Cannot figure out what's wrong

[Royce White]

After 7-8 years you would think I could figure out what is wrong. 10 months ago I had a bad case of diatoms, it killed most every thing in my tank before I got it under control. Now tank is clean. There are small frags that survived. Dunkin, Hammer , Mushrooms, GSP. They are closed up and will not open. Fish are doing fine. I played around with the lights, Increased, decreased them over the months, no help. Clean out sump, removed sand bed in sump. Removed most of sand bed in display tank and replenished with new. I'm completely lost. Help.
75 gal. tank
Cal. 408
KH 9
nitrate 5
phos. 2.0
amonia 0
PH 8.3
Mag. 1470

 

[BrokenReefer]

I am far from what one would consider knowledgeable on this topic, so take this with whatever miniscule grain of sand you can - phosphates at 2.0ppm are extremely high and your alk at 9.0 dKH is high(er); BUT, that is my opinion on the matter and not a factual statement of what might be your ailment.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I am far from what one would consider knowledgeable on this topic, so take this with whatever miniscule grain of sand you can - phosphates at 2.0ppm are extremely high and your alk at 9.0 dKH is high(er); BUT, that is my opinion on the matter and not a factual statement of what might be your ailment.

Yeah, 2.0 Phos is really high, or does it say .02?

 

[Cell]

You had a diatom outbreak on a 7 yr old tank that killed "most everything" in your tank? You mean dino's?

 

[nothing_fancy]

Phos is definitely high. What kind of test kits are you using and what salinity are you running/ have been running for what length of time. An ICP test might be a good idea in this sort of situation

 

[bushdoc]

I agree, it is more likely that those were Dinoflagellates, not Diatoms.
If so, toxins might still be lingering in your tank, hence corals don’t want to open. Any pics?

 

[vetteguy53081]

After 7-8 years you would think I could figure out what is wrong. 10 months ago I had a bad case of diatoms, it killed most every thing in my tank before I got it under control. Now tank is clean. There are small frags that survived. Dunkin, Hammer , Mushrooms, GSP. They are closed up and will not open. Fish are doing fine. I played around with the lights, Increased, decreased them over the months, no help. Clean out sump, removed sand bed in sump. Removed most of sand bed in display tank and replenished with new. I'm completely lost. Help.
75 gal. tank
Cal. 408
KH 9
nitrate 5
phos. 2.0
amonia 0
PH 8.3
Mag. 1470

Phos is a trouble maker in your tank?

Reasons high:
Overfedding
Lack of skimming
Are you using RODI water or tap water from faucet?
False readings

 

[Royce White]

Yeah, 2.0 Phos is really high, or does it say .02?

Yes I put my point in the wrong place. Thank you.l

 

[Salty_Northerner]

What about a water change, the OP never mentioned anything about that. I've just gotten back into the hobby after a 20-year leave of absence. I'm thinking there's some hidden toxins that have accumulated over the years.. maybe try a couple big water changes? That's what I would do personally. Ryan from BRS TV had a good video on how adding supplements over the years can end up being a hidden problem with some of the crap they put into additives that don't get removed, or nothing is there to consume what eventually builds up over time. I'm with @nothing_fancy on getting an IPC test done.

 

[Royce White]

yes I use a skimmer.

 

[Royce White]

What about a water change, the OP never mentioned anything about that. I've just gotten back into the hobby after a 20-year leave of absence. I'm thinking there's some hidden toxins that have accumulated over the years.. maybe try a couple big water changes? That's what I would do personally. Ryan from BRS TV had a good video on how adding supplements over the years can end up being a hidden problem with some of the crap they put into additives that don't get removed, or nothing is there to consume what eventually builds up over time. I'm with @nothing_fancy on getting an IPC test done.

Yes I change water weekly and lately sometime twice a week.

 

[Royce White]

Yes I change water weekly and lately sometime twice a week.

That is the reason I replaced most of my sand.

 

[Royce White]

You had a diatom outbreak on a 7 yr old tank that killed "most everything" in your tank? You mean dino's?

Yes.

 

[nothing_fancy]

What about a water change, the OP never mentioned anything about that. I've just gotten back into the hobby after a 20-year leave of absence. I'm thinking there's some hidden toxins that have accumulated over the years.. maybe try a couple big water changes? That's what I would do personally. Ryan from BRS TV had a good video on how adding supplements over the years can end up being a hidden problem with some of the crap they put into additives that don't get removed, or nothing is there to consume what eventually builds up over time. I'm with @nothing_fancy on getting an IPC test done.

Ya I wish that was discussed more. Im really interested in chemistry and trying new additives but some of the trace elements cocktails that are sold have a lot going on. Most maybe almost none of us have the ability to test for something like say "Boron" or "Manganese" or "Molybdenum" but some trace element bottles will suggest daily dosing. If you want to mess with stuff like this you have to send a test out a few times per year so they don't get out of control.

 

[Royce White]

I agree, it is more likely that those were Dinoflagellates, not Diatoms.
If so, toxins might still be lingering in your tank, hence corals don’t want to open. Any pics?

No I don't have pictures. I'm Not home right now but They look lik small frags before I was selling frags to LFS before this happened., Thanks

 

[Royce White]

Ya I wish that was discussed more. Im really interested in chemistry and trying new additives but some of the trace elements cocktails that are sold have a lot going on. Most maybe almost none of us have the ability to test for something like say "Boron" or "Manganese" or "Molybdenum" but some trace element bottles will suggest daily dosing. If you want to mess with stuff like this you have to send a test out a few times per year so they don't get out of control.

The only thing I have been dosing is cal.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Maybe you can teach me something new as this is just an inquiry, why would you change your sand out, all your parameters seem in check.. normally things go south when you start screwing around with the substrate but that's what has me wondering myself why you're having this issue but yet your parameters are good

How many gallons of water are you changing out at a time?

 

[nothing_fancy]

The only thing I have been dosing is cal.

Interesting. Hows the dKh stability?

 

[Salty_Northerner]

 

[nothing_fancy]

Yes I change water weekly and lately sometime twice a week.

twice per week water changes will have a big swing effect on your dKh (and more) especially if you're using a reef specific salt like Reef Crystals. You might discontinue that and stick to 10% weekly if you feel like you need to do that.