All Acroporas gone - Suddenly

[BoomCorals]

I’m totally with you on that one. Although I think the low range phosphorus meter seems a little better than my older phosphate one though to be fair.

I don’t know if I ever got a good reading with the phosphate checker. Just wasn’t consistent.

I second that. The low range phosphorus has been very consistent for me compared to the phosphate checker.

 

[Mattrg02]

So, why would my montiporas and the pc rainbow be fine if this was a alkalinity "spike" with low nutrients?

Could insufficient lighting, accompanied by low nutrients, cause a coral to skip the brownout stage and go straight to stn?

 

[BoomCorals]

So, why would my montiporas and the pc rainbow be fine if this was a alkalinity "spike" with low nutrients?

Could insufficient lighting, accompanied by low nutrients, cause a coral to skip the brownout stage and go straight to stn?

Not all acros are the same. And thus not all will react the same.

 

[Mattrg02]

Not all acros are the same. And thus not all will react the same.

Yeah, I get that. But all acros save for one, reacted the same. The pc rainbow is the only one of them that can go well in lower light.

 

[BoomCorals]

Yeah, I get that. But all acros save for one, reacted the same. The pc rainbow is the only one of them that can go well in lower light.

You're assuming lighting was a factor. It may or may not have been (not likely in my opinion)

 

[JOKER]

When dosing was the PC out of the direct flow? I am thinking like above that they may have been blasted by the dose. I had trouble with some acros in a tank where I poured my water back into the tank during a water change when I used reef crystals. The new water mixed a little higher in alk and cal than what I run my tank.. After I started adding water to the sump during water change mine got better so may be something to think about.

 

[Mattrg02]

When dosing was the PC out of the direct flow? I am thinking like above that they may have been blasted by the dose. I had trouble with some acros in a tank where I poured my water back into the tank during a water change when I used reef crystals. The new water mixed a little higher in alk and cal than what I run my tank.. After I started adding water to the sump during water change mine got better so may be something to think about.

The PC rainbow is furthest from the spot I add chemicals, but just by a few inches. When I do water changes, I match alkalinity with HCL as needed.

While a 1dkh swing upwards may not be bad, maybe it became bad due to another unforeseen issue? While my phosphates test shows zero, I am having this brown film worse than I've ever seen it. It literally grew back just hours after scraping it all off!?

Could a relatively minor alkalinity swing become major if available (to the corals) phosphates truly were at zero?

 

[tripdad]

The brown film is an indicator of nutrient imbalance, thats when I get it. Try raising your phosphates to measurable levels.

 

[Mattrg02]

The brown film is an indicator of nutrient imbalance, thats when I get it. Try raising your phosphates to measurable levels.

Hmmm, I did cut back on dosing the phosphates....As in, just stopped. I upped the feedings and that's when this film went crazy.

 

[Centerline]

I think you should kept it simply and just do weekly WC . They really no need in dosing and chasing numbers in a small tank. I have a 12 gal and just do WC and water par is stable. I have about 20 SPS.

Right on I started a 20 several weeks ago. It is doing FANTASTIC. Weekly water changes seems to be the key

 

[Mattrg02]

Right on I started a 20 several weeks ago. It is doing FANTASTIC. Weekly water changes seems to be the key

How many fish, and how much do you feed?

I reckon I'll get back to the old days: Weekly water change and feed, test only to match water change water parameters to tank water.

I had my best results, even in small tank size, when I was lazy.

 

[victorcan]

So, I have watched all but one acropora frag stn before a final rtn overnight. My montis and zoas are all fine. One PC Rainbow frag looks to be unaffected.

Here is what has recently changed:
1-Added an aquaclear filter for running carbon and added filtration.
2-Dosing phosphates, daily, trusting my Hanna phosphate meters zero reading to be accurate.
3-Raised alkalinity about 0.7dkh in one days time. Went from around 8 to 9.
4-Had my rbta stuck to mp10 foam guard for a day. No death, just upset looking.
5-Added some Prime when I thought the rbta was dead.
6-Let my dkh drop from 9-7.3 over several days time. (About 0.3dkh each day)
7-Recently cleaned my tank heater using vinegar and baking soda. Rodi was used to rinse the heater afterward. Temp dropped 2degrees over a few hours.

My tank is covered in brown film and the water is murky. I'm about to do a water change. Could this indicate that my phosphates may have been very high? Test kit shows 0 phosphates. Nitrates have been kept over 4ppm.

Lost $400 in frags in just a weeks time. Totally crushed.

I gotta say #1 is what has wiped a lotta spa in my past experiences . When I add too much or don't change is frequently as I should It has killed multiple SPS corals on me. I have accidentally left on my alk doser over night shocking my corals from 7.9 dkh to 10.5 and not seen a massive effect on my sis yet 2 x in the last year I have added too much ROX Carbon only to look at 4 or 5 gorgeous colonies pure white and just gone.. Just my experience and not for sure its what it is bt it was the 1st thing on the list you recently changed and my own history lead me to believe thats the cause

 

[SuperDragon]

So, I have watched all but one acropora frag stn before a final rtn overnight. My montis and zoas are all fine. One PC Rainbow frag looks to be unaffected.

Here is what has recently changed:
1-Added an aquaclear filter for running carbon and added filtration.
2-Dosing phosphates, daily, trusting my Hanna phosphate meters zero reading to be accurate.
3-Raised alkalinity about 0.7dkh in one days time. Went from around 8 to 9.
4-Had my rbta stuck to mp10 foam guard for a day. No death, just upset looking.
5-Added some Prime when I thought the rbta was dead.
6-Let my dkh drop from 9-7.3 over several days time. (About 0.3dkh each day)
7-Recently cleaned my tank heater using vinegar and baking soda. Rodi was used to rinse the heater afterward. Temp dropped 2degrees over a few hours.

My tank is covered in brown film and the water is murky. I'm about to do a water change. Could this indicate that my phosphates may have been very high? Test kit shows 0 phosphates. Nitrates have been kept over 4ppm.

Lost $400 in frags in just a weeks time. Totally crushed.

I agree with everyone about the Alk swings; however, I'm concerned that your nem was in the foam guard for a day. How did it look upset? Did it shrink? Did the nem do a "water change"? Nems can be lethal and sting everything. There may be the slightest chance it moved around at night ending back at its original position. It's not uncommon to have them move and kill an entire sps tank stinging one sps triggering other sps down the line. Possible when it was stuck in the foam guard that it release some nematocysts irritating the other corals. Sorry to hear about your sps going south so quick. I don't have more to add that has not already been mentioned.

 

[Mattrg02]

I agree with everyone about the Alk swings; however, I'm concerned that your nem was in the foam guard for a day. How did it look upset? Did it shrink? Did the nem do a "water change"? Nems can be lethal and sting everything. There may be the slightest chance it moved around at night ending back at its original position. It's not uncommon to have them move and kill an entire sps tank stinging one sps triggering other sps down the line. Possible when it was stuck in the foam guard that it release some nematocysts irritating the other corals. Sorry to hear about your sps going south so quick. I don't have more to add that has not already been mentioned.

It was shrunken and its tentacles were caught up in the foam pretty badly. It looked dead until it inflated up in a holding cup. It's still alive, but tentacles are only barely out. At least it's staying in place now.

 

[Mattrg02]

I gotta say #1 is what has wiped a lotta spa in my past experiences . When I add too much or don't change is frequently as I should It has killed multiple SPS corals on me. I have accidentally left on my alk doser over night shocking my corals from 7.9 dkh to 10.5 and not seen a massive effect on my sis yet 2 x in the last year I have added too much ROX Carbon only to look at 4 or 5 gorgeous colonies pure white and just gone.. Just my experience and not for sure its what it is bt it was the 1st thing on the list you recently changed and my own history lead me to believe thats the cause

What would the carbon have done?

So many variables here. Instead of focusing on one, and since I just have the pc rainbow left of the acros, I'm going to try doing just water changes and food for awhile now. No more testing, except for maybe nitrates, and see how it goes.

 

[Peng]

what kind of brown algae is that? If it's dino it can be toxic

 

[TheNYfishGuy]

So, I have watched all but one acropora frag stn before a final rtn overnight. My montis and zoas are all fine. One PC Rainbow frag looks to be unaffected.

Here is what has recently changed:
1-Added an aquaclear filter for running carbon and added filtration.
2-Dosing phosphates, daily, trusting my Hanna phosphate meters zero reading to be accurate.
3-Raised alkalinity about 0.7dkh in one days time. Went from around 8 to 9.
4-Had my rbta stuck to mp10 foam guard for a day. No death, just upset looking.
5-Added some Prime when I thought the rbta was dead.
6-Let my dkh drop from 9-7.3 over several days time. (About 0.3dkh each day)
7-Recently cleaned my tank heater using vinegar and baking soda. Rodi was used to rinse the heater afterward. Temp dropped 2degrees over a few hours.

My tank is covered in brown film and the water is murky. I'm about to do a water change. Could this indicate that my phosphates may have been very high? Test kit shows 0 phosphates. Nitrates have been kept over 4ppm.

Lost $400 in frags in just a weeks time. Totally crushed.

Sorry for your losses. Been there B4.
I would also consider checking the Aqua Clear Magnet to see if it has started to Corrode. The magnets are not insulated and may have Contaminated your small body of water from Corrosion. I Alway Perform a series of 50% waterchanges When All Else Fails !
Good Luck

 

[Rakie]

I'm going to go for the wildcard here and tell you, that PERSONALLY, whenever I dose Prime my sps get very, very upset. From mild STN throughout the entire tank to the loss of swatch of flesh. Within minutes of dosing Prime, this happens to me every time.

I know many, many, many people have not had this experience.. But it sounds like what happens to me, happened to you

 

[Mattrg02]

I'm going to go for the wildcard here and tell you, that PERSONALLY, whenever I dose Prime my sps get very, very upset. From mild STN throughout the entire tank to the loss of swatch of flesh. Within minutes of dosing Prime, this happens to me every time.

I know many, many, many people have not had this experience.. But it sounds like what happens to me, happened to you

Hmm. That's interesting. I did notice that before adding the Prime, only two corals looked to be in trouble. After adding Prime, the next day, most looked to be in trouble.

My WD was the brightest looking frag in the tank. That next day, it was stn badly.

Maybe the Prime is the culprit? This seemed to have been an event rather than a slow trend.

What IS Prime?

 

[Centerline]

How many fish, and how much do you feed?

I reckon I'll get back to the old days: Weekly water change and feed, test only to match water change water parameters to tank water.

I had my best results, even in small tank size, when I was lazy.

I have two small clown gobies, and a couple of small peppermint shrimp. I broadcast a pinch of the. 5mm Reef Frenzy pellets daily and .5ml KZ LPS formula.