AliciaP
New member
So, for the past 3 months, my Xenia has struggled. It happened all of the sudden. One day, the tips just looked burned. No big deal, I did my normal 1/2 tank water change, a bit sooner than usual and expected to see it better the next day. No such luck. Its getting worse and I am out of ideas. I need your help! Settle in for the background info and test results. 
I had 1 150watt MH and 1 homemade multichip led over the tank when this started. My halide ballast broke, so a friend gave me her old light which is 2 t5s (not actinic). The burning effact was taking place before the halide broke, so i think it has nothing to do with my problem. My tank has been under the old lights for a long time. The whole time I had the tank I had the MH and the led was made early last year, so also I don't think that's the problem either. The coral was introduced into those lights, and did fine for a year. My heaters both broke within a week of each other, so the tank had no heat for a while. They broke about a month before the xenia started looking burned.
Sg- 1.025
Amm- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 100 ..... (I know, I know, give me hell. It's always this high, with multiple test kits.)
Phos- 0
Calcium- 500
Kh- ~10
Temp- 70-72
So, I know, you will all tell me its my nitrates. But they've been between 80-100 for years. I have given up the fight because I just don't know what else to do with them.
I have done several water changes (normally once a month). I have sat and inspected for a fish nibbling or crab nibbling or starfish nibbling, nothing I can see is happening to them. Day or night. I have moved them from their normal spot to a space on the right of the tank. I have run charcoal to help coral warfare.
I have hammer corals and 2 rbta that I thought could be burning it, so I moved it as far away as possible. I thought about those because it has spots on it in some places and one stalk almost has a ring where is looks burned or stung. It's like a sunk in scar kind of.
So what's my next plan of action?
I had 1 150watt MH and 1 homemade multichip led over the tank when this started. My halide ballast broke, so a friend gave me her old light which is 2 t5s (not actinic). The burning effact was taking place before the halide broke, so i think it has nothing to do with my problem. My tank has been under the old lights for a long time. The whole time I had the tank I had the MH and the led was made early last year, so also I don't think that's the problem either. The coral was introduced into those lights, and did fine for a year. My heaters both broke within a week of each other, so the tank had no heat for a while. They broke about a month before the xenia started looking burned.
Sg- 1.025
Amm- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 100 ..... (I know, I know, give me hell. It's always this high, with multiple test kits.)
Phos- 0
Calcium- 500
Kh- ~10
Temp- 70-72
So, I know, you will all tell me its my nitrates. But they've been between 80-100 for years. I have given up the fight because I just don't know what else to do with them.
I have done several water changes (normally once a month). I have sat and inspected for a fish nibbling or crab nibbling or starfish nibbling, nothing I can see is happening to them. Day or night. I have moved them from their normal spot to a space on the right of the tank. I have run charcoal to help coral warfare.
I have hammer corals and 2 rbta that I thought could be burning it, so I moved it as far away as possible. I thought about those because it has spots on it in some places and one stalk almost has a ring where is looks burned or stung. It's like a sunk in scar kind of.
So what's my next plan of action?
