will "lights out" kill sps? any lps?

[gr8nano]

hi all! sorry if im beating a dead seahorse with this question. for starters tank size is 28 gallon with 150 w usio 20k. bulb is 3 months old. I have been losing sps and lps in my tank. also losses of urchin and snails, but hermits/fish not affected. i have had my water tested over and over again at my lfs and all seem to be in line. i have done multiple water changes from 5 to 10 gallons at a time. had a major ha breakout but picked most away and have enough left to be annoying to me and some zoas. major numbres being:

phosphate-0
nitrate 5-10
mag-1400 ppm
ph-8.4
alk-10
amonia-0
so i have a real head scratcher. now all i have left is a few millis, montis and birdsnest. my heart wrenching question is will a 3 day lights out period kill sps? or would a 2 off 1 on 2 off be better. will this bother softies? im ready to give the one thing i love up and this is my last resort! HELP!!

 

[cdamiano]

I know people have done 2 days off without any problems. I think you need to get to the root of the problem that is causing the algae. Your nitrates look a little high. What are you using to test for phosphates? Unless you are using a colorimeter, you probably aren't getting an accurate reading. Regular test kits don't work too well for phosphate testing. Try feeding less, regular water changes, and other general good husbandry and your algae should go away in time. Are you using RO/DI water....try changing the cartridges and make sure the water tests 0 with a TDS meter.

 

[chuckreef]

Double and triple check your salinity and temperature monitoring equipment.

 

[beeker]

i've done lights out for 3 days with no ill effects at akk

 

[gr8nano]

from last 2 posts. i am a particular person when it comes to testing. yes just using 3 different bottle type phos tests. salinaty stays stable at 1.024. temp stable between 79-80. never really had problems befor and then about a month ago 3 millis stopped opening then blastod and lobo pulled back into skeletos. now even urchin is losing its spikes, and fear he may be dead too. i think i have a bacteria issue. something i cant test for. what about vodka/vinegar?

 

[chuckreef]

What are you checking those numbers (1.024 and 78-79) against?

 

[gr8nano]

my refractometer and lfs' refractometer. just re calibrated mine as well and tem is by 3 sources. coralife in tank probe, reading off heater(digital), and small thermometer in tank

 

[chuckreef]

Next I would run a poly filter for a few days and check for colors that could indicate metals may be present.
Normally, lights out for up to five days will not hurt sps. But, I would not do this when the corals and animals are stressed already.

 

[JALREEFER]

I run my Nitrates at 20-25 full sps no probs. Lights for 3 days no prob. I would check for metals or stray voltage. Stray voltage is a sps killer

 

[Merfin70]

How old is the tank ?