Corals keep dyingICP results

[*unique*]

Hi everyone , tank problem with corals die 1 by 1 , after a few weeks to months.

Torches , hammers, bubble corals

No alk swings, ca , or magnesium

Can these results be the reason corals can never stay alive in this tank?

I only have baby tangs , no other fish can be killing corals after a few months like this

Please help me , this hobby has been nothing but stress when it’s suppose to help my stress lol

 

[*unique*]

I am using Aquaforest reef salt btw

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have pictures of your tank? Any recent changes to your tank (light, flow, etc…)

 

[crazyfishmom]

Sounds like it might be time to start dosing trace elements. This is normal and part of the maturation process where consumption is no longer completely taken care of by water changes alone.

 

[*unique*]

I lost another Duncan , bubble , some mushrooms keep shrinking , , I use radions , par is 80-350 at the top , weekly water changes have no idea what is happening

I lost about 30k so far in corals NO GONI can stay alive for more than a month or 2

 

[*unique*]

Tank is 8 months old

 

[*unique*]

Flow are 2 mp60 @ 20% nothing is blowing like crazy everything has proper flow

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you use rodi water? How is the water oxygenated? Checked for stray voltage? Checked for rusty equipment?

IMO it comes down to lighting, flow, and nutrients, in that order. Corals slowly withering away is a sign it is starving of either light or nutrients. Flow brings nutrients to the coral (and cleans it) so flow is just as important. If you cross everything else off the list, my guess is that something in one of these 3 is inadequate.

 

[*unique*]

Do you use rodi water? How is the water oxygenated? Checked for stray voltage? Checked for rusty equipment?

IMO it comes down to lighting, flow, and nutrients, in that order. Corals slowly withering away is a sign it is starving of either light or nutrients. Flow brings nutrients to the coral (and cleans it) so flow is just as important. If you cross everything else off the list, my guess is that something in one of these 3 is inadequate.

Yes rodi water

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't see coral killing issues on the icp, but I agree it wouldn't hurt to experiment with a trace element mix.

I will note that folks often have issues that never get identified and may have nothing to do with chemistry.

 

[Dom]

You've spent 30k on corals in 8 months? I can understand your frustration!

Coral growth comes down to light, flow and chemistry.

Where light is concerned, you mention PAR is 80-350 "at the top". PAR should be higher at the surface and get lower as you go deeper into the tank. Did you mean 350 at the top and 80 at the bottom? If so, 80 PAR at the bottom may be inadequate, depending on the coral.

When lighting a tank, two things are important; penetration and spread. Spread is the area of the tank the light covers. Penetration is the amount of PAR furthest from the light.

 

[slythy]

how big of water changes are you doing? temp matched? I found things got very unhappy when i did large water changes. I do 1gal/day currently through my DOS.

Do you have coraline algae growing?
Did you start dry or live rock?
What do you have for flow?
How big of a tank is it?
which lights are you using and whats your photo period?


I will say I get good growth on SPS and they all have there feeders out and I cant keep a gonni alive either.


I am hoping that your 30k was meant to be 3k...

 

[Beefyreefy]

Were corals ever growing? 8 months is a very young tank. I’d stop buying coral until you can figure this out. Try and get a few cheap and easy corals to grow and then start adding more. I doubt it’s water chemistry.

 

[*unique*]

how big of water changes are you doing? temp matched? I found things got very unhappy when i did large water changes. I do 1gal/day currently through my DOS.

Do you have coraline algae growing?
Did you start dry or live rock?
What do you have for flow?
How big of a tank is it?
which lights are you using and whats your photo period?


I will say I get good growth on SPS and they all have there feeders out and I cant keep a gonni alive either.


I am hoping that your 30k was meant to be 3k...

Nope 30k , it’s okay tho I just need to really figure this out since it’s not water chemistry i do have one of those African starfishes idk if maybe that can cause and issue?

 

[*unique*]

how big of water changes are you doing? temp matched? I found things got very unhappy when i did large water changes. I do 1gal/day currently through my DOS.

Do you have coraline algae growing?
Did you start dry or live rock?
What do you have for flow?
How big of a tank is it?
which lights are you using and whats your photo period?


I will say I get good growth on SPS and they all have there feeders out and I cant keep a gonni alive either.


I am hoping that your 30k was meant to be 3k...

Yes I have coraline
Water change is temp matched have anyone heard problems with Aquaforest salt?

 

[*unique*]

I have this was told it is reef safe

 

[slythy]

Yes I have coraline
Water change is temp matched have anyone heard problems with Aquaforest salt?

What about the other questions? I think you are pretty safe with Aquaforest salt but each of them can have a bad batch.

I have this was told it is reef safe

A quick google search said this

The Australian Biscuit Starfish are generally reef safe however they have been known to feed on bacterial films, encrusting organisms such as sponges, bryozoans and may eat SPS Coral polyps and soft corals. These star fish prefer cooler marine systems at aorund 22℃.

 

[wranodj]

Tank is very new, patience will help.

 

[RelaxingWithTheReef]

Relatively new and very clean tank. Probably a classic case of starved coral, and trace element depletion. The ICP test you ordered only detects elevated trace elements, and not depleted trace elements. You need the more sensitive ICP-MS test for that. Suggest:

Tropic Marin A- K+ Trace Elements
Vinegar 18 mL per 100 gal daily
Acropower amino acids

The vinegar dosage is small, and should not significantly reduce your nitrate. But closely monitor your Nitrate and Phosphate, and keep them stable. You should start to see results in a few days to a week or so if you are on to something.