Help my corals are not the same

[Xbreakxitxdownx]

I have a hammer, rose tip anemone, 5 different types of zoas and some other coral but my hammer is not looking to good ( not fully extended and not a good growth anymore) and all my other corals stopped growing as well any ideas?

My tank is ready for a 25% water change in 2 days and I tested it when my radions are turning off during the day it gets as high as 8.20ph.

Aquarium reeftank parameters
Temperature: 78.7
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia, NH4: 0
Nitrate, NO3: 40
Nitrite, NO2: 0
pH: 8.17
Alkalinity, KH: 125.3
Calcium, Ca: 400
Phosphate, PO4: 0.25

 

[h8z2luze]

Why are your nitrates so high? I'd say thats your problem. Anything over 5 is not good....

 

[Tab28]

As mentioned trates at 40 is high. It causes long term damage. But your alk is low at 7 (125x.056). It should be 8-12. Trates above 5 for sps tank is not good. For lps tank 10-15 if fine.

Maybe a water change a bit early and more often to help get your trates down. How long have you have the tank? And the hammer coral?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Trates high, I'd not let them go above 20 with LPS.
Phosphates high
Tank needs Magnesium for those LPS, you didn't mention that reading. ??

 

[Xbreakxitxdownx]

I have had my tank for 8 months and my hammer for 4

 

[Tab28]

It is more than likely water perimeters. Alk and calcium are low. Did you check magnesium? phosphates and nitrates are high. A few water changes to get things in check. Of the four alk is the most important but if you do not balance alk with calcium and magnesium, you will be see-sawing alk daily.

Unlike the fast visual of low ph and alk to corals. Nitrates and phosphates are a long term thing. If too high they slowly take effect of corals. Your nitrates should be 5-10. Your phosphates less than 0.02. A few water changes will help all these numbers.

What is your feeding schedule like for corals?

 

[Xbreakxitxdownx]

10 hr a day
4 hrs of 20k
6hrs of 12k

And liquid food for corals

 

[msderganc]

It is more than likely water perimeters. Alk and calcium are low. Did you check magnesium? phosphates and nitrates are high. A few water changes to get things in check. Of the four alk is the most important but if you do not balance alk with calcium and magnesium, you will be see-sawing alk daily.

Unlike the fast visual of low ph and alk to corals. Nitrates and phosphates are a long term thing. If too high they slowly take effect of corals. Your nitrates should be 5-10. Your phosphates less than 0.02. A few water changes will help all these numbers.

What is your feeding schedule like for corals?

Neither Alkalinity nor Calcium is outside of normally accepted parameters. Ref: Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com.

The problem is definitely the 40 (!!!) ppm of nitrate and .25 (!) ppm of phosphate. Careful when you bring them down, try not to do it too quickly. Definitely cut out the food for corals, they don't need it when your nutrients are that high. What is your filtration setup? You can always bring the number down, but the key is keeping it down.

 

[Xbreakxitxdownx]

I have a reef octopus 150g protein skimmer also a sock filter.

 

[Xbreakxitxdownx]

I also feed my nem krill every other day

 

[msderganc]

I have a reef octopus 150g protein skimmer also a sock filter.

Do you run carbon / GFO / biopellets / zeolites or anything else? If not, I'd suggest vinegar or vodka dosing and starting slow. Red Sea NO3PO4x is a good product (mixture of vodka/vinegar) as well. Carbon dosing works by feeding the bacteria in the tank, which use nitrates and phosphates as well. The skimmer removes some of the bacteria, and some of the bacteria ends up as coral food. I've had good success solid carbon dosing (biopellets), but I recommend reading up on it well before you start.

 

[msderganc]

I also feed my nem krill every other day

Given strong enough lighting, you can probably reduce that to weekly or less. What kind of anemone? I'm not an expert with them, but my BTAs are rarely (<1/month) fed. The only time I made an exception to that was when one got sucked into a powerhead.

 

[Xbreakxitxdownx]

It's a 10" rose tip nem