Corals dying.

[CaptRob]

In the last week my corals have started to die. I have lost one torch and a chalice completely. Several other torches and hammers have lost several heads. All parameters are ok and I have checked for stray voltage. Any ideas on other things to check.

KH 9.9
Calcium 440
Magnesium 1290
Nitrates maybe 10
Ammonia 0
Salinity 1.025
PH was acceptable but I don’t remember the number.
Temp is 77* F

 

[Shevlin77]

Sorry to hear this. Have you dipped any of the struggling corals to see if anything comes off them?

What are your phospates at?

Might be worth an ICP test asap.

 

[VintageReefer]

Please provide a picture of the tank

 

[paragrouper]

How long have these corals been in your tank?

 

[ekandler]

Phosphate being 0 or too high can cause major issues. What are your phosphate levels?

Why do you say nitrates “maybe” 10? What was it over the past month of tests?

 

[Macbalacano]

Aside from the questions above, any recent changes made to the tank? What livestock do you have?

 

[CaptRob]

Aside from the questions above, any recent changes made to the tank? What livestock do you have?

Few tangs, a damsel, and my clean up crew.

 

[CaptRob]

Phosphate being 0 or too high can cause major issues. What are your phosphate levels?

Why do you say nitrates “maybe” 10? What was it over the past month of tests?

I was out of reagents but had my LFS check it yesterday. It was within limits but I don’t remember the exact number.

 

[CaptRob]

Phosphate being 0 or too high can cause major issues. What are your phosphate levels?

Why do you say nitrates “maybe” 10? What was it over the past month of tests?

I still use an API for nitrates and it was between 5 and 10 so I went with the higher number.

 

[CaptRob]

How long have these corals been in your tank?

These have been in maybe 9 months.

 

[CaptRob]

Sorry to hear this. Have you dipped any of the struggling corals to see if anything comes off them?

What are your phospates at?

Might be worth an ICP test asap.

I have not dipped them and they are cemented down to the rocks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

These have been in maybe 9 months.

Some reasons this happen is often due to a significant change. Other reasons would be:
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- Addition of new corals

 

[VintageReefer]

How big is the tank?
What are you using for filtration, lighting, are you dosing / adding anything ?
Can you post some picture of the setup?

 

[CaptRob]

Please provide a picture of the tank

 

[CaptRob]

How big is the tank?
What are you using for filtration, lighting, are you dosing / adding anything ?
Can you post some picture of the setup?

150 gallon tank with Trigger Sapphire 44 Sump with refugium, Eshopps S300 skimmer, 2 MP 40 wavemakers, Ecotech L2 Vectra return pump, 50 watt Aqua Ultraviolet UV light, and I have 3 Viparspectra lights. I use a Red Sea doser and dose calcium and KH.

 

[VintageReefer]

Can you please post pics with just the white spectrum on?