HELP! Overstocked Frag Tank - Corals dropping like FLIES!

[that Reef Guy]

3X week 25/100 wc
How can corals survive?
in 20g

I have Two 20 Gallon Frag Tanks Packed with Corals (A Few Hundred in Each 20 Gallon Tank) and I have no Problems at all.

The Size of the Tank Does not Matter.

 

[BigJohnny]

I have Two 20 Gallon Frag Tanks Packed with Corals (A Few Hundred in Each 20 Gallon Tank) and I have no Problems at all.

The Size of the Tank Does not Matter.

Agreed. As long as params are stable it doesn't matter how many water changes or what percentage. That's why I think it must be organics from dying corals, bacterial infection randomly, or contaminant which hopefully carbon will remove.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I hope not. I thought I heard triton doesn't do that anymore? Also doesn't that take a while?

Yes, Triton still does Testing.

In Fact they are Expanding and are going to Set Up a Place in California to Save on Money and Time.

Currently it takes like 10 Days to Get Results.

You have to get the Packet
Then Send it to California
Then They Send it to Germany
It is Tested in Germany and Results are Sent to You

 

[that Reef Guy]

Could be Coral Warfare.

Name all the Corals in there.

Ideally to have all Similar Corals is Best in any Tank.

All SPS
All LPS
All Acans
All Zoanthids
etc.

The More you Mix the More Problems you can run into.

Especially with Softies like Leathers.

Their Defense is Letting Out Toxins whereas LPS Sting other Corals During Coral Warfare.

 

[stevo01]

Watching...and best wishes!

 

[Griff]

When was the last time you calibrated your refractometer? I've seen people be off and the salinity is way off so everything starts dying and fast.

 

[bios]

In a 20g Death of 1 or 2 animals can compromise all the tank
Thats dont happen in 80g
Your nano is stable but changing 25% 3x week dont believe it remain stable
Related to corals, according to you t hey are animals and as all animals survive is The final aim

 

[bios]

Add only that with stabiliti i mean water values and also microflora and microfauna

 

[CodyRVA]

Oh snap!

What's your flow like? Any chance in that 20G that your going to hard and direct with the flow?

For sure your par meter is on point? Same with test kits?

Are your nutrient levels detectable?

Do your current parameters match your old system?

 

[nbagnardi]

If i had to take a shot in the dark here, if all your parameters have ben inline ,im guessing it could be bacterial, chemical or pest related? Try dipping everything in iodine. I know your in over your head, but imo your best bet is to just take a step back and leave it be. Dont worry about aminos elements ect.. just do a few water changes, keep your alk online and hope for the best bud!

will dipping in iodine stress corals like a regular dip? I've seen someone lose majority of their tank from downsizing and the corals putting off their own biological defense.

 

[Sabellafella]

will dipping in iodine stress corals like a regular dip? I've seen someone lose majority of their tank from downsizing and the corals putting off their own biological defense.

Lol from what ive seen. Iodine is the harshest dip, i have all the coral dips, and iodine seemed to work the best for me but the corals do not react well at all if kept in solution for more then 5 minutes. I guess depending on the amount, i use 8 drops lugols per 2 cups of water and everything will die instantly. Its an antiseptic, also kills bacteria, fungus stuff like that.

 

[nbagnardi]

Lol from what ive seen. Iodine is the harshest dip, i have all the coral dips, and iodine seemed to work the best for me but the corals do not react well at all if kept in solution for more then 5 minutes. I guess depending on the amount, i use 8 drops lugols per 2 cups of water and everything will die instantly. Its an antiseptic, also kills bacteria, fungus stuff like that.

i thought it was pretty rough. i've never used it before but had a torch i dropped forceps on and was told to try that. but it ended up healing itself before i got around to getting iodine.

 

[Nuno Ribeirinho]

Yes, Triton still does Testing.

Yes they still testing, but only for parameters.
They dont test for toxic or bacterial problems, that´s what triton told me.

I had a similiar problem 2 month ago and all the parameter were ok.
In fact, they start the email response with de test results with : " congratulations...."
But the service support from Triton is 5 stars. They tried as possible to help me out.

You have to get the Packet
Then Send it to California
Then They Send it to Germany
It is Tested in Germany and Results are Sent to You

Right,
the delivery from Portugal to Germany was 3 days, more 2 days for test results.

 

[RudyB]

Was that 20g a holding tank at any point. If it was, did you ever use copper in that tank. If so get them out to a new tank. Good luck.

 

[ReeferBee]

I have to disagree with this. Certainly corals can sting each other but so many people have mixed reefs, including myself. I have a very large leather, 16" x 12" at least with a tank full of acropora. No issues, no need to run carbon. Also several zoa and paly colonies and large LPS

 

[ReeferBee]

Could be Coral Warfare.

Name all the Corals in there.

Ideally to have all Similar Corals is Best in any Tank.

All SPS
All LPS
All Acans
All Zoanthids
etc.

The More you Mix the More Problems you can run into.

Especially with Softies like Leathers.

Their Defense is Letting Out Toxins whereas LPS Sting other Corals During Coral Warfare.

 

[brandon429]

Someone said packed reef?

Allelopathy schmellopathy it was something other than being packed. This pic is after ~1500 full water changes

Doesn't matter if this is pretty, not the point. Point is being tough little packed reef, a gallon. you can literally pack corals shoulder to shoulder after acclimation, in the middle is a giant brain coral favites nestled among all those stingers. demonstrating long term habituation in a fishbowl was the point, while other reefs struggled with their open scapes and stuff. they looked nicer, but most are gone by now.

 

[Steve C.]

Just my opinion, maybe you're doing to much.. you're doing 75% water change a week, and the carbon, and the other things.. that's a lot in a 20g tank. Especially when the corals need stability.. try scaling everything back.. 25% water change a week, and half of the recommended Carbon amount.. and make sure there's good flow in the tank.. and that the salinity, is sitting steady, with, replacement R/O water as water inside the tank evaporates.

 

[FcSteve777]

Doing water changes is going to keep parameters more stable as the corals will be using elements from the water. And running carbon keeps stuff out of the water also keeping it stable.

 

[coralcruze]

If all else is stable as the OP said... than I would bet that one coral dieing caused the other chain reaction. Chem warfare is very real. IMHO you want a wet skimate running not such aggressive water changes which will NOT keep params stable by nature. GAC is ok when not overdone.