Coral dying

Saltyg · Jan 25, 2016

Hey guys, I have a friend with a 350 gallon reef tank. I help him out with the tank all the time. His tank has 2 hamilton cebu sun fixtures. So 4 250 watt halides, and 8 39watt t-5. Halides are 14k, t-5s are 4 blue plsu and 4 purple plus. Tank is 8 feet long, 2ft wide, and 30 or so inches tall from sand bottom to lights. T-5 are on 9 hours, and mh is on for 5 hours. All coral does ok for 1-2 weeks then just dies. Most lps just straight up die (turn to skeleton), I gave him some red mushrooms, some zoas, and yumas. Yumas are only thing still doing ok. Zoas lasted a month then just half disapeared and other half dont look good, the zoa rock was about 300 polyps. Red mushrooms bailed off rock but I figured it was just the light difference from my tank to his. Leathers are alive and fine as well. I am not sure what to tell him to do.. Salinity is 1.025, ph is 8.2, ammonia is 0, nitrite 0, trate 0, Calcium 405, alklinity 7.7, mag is 1200. Just tested this on weds. I did notice he has thousands of asternia star fish I mean literally the whole 5-6 inches of bottom glass is covered with them. So I figure it has to be light or those star fish. He does have a copperband butterfly and a small angel think its a queen something the blue ones that are pricey. Skimming is good, temp is not a issue, tank has a chiller, skimmer, uv, and flow is 4 wp60... Any ideas for me to help him out. I really do not know at this point what the heck is going on. Tank is 4 or so years old. Thanks=)

Tahoe61 · Jan 25, 2016

It's been my experience that mushrooms bail from increased light intensity, halides are about as intense as you're going to get. Mag should come up to at least 1250, I consider 1350 to be perfect.

twilliard · Jan 25, 2016

Maybe suggest a triton water test to check for heavy metals and elements.
Also was this an upgrade in lighting?
4yo tank shouldnt have deaths like that unless being beaten with too much par

Saltyg · Jan 25, 2016

Will def suggest that never even thought about that test. It was a upgrade from leds, but all corals going in are new since all he had was fish before and one bubble coral which was fine for years and then in 3-4 months just detached and died. So reduce t-5s and mh? I do not have a par meter so just guessing on times. All coral are toward bottom of tank cept some leather he has a couple green softy looking leathers toward top. Thanks) Yes agree this tank should not be having deaths, I have ran out of ideas here. Took off phosphate remover even just to see if water was to clean, also he does have a deep sand bed but if that was the issue the fish would be dying as well?