Corals - dead on arrival

[Don Smith]

My salt water, 40 gallons, tank is about 5 years old and I have always had fish of different kind.

Lately I just have 4 damsels, one tomatoe clown fish, and few algae eating snails.

I want to start with corals in my tank.

So far I bought corals from local fish store and they start dying the next day.

Picture of my tank, light settings, healthy and dying corals are in the following link.
https://imgur.com/a/FFu1BoQ

Light:
Light: Prime HD+ AI Aquarium LED - AquaIllumination

Parameters:

date 7/7/2019
day sunday

salinity 1.027

Nitrate NO3 0

Nitrite NO2 0
Alkalinity KH ppm 300
pH 8.4
copper 0
calcium 410
ammonia 0
Alkalinity KH 14.1
Magnesium 1240

Temperature: 80 deg Fahrenheit

I used copper doze in my tank back in Sept 2018 and I have had many many water changes like 25% every 2 weeks. My copper test indicates zero.

Every time (for the 3rd time, in 3 weeks) I introduce a cheap coral, I do not know the name, photos are in the link, they start dying the next day.

Please help!!

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I’m not sure what would cause them to die that quick but that light at those settings on your size tank will never provide enough light for sps.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

You used copper to treat your fish in the same tank? With the rock in it?

 

[Dilan Patel]

I believe your test may read 0 copper but the tank/rock/sand will still release copper which is DEADLY to coral in any amount. Usually you have to have a tank that has never been exposed to copper as well as use equipment that never touched copper.

 

[Don Smith]

I’m not sure what would cause them to die that quick but that light at those settings on your size tank will never provide enough light for sps.

What should be my settings? I have been told by LFS that my light is too much and too much light is killing the corals

 

[Don Smith]

You used copper to treat your fish in the same tank? With the rock in it?

Yes.. Back in September 2018. With the rock and sand in it.

 

[Don Smith]

I believe your test may read 0 copper but the tank/rock/sand will still release copper which is DEADLY to coral in any amount. Usually you have to have a tank that has never been exposed to copper as well as use equipment that never touched copper.

So .. what do I do now? Could I get step by step process on how to get rid of copper in my tank?

 

[ihavecrabs]

So .. what do I do now? Could I get step by step process on how to get rid of copper in my tank?

You could try a polyfilter. It’ll indicate by color if it pulls any copper out of the water.

 

[Entz]

Are you acclimatizing them at all? What were the LFS source water parameters?

If your tank is truly 14 dKH (16.772 using the ppm), then it is certainly possible you are shocking the heck out of them by just dropping them in if the LFS keeps it low.

 

[Don Smith]

Are you acclimatizing them at all? What were the LFS source water parameters?

If your tank is truly 14 dKH (16.772 using the ppm), then it is certainly possible you are shocking the heck out of them by just dropping them in if the LFS keeps it low.

excellent point!!! I do acclimate them as follows:

1. Leave the coral plastic bag from LFS in the tank water for 15 minutes.
2. Then open the bag and pour quarter glass of tank water slowly in the bag, 3 times, 5 minutes apart.
3. Then I take out the coral by hand and gently place the coral on the sand.

Excellent question about LFS source water parameter.. Next time I will ask them but not sure if they will be able to tell... Or are they supposed to tell?

 

[Dilan Patel]

Honestly I would get a new 40 gallon breeder/new tank and start fresh as I am not sure if you can make a tank that was used with copper completely safe for coral...sorry

 

[Don Smith]

You could try a polyfilter. It’ll indicate by color if it pulls any copper out of the water.

I have Fluval 206 tray filter.. Should I put the polyfilter in the tray?

 

[Dilan Patel]

excellent point!!! I do acclimate them as follows:

1. Leave the coral plastic bag from LFS in the tank water for 15 minutes.
2. Then open the bag and pour quarter glass of tank water slowly in the bag, 3 times, 5 minutes apart.
3. Then I take out the coral by hand and gently place the coral on the sand.

Excellent question about LFS source water parameter.. Next time I will ask them but not sure if they will be able to tell... Or are they supposed to tell?

A LFS should know what they keep their water parmeters and 99% of them will be more than happy to give you all the info you would like on their parameters and some will even test your water (like mine) for free

 

[Don Smith]

Honestly I would get a new 40 gallon breeder/new tank and start fresh as I am not sure if you can make a tank that was used with copper completely safe for coral...sorry

....very sad....

 

[Don Smith]

A LFS should know what they keep their water parmeters and 99% of them will be more than happy to give you all the info you would like on their parameters and some will even test your water (like mine) for free

They do test my water for salinity and that is about it.. It depends on who is in the LFS. I will try it next time..

 

[Don Smith]

Honestly I would get a new 40 gallon breeder/new tank and start fresh as I am not sure if you can make a tank that was used with copper completely safe for coral...sorry

If I get a brand new tank for Copper then I may add some thing else xyz in the future and have to get a new tank again.. this really discourages me for starting out corals.. may be I should just quit.

 

[Dilan Patel]

Noooo im talking bout using your old tank for copper and then use a new tank as your coral reef!

 

[Entz]

excellent point!!! I do acclimate them as follows:

1. Leave the coral plastic bag from LFS in the tank water for 15 minutes.
2. Then open the bag and pour quarter glass of tank water slowly in the bag, 3 times, 5 minutes apart.
3. Then I take out the coral by hand and gently place the coral on the sand.

Excellent question about LFS source water parameter.. Next time I will ask them but not sure if they will be able to tell... Or are they supposed to tell?

That may not be enough time to match them if the swing is large (Salinity as well). 6-7 dkH jump would need days imo. You would need to test constantly and do it slowly. Best to use a separate heated tank if you can, starting with an exact match but that is harder with random LFS pickups.

The LFS should definitely know but I would still test it when you get it home. I had a LFS say their tanks were 1.025 and the water was actually 1.018. A fish would most likely be fine but something more sensitive could have issues.

 

[Dilan Patel]

Actually since using the copper was the tank ever emptied and cleaned out? If not this may be a way as some people have used distilled vinegar to clean the contaminated tank. Tank has to be emptied though.

 

[Dilan Patel]

But the sand would have to go as it will hold copper thus continuously releasing it back into the aquarium.