xtrstangx
Premium Member
Well, after I had 2 more pieces start to RTN on me, I figure its probably time to ask for help. This is going to be a really really long post, by the way.
- 40g display
- 30g sump (20g running volume) with ASM G-1X and ~10 gallon fuge with chaeto
- Mag 7 return into a manifold with 3 Loc-line returns
- 2x175w XM 20K 9" off the surface with a 30w NO actinic
- 2 Phosban reactors, one with Rowaphos, the other with carbon
- 40-50# of Fiji LR
- 1.5-2" sand bed in the display, aragonite
- 4" sand bed in the fuge, silica
-Seio 820 and a Maxi-jet 1200 (MJ on a 5 min on/off timer) for a 40x turnover rate approx
- Calcium/Alkalinity is added by RHF's 2-part DIY formula
Temperature is controlled by a Reefkeeper 2 so temperature is extremely stable (literally only .1º fluctuation)
So, according to the books, my lights and skimmer are fine. I don't have any question in my mind that this is causing the problems.
My parameters:
pH: 8.03 currently (usually 8.15ish with MH on)
Temp: 80.5º
Salinity: 1.026
Calcium: 365 :eek1:
Alkalinity: 2.5 meq/L or 7 dKH (little bit low)
Magnesium: 1350
Phosphate: .01 (just the faintest hint of blue in the Salifert)
Nitrate: 7.5
I do weekly water changes, usually 5g or sometimes 10g (8.3% and 16.6% respectively). This along with the skimmer and the carbon leaves the water crystal clear.
Anyways on to the SPS. Most frags I can keep for about a month or two before they start to RTN/STN from the base. All of my frags are from other reefers,from Reefer Madness group orders, or ORA frags from the LFS. I mount them all onto little pieces of rock rubble with Aquamend epoxy and super glue. There is no sign that I can tell of red bugs or AEFW. I've lost monti caps, monti digis, ORA Blue Tort, stags, milleaporas, etc.
My LPS and zoos are doing fine. The only softie I have in the tank is a tiny patch of xenia.
So I've narrowed it down to 3 possibilities:
1. I have a Flame Angelfish in the tank. They are hit/miss on nipping. I have never seen him nip at any SPS other than 1 time he was picked 4 times at a new Montipora Digitata. Never seen him nip other than that (he does eat open brain LPS though).
2. Maybe once a month I leave the RO/DI running and drop the salinity down from 1.026 to 1.019... There is never any direct RTN after this.. I slowly bring the salinity back up by topping off with saltwater.
3. The silica sand in my fuge. I got it from someone and assumed that he rinsed it.. Now that I think about it, he didn't rinse it and neither did I. I'm pretty sure it is Quikrete's sand.
Should I see if the LFS can babysit the Flame Angel for a week? I'm really thinking its the Flame Angel cause I never have any PE and they usually take a month or two to die.
Thanks for the help.
- 40g display
- 30g sump (20g running volume) with ASM G-1X and ~10 gallon fuge with chaeto
- Mag 7 return into a manifold with 3 Loc-line returns
- 2x175w XM 20K 9" off the surface with a 30w NO actinic
- 2 Phosban reactors, one with Rowaphos, the other with carbon
- 40-50# of Fiji LR
- 1.5-2" sand bed in the display, aragonite
- 4" sand bed in the fuge, silica
-Seio 820 and a Maxi-jet 1200 (MJ on a 5 min on/off timer) for a 40x turnover rate approx
- Calcium/Alkalinity is added by RHF's 2-part DIY formula
Temperature is controlled by a Reefkeeper 2 so temperature is extremely stable (literally only .1º fluctuation)
So, according to the books, my lights and skimmer are fine. I don't have any question in my mind that this is causing the problems.
My parameters:
pH: 8.03 currently (usually 8.15ish with MH on)
Temp: 80.5º
Salinity: 1.026
Calcium: 365 :eek1:
Alkalinity: 2.5 meq/L or 7 dKH (little bit low)
Magnesium: 1350
Phosphate: .01 (just the faintest hint of blue in the Salifert)
Nitrate: 7.5
I do weekly water changes, usually 5g or sometimes 10g (8.3% and 16.6% respectively). This along with the skimmer and the carbon leaves the water crystal clear.
Anyways on to the SPS. Most frags I can keep for about a month or two before they start to RTN/STN from the base. All of my frags are from other reefers,from Reefer Madness group orders, or ORA frags from the LFS. I mount them all onto little pieces of rock rubble with Aquamend epoxy and super glue. There is no sign that I can tell of red bugs or AEFW. I've lost monti caps, monti digis, ORA Blue Tort, stags, milleaporas, etc.
My LPS and zoos are doing fine. The only softie I have in the tank is a tiny patch of xenia.
So I've narrowed it down to 3 possibilities:
1. I have a Flame Angelfish in the tank. They are hit/miss on nipping. I have never seen him nip at any SPS other than 1 time he was picked 4 times at a new Montipora Digitata. Never seen him nip other than that (he does eat open brain LPS though).
2. Maybe once a month I leave the RO/DI running and drop the salinity down from 1.026 to 1.019... There is never any direct RTN after this.. I slowly bring the salinity back up by topping off with saltwater.
3. The silica sand in my fuge. I got it from someone and assumed that he rinsed it.. Now that I think about it, he didn't rinse it and neither did I. I'm pretty sure it is Quikrete's sand.
Should I see if the LFS can babysit the Flame Angel for a week? I'm really thinking its the Flame Angel cause I never have any PE and they usually take a month or two to die.
Thanks for the help.
