Corals bleaching

[Syrandy 36]

So here my problem. I have a 72 bow front tank. Running 4 t5s. I'm using 2 aqua clear 110 mechanical filters. I have 4 power heads. 375 gpm I think. I have a small nber of fish. A tang. A clown. A sudicromis. and some cheap damsels that have been thriving for over a year. My issues is corals a can't seem to keep mushrooms for more than 6 months before they start bleaching. I have a leather that's limp. A hammer that has seem to shrunk. A star polyp colony that barely opens anymore. It's very strange. I use deionized water for my water changes cuz if I don't I get infested with diotims. Other that that my water parameters are spot on. I am currently seeing a brownish red hair like algie sprouting up. It's very strange. I could use some advise or input.
Thanks

 

[Eric B]

When you say levels are spot on what are they??? Nobody can help really with out those and will be the first thing people are going to ask. Need to know Calcium, Alk, mag, phosphate and nitrate and what brand test kits are you using and have you double checked parameters with a different test kit? Sounds like water quality issue or high phosphates but don't know your levels....

 

[Syrandy 36]

I use those color charts. I'm not testing for phosphates, or mags. Should I be?

 

[ReeferRookie]

Ur testing with strips ? Theres ur problem

 

[Syrandy 36]

No not strips. It's a dropper and test tube.

 

[Eric B]

Phosphates definitely and yes I would test for magnesium. I would also but some quality test kits. I like salifert for calcium, alk and magnesium. I don't use a test kit for phosphate's I use a Hana low range checker. Someone else might be able to recommend a phosphate test kit that is worth a darn but I only use the Hana so I'm no help there.

 

[Syrandy 36]

Ok. So my test kit is API
I just tested water. Spec grab is 1.0025 ammonia nitrate and nitrite all 0. Ph is 8.4. Phosphate is 0 calcium is 440 ppm. The last water change I did was 3 weeks ago. I change 20 gallons every 3 weeks. Clean my filters twice a week.
Could it be lighting? I have a 4 bulb t5 set up. Actinics are set for 12 hours. The other light. 10ks I think run for 10.....
Thoughts???

 

[diablo30xp]

What's ur alkalinity at?

 

[diablo30xp]

Where r u getting ur water from as well??

 

[diablo30xp]

What salt brand are u using?

 

[Syrandy 36]

Uh oh. I'm not testing for alk. Never have. I'm using instant ocean reef crystals for my salt mix. The buffers in my salt should take care of the all levels right? Wouldn't my calcium level be lower. Or my ph level if I had an alk problem? At any rate I'm going to pick up a yet kit ASAP

 

[Eric B]

Calcium and magnesium can be spot on perfect and alk can be super low but you won't know until you test for them. Alk will get used up way faster than the other 2 in most cases. PH will not show if other levels are off.....

 

[leocom2000]

What was your salinity again? 1.025 or 1.0025? How did you measure?

 

[Syrandy 36]

1.025. Is use a gauge with the needle.

 

[tigerdragon]

Get a refractometer gauges way to inaccurate

 

[Syrandy 36]

Ok. So I've ordered a alkalinity and magnesium test kit. Assuming that the levels are not where they should be. What do I do? Or am I getting ahead of my self?

 

[Syrandy 36]

Ok. So finally got a alkalinity and magnesium test kit.
Alkalinity measured at 3.5meq/l 9.8 dkh and magnesium measured at 1400 ppm.
From what I can tell they are all within range.

 

[tigerdragon]

Your 10k's run for 10 hours? I am running actinic pc's and 2 15k 250w halides actinics run for 12 and halides for 3 you might reduce how long your 10k's run might even help your diatom issues. Try going to 5 hours on the whites and see if that helps.