Dead or dying corals

[Vin_reef]

This is my first attempt at having corals. They are all LPS and I think they’re all dead or close to it. I can’t figure out what I am doing wrong. I got them about 4 months ago.

My water parameters are:

salinity 35, alkalinity 9.5, temp 77, nitrate 3 ppm, phosphate .04 ppm, calcium 390, Mg 1280, pH 8.2.

See pics and tell me what you think. I included my light schedule. Thanks.

 

[T-J]

I'm going to go with your tank is too new. Sand is bright white, no coralline, sump is perfectly clean. How old is the setup?

 

[Uzidaisies]

Is that two hydra 32s?

 

[mdb_talon]

My guess based off the pictures is they are just slowly starving and wasting away. I think that is pretty common in a newer "clean" tank especially with what looks like very limited fish bioload in there.

I would feed the fish more, add more fish (and feed more), or try some target feeding or broadcast coral feed every 2 to 3 days.

 

[Vin_reef]

I'm going to go with your tank is too new. Sand is bright white, no coralline, sump is perfectly clean. How old is the setup?

It’s 10 months old.

 

[GHOSTLY]

It’s 10 months old.

WOW. Its bleach white for 10 months. Id say despite the age too new or too many lights

 

[Uzidaisies]

I suspect that it’s way too much light.

 

[Spare time]

What test kit do you use for nitrate?

 

[Vin_reef]

What test kit do you use for nitrate?

Nyos

 

[Tired]

The tank is weirdly pale for 10 months. How did you start it? Dry rock, live rock?

You should probably turn the lights down, and also place the corals all on the sandbed. Most LPS like low lights.

Also, if any will eat, feed them. Have you been feeding them at all?

 

[MaxTremors]

I would order an ICP test, if your posted parameters are stable, you shouldn’t be having issues. I do think your lighting is probably a little too much for lps, and could be the issue, but I would also order an ICP. Your tank should not be looking that white at 10months, there is something off. Do you have any fish or feed the tank?

 

[Vin_reef]

I would order an ICP test, if your posted parameters are stable, you shouldn’t be having issues. I do think your lighting is probably a little too much for lps, and could be the issue, but I would also order an ICP. Your tank should not be looking that white at 10months, there is something off. Do you have any fish or feed the tank?

I have 8 fish and feed once nightly. There are also 2 shrimp, 5 snails and 7 hermit crabs. They are all doing very well.

 

[Vin_reef]

My guess based off the pictures is they are just slowly starving and wasting away. I think that is pretty common in a newer "clean" tank especially with what looks like very limited fish bioload in there.

I would feed the fish more, add more fish (and feed more), or try some target feeding or broadcast coral feed every 2 to 3 days.

Do they look too far gone or is there hope?

 

[Tired]

The third photo and the last photo look like dead skeletons. Leave them in; there's a tiny chance they'll come back. The rest are still alive. If you see flesh colors, that's a live (but unhappy) coral.

Absolutely start feeding the corals directly. Mysis, pellets, anything they'll take. Turn off the pumps, distract the shrimp and hermits, and place food on top of them.

 

[mdb_talon]

Do they look too far gone or is there hope?

Especially with lps there is always hope. I have heads grow back from dead and turned brown skeleton.

As long as you dont have an infection like bjd or something(and you do NOT) then there is not really any harm in leaving them in so definetely keep them there and try to get them some more food

 

[Twoddler]

+1 icp test

 

[Spare time]

Nyos

It could possibly be a lack of nitrogen. Did you feed the corals?

Also, are you able to rent a par meter?

 

[Vin_reef]

It could possibly be a lack of nitrogen. Did you feed the corals?

Also, are you able to rent a par meter?

I have a meter, the par for each coral is about 200.

 

[Spare time]

I have a meter, the par for each coral is about 200.

Might be a bit high for some of the lps. Maybe decrease the period which they are at that maximum par. It sorta depends on the individual LPS as they can vary dramatically