Corals doing bad!

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

So it’s mainly my SPS specifically my montipora but zoas are closed too. My montipora is starting to turn white but it’s small and in one spot but it’s color is fading.
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 0
PH 8.1
Phosphate 0
Kh 7 (I know this is low)
Calcium was reading 620 which is the highest I’ve ever seen it, I probably need to retest it.

I know some of those are off and I’m working to fix but I don’t know what is killing them. MY ONLY idea IS DINO X. Dino x has got rid of my Dinos but now some of my sps are mad and zoas. I don’t really know I’m just kinda confused. The ONLY other thing I put in the tank was mictobacter 7 bacteria. It was something I did to try and prevent the dinos from coming back. Any help is greatly appreciate it thanks!

FishyFishFish · Feb 9, 2022

Parameter stability? Lighting? Flow? Age of tank? Test kits used?

The experts will need detailed info if they are going to be able to help.

mdb_talon · Feb 9, 2022

The obvious thing that stands out is Nitrate(0) and phosphate(0). I dont know what test kits you used and whether they truly are zero, but if they are that is a good sign your tank is starving. The fact you went through a dino outbreak lends credence to the possibility you truly are zeroing out your nutrients.

Definitely retest that calcium number as that just doesn't sound right.

Tamberav · Feb 9, 2022

0 nitrate and zero po4 is never good and likely the cause of your dino.

adding stuff like dino x adds another unknown factor.

FTS would be nice.

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

FishyFishFish said:
Parameter stability? Lighting? Flow? Age of tank? Test kits used?

The experts will need detailed info if they are going to be able to help.

For the most part I’ve been keeping pretty good stability and it has been growing a ton. It’s on the top portion of the tank with medium to height flow. The tank is around eight months old-ish and the coral is not old. Test kit I used was the api master test kit and the master reef one. Hope this can give you some better understanding.

Jekyl · Feb 9, 2022

Take a water sample to your LFS and ensure they aren't using API tests themselves. While there buy some salifert or red sea. As others have said your nutrients and alkalinity are low. Don't change anything until you get accurate testing though.

Little c big D · Feb 9, 2022

Post a picture of the tank. I think the main concern is covered. No nutrients in a new tank. Do you have local fish store that can test your water?

SlugSnorter · Feb 9, 2022

PrestonsReef said:
So it’s mainly my SPS specifically my montipora but zoas are closed too. My montipora is starting to turn white but it’s small and in one spot but it’s color is fading.
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 0
PH 8.1
Phosphate 0
Kh 7 (I know this is low)
Calcium was reading 620 which is the highest I’ve ever seen it, I probably need to retest it.

I know some of those are off and I’m working to fix but I don’t know what is killing them. MY ONLY idea IS DINO X. Dino x has got rid of my Dinos but now some of my sps are mad and zoas. I don’t really know I’m just kinda confused. The ONLY other thing I put in the tank was mictobacter 7 bacteria. It was something I did to try and prevent the dinos from coming back. Any help is greatly appreciate it thanks!

tank age? anything happen before this started?

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

Jekyl said:
Take a water sample to your LFS and ensure they aren't using API tests themselves. While there buy some salifert or red sea. As others have said your nutrients and alkalinity are low. Don't change anything until you get accurate testing though.

I work at my lfs and unfortunately they use the same API tests

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

SlugSnorter said:
tank age? anything happen before this started?

Less than a year maybe around 8 months and no, nothing like this every but because it’s new it’s also the first time I’ve had sps in there.

SlugSnorter · Feb 9, 2022

PrestonsReef said:
I work at my lfs and unfortunately they use the same API tests

do you mean regular API test kits or one of those aqua spins?

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

Little c big D said:
Post a picture of the tank. I think the main concern is covered. No nutrients in a new tank. Do you have local fish store that can test your water?

The tank is not brand new but it’s kind of new. My lfs has the same tests as me and heres a picture. Also the water is low because I didn’t fill it up all the way from last water change but I have been doing top off.

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

SlugSnorter said:
do you mean regular API test kits or one of those aqua spins?

Regular.

SlugSnorter · Feb 9, 2022

PrestonsReef said:
Regular.

....RUN

(get some better kits for your tank it will be alot easier)

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

Little c big D said:
Post a picture of the tank. I think the main concern is covered. No nutrients in a new tank. Do you have local fish store that can test your water?

The tank is not brand new but it’s kind of new. My lfs has the same tests as me and heres a picture.

SlugSnorter said:
....RUN

(get some better kits for your tank it will be alot easier)

any recommendations?

Little c big D · Feb 9, 2022

PrestonsReef said:
The tank is not brand new but it’s kind of new. My lfs has the same tests as me and heres a picture.

any recommendations?

Seifert or red sea. If you can afford a hanna Po4 tester then also that. For phosphates it is much more reliable

FishyFishFish · Feb 9, 2022

PrestonsReef said:
I work at my lfs and unfortunately they use the same API tests

Genuine question, but if you work at the LFS can they not help?

ReefGuy1234 · Feb 9, 2022

FishyFishFish said:
Genuine question, but if you work at the LFS can they not help?

Yes they can but I was just inpatient. Im going in to work in like 20 minutes so I’ll just ask. Also some people are more educated on specific topics on here.

AnotherReefHobbyist · Feb 9, 2022

I am not sure why everyone is looking over this, but you have ammonia in the tank, and that will cause any and all corals to be mad and eventually die ( along with fish ). a well established tank should not have that, so given your tanks age any amount of ammonia surprises me.

muzikalmatt · Feb 9, 2022

AnotherReefHobbyist said:
I am not sure why everyone is looking over this, but you have ammonia in the tank, and that will cause any and all corals to be mad and eventually die ( along with fish ). a well established tank should not have that, so given your tanks age any amount of ammonia surprises me.

It could be a false positive with the API ammonia test kit. They are notorious for reading 0.25 ammonia when there is none actually in the tank.