Why the Death? Anyone ID?

[Reefn'_Dude]

Hello,


I have had my reef tank up and operating for about 6 mos now. All creatures, fish, corals and else all seem to be doing well and standard (salinity, temperature, Am, PH, Nitrate, nitrite, calcium, Mg and others) are all on par.

I have lost very few creatures, but I seem to keep loosing anemones, and now I've lost an anemone looking plate coral.


I ran a 90 gallon reef setup previously to this and had many anemones that grew and multiplied.


here is a picture of the plate coral now:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7518945@N06/3338954501/" title="IMG_0728 by eewk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3338954501_d5ffc7a114.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0728" /></a>




There appear to be white curly strands all over. they are white and seem to be eating the plate coral. the same white strands appear on the anemone before it died as well.


What is going on? anyone know?

 

[Flightpipe]

What are your params, lights, flow?

 

[Reefn'_Dude]

Params:

Salinity 1.0205
Temp 79.1-81.2 daily
Alk 8 Dkh
Ph 8 to 8.3
Am 0
Nitrates 0
nitrites 0
Calcium 430ppm


Supplies are Red Sea, Tetra and Sera

I use RO/DI for water change and top off. Salt mix is Reef Crystals.
I have a healthy and teeming Refugium, I protien skim and water goes through a MarineLand 360 4 stage canister with purigen, Chemi-pure, ceramics and bioballs.

The dying things (plate coral, anemones) all look great for some time with long broad extension and good feeding and threat response time.

I have been buying the stuff from the LFS and they quarentine for a minimum of 1 week before the animals go into the sale displays. these particular animals were 2-3 weeks before i purchased.


Lighting is 175w MH 10,000k + 140w Fluros.

Water flow is made by a scwd run off of a quiet one 3000 and several power heads.

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14566310#post14566310 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefn'_Dude
Params:

Salinity 1.0205

What are you using to measure "salinity" and could you check it again?

 

[Reefn'_Dude]

sorry, added an extra 0 in there...
and
"Specific Gravity"

1.025 measured with an RO/DI calibrated refractometer

 

[jkrentz2515]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14567987#post14567987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefn'_Dude
sorry, added an extra 0 in there...
and
"Specific Gravity"

1.025 measured with an RO/DI calibrated refractometer

I'm not sure what is causing all the mishaps, but I would recommend buying the refractometer calibration fluid, I think it is $5. Calibrating with ro/di is not nearly as accurate.

 

[Reefn'_Dude]

well this refractometer has been working for me for 2 years now. Every time i check it's calibration with a known SG substance, it's right on. Never had a problem with it as it is also ATC. I doubt highly that this is the problem as all other inhabitants (10 fish, leathers, mushrooms, star polops, Zoos, shrimp, scallops, clams and the works) all seem to be doing fine and if my salinity was off they would suffer too, no?