Clear/White Slime And Dead Corals After Vacation

[AquaRaider44]

I left on vacation and had somebody feeding my tank. I have had good success over the last 3 months since this tank was set up after my last tank of almost 5 years was broken down. I had a doser setup and auto top off. All seems well at a glance but there is some SPS corals which have died as well as a clam and trumpet coral which both are receiving. There is a fairly thick white slime all over the inside of the rocks and sand and some of the zoas are not open.

I will be posting water prams soon

 

[AquaRaider44]

sal 1.026
Temp 78
pH 8.3
alk 8 dkh <--------- eh
mag 990 <----------- low
calc 180 <-------------- very low
nitrate-nitrite 0
ammonia 0
phosphate 0.01 ppm

What could cause the magnesium and calcium to drop so much while I was gone for a week?

I am dosing 40 ml of part A and B daily from 2 little fishies into the 70-80 gallons of water.

 

[usmcarty42]

Do you remember what your testing schedule was? Did you change anything in your tank from the last test? Did the dose containers run out? Did the dosing tubes get clogged with two-part?

go easy on bringing the level up. Use BRS calc or some other online calc (saltyzoo) to determine exactly (by oz) the amount you need to get back to normal. Then split that up into 3 or 4 doses over 48 hrs.

You want to avoid changing the ph too much on the way to getting the params normal. Maybe dose using a peristaltic pump over the course of several hours when the ph starts to drop after the lights go out.

Mag is not optimal but at that level I'm not sure it would cause coral death, even sps. Shoot for 1.5k

But that Calc level is pretty bad.

I would also test your iodine. Or maybe consider an iodine dip in natural sunlight for corals with tissue recession. That seems to give them something to live for.

Good luck

 

[tupes]

What test kit or monitor are you using to get your values?

 

[AquaRaider44]

What test kit or monitor are you using to get your values?

red sea for ph alk
salifert for calcium magnesium
and seachem for the rest

 

[AquaRaider44]

Do you remember what your testing schedule was? Did you change anything in your tank from the last test? Did the dose containers run out? Did the dosing tubes get clogged with two-part?

go easy on bringing the level up. Use BRS calc or some other online calc (saltyzoo) to determine exactly (by oz) the amount you need to get back to normal. Then split that up into 3 or 4 doses over 48 hrs.

You want to avoid changing the ph too much on the way to getting the params normal. Maybe dose using a peristaltic pump over the course of several hours when the ph starts to drop after the lights go out.

Mag is not optimal but at that level I'm not sure it would cause coral death, even sps. Shoot for 1.5k

But that Calc level is pretty bad.

I would also test your iodine. Or maybe consider an iodine dip in natural sunlight for corals with tissue recession. That seems to give them something to live for.

Good luck

I tested about 4 days before I left and figured it looked fine. I do not have those products to bump the calcium up. I have fresh saltwater which is at the proper levels which will be used to correct with. Nothing looks cloged up and I still have 2 part.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Using the doser for 2 part? If so, I suspect a malfunction in dosing. Precipitation event caused the drop in calcium and magnesium.

Check your doser for proper dosing amounts.

 

[AquaRaider44]

Using the doser for 2 part? If so, I suspect a malfunction in dosing. Precipitation event caused the drop in calcium and magnesium.

Check your doser for proper dosing amounts.

Already checked and recalibrated and checked tanks for aditional dosage. None of the tanks are more / less used than they should be.

 

[AquaRaider44]

Do you remember what your testing schedule was? Did you change anything in your tank from the last test? Did the dose containers run out? Did the dosing tubes get clogged with two-part?

go easy on bringing the level up. Use BRS calc or some other online calc (saltyzoo) to determine exactly (by oz) the amount you need to get back to normal. Then split that up into 3 or 4 doses over 48 hrs.

You want to avoid changing the ph too much on the way to getting the params normal. Maybe dose using a peristaltic pump over the course of several hours when the ph starts to drop after the lights go out.

Mag is not optimal but at that level I'm not sure it would cause coral death, even sps. Shoot for 1.5k

But that Calc level is pretty bad.

I would also test your iodine. Or maybe consider an iodine dip in natural sunlight for corals with tissue recession. That seems to give them something to live for.

Good luck

I found come kalk. How much calk powder would I need to dissolve and add to bump up these levels?

 

[George81]

Kalk has to be added very slowly, it can quickly raise your ph levels to high and un safe levels. I use Kalk for my qt tank, i mixed it at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon in my fresh water ato. I wouldn’t use Kalk to bring up your levels. Rather use Kalk to maintain them and get some bulk additives to get your levels where you want them or several water changes.