOOD changes in a reef quickly. You need to let your system stabilise after making changes.
I recently had STN but have done all of the above and the corals are growing back nicely. Be patient and give it time.
Good luck and HTHs!!
Thanks for all the help guys - I'm backing off my GFO and have upped the flow a bit. In response to the high P04, I've tested with 2 different kits (Salifert and Hanna Low-range) and have tested 0.05 ppm, so I don't think PO4 is an issue. One thing I didn't mention was that the only thing I've been feeding the tank for the past 1+ year is PE Mysis shrimp. I'm not sure if that's enough, but maybe it's not? Are there other coral foods out there I should try? I only feed my fish every other day, and it's only PE Mysis.
As for the Carbon, I'm using Brightwell Pellet Carbonit-P in a phosban reactor.
Also, I'm going to check for Copper in my system (just to be sure - I'm not even sure what copper's effect would be, but I want to rule everything out).
Any other thoughts, or thoughts on my feeding, are really appreciated!
As for the Carbon, I'm using Brightwell Pellet Carbonit-P in a phosban reactor.
Also, I'm going to check for Copper in my system (just to be sure - I'm not even sure what copper's effect would be, but I want to rule everything out).
Any other thoughts, or thoughts on my feeding, are really appreciated!
neoalchemist74
New member
Alot or people that run low nutrient systems use amino acids as coral food suppliment for sps. as for gfo, Ive found that there is a corellation between agressive gfo use, high alk, low nutrients and stn.I really think that if you slow the flow in your gfo reactor and allow your alk to drop below 8 and continue as you are otherwise you should see improvement. I'd be wary of feeding more. If you do, remember you are trying to be less agressive with gfo and you'll likely end up with problems on the other end of the spectrum with a po4 increase and algea issues or just more negative responses form corals responding to elevated po4.
Phsycodelic81
Member
the nitrates are to low and the alk is to high for sps
neoalchemist74
New member
I just wanted to mention That on two differant occasions I've found supposedly sealed magnets corroding away in my system. Cause of major problems.
Sensei ClamMan
New member
how long have you been running the pellets? I'm having similar problems, my pellets seemed to do very little though. I feed the corals 3-4 times per week but no zeo. Is zeo the key to pellets? This is my second attempt at them with negative results.
