I think my tank is dying!?!?!?

[Sean Shimer]

I was looking at my tank an I noticed my zoanthids and polys are fewer in numbers as well as not expanding like they used too. If it was just them then I would take them out and dip them but it's not. My caroline algae has started to turn a dusty grey color in a few places. All my parameters are good. I'm going to be doing a water change tonight and again this weekend to see if it helps and upload a picture when I get home.

I did check the corals for any pests but found nothing. They were growing just fine till this started to happen. There have been no new additions for over a month and it was a clown, black ray goby, and pistol shrimp

 

[Chrisfish]

Sorry to hear this, can you tell us more about your tank/set up, i.e. Size, lighting, how long it's been running for starters and actual parameters would be helpful too.
#reefsquad

 

[McMullen]

If parameters are "good," let's investigate your water quality. RODI system? Salinity? Potential metals or other toxins in water?

 

[a6walter1]

Unfortunately there is no definition of "good". Could you post up everything that you tested and the results so we can assist better?

 

[Diesel]

Will chime in when I see some test results.

 

[redfishbluefish]

How are you measuring salinity?

Size of the tank....lighting?

 

[Sean Shimer]

Ph 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Calcium 420
Ppm KH 107.4
API tests

Hydrometer reading at 1.026
Tank is 55 standard, LED lights on from 9-6 (9hours), I don't have RODI but I use Distilled, temp 79*

 

[Lowstorm]

Starving due to no nitrate and phosphate. At least that's my guess.

 

[Sean Shimer]

I do have a Kenya tree in there and it's now starting to grow and it's been in there as long as the zoa

 

[Sean Shimer]

It's been up since July

 

[ahiggins]

step one: (always) calm down and dont do anything rash...thats when problems happen. (bigger problems)
Im sure its something simple like nutrients, none of your other parameters are out of whack. another thing to look into, if my conversion is correct, your alk is only at 6. Look into bringing that up (107 ppm is 6 dkh-I think).
Step one, start feeding (just feed you fish, maybe do a dusting of reef roids over your polyped corals) your tank to get the nutrients up and at the same time, slowly bring your alk up as well. (you dont need to dose, maybe just make up a 10% wc with salt for coral-ie, coral pro from red sea makes up to 11 dkh so if you did a small water change with that salt it would be an easier form of dosing that you can slowly control. Im not a fan of dosing...something can go wrong lol) if you have a skimmer you can also take that offline for a bit or run it half as long as you normally would. that will slowly increase nutrients.

 

[Sean Shimer]

Ok, I've noticed my skimmer isn't collecting much anymore so I'll feed my normal and do a 10% wc with turning the skimmer off for the rest of the week. I'm getting a bucket of Salinity this weekend since that's what my lfs carries so I'll try another 10% with that Saturday

 

[redfishbluefish]

When you say hydrometer.....might I assume a swing-arm hydrometer. They are highly inaccurate. Recommend a refractometer....they are fairly inexpensive on ebay or amazon.

What LED's do you have?

 

[Diesel]

Correct on the undetectable nutrients and low ALK.
Turning skimmer off to keep nutrients in your water and drop some flake or pellet food in your filter sock.
I will tag @Mini Coop in here as she had similar problems last week with nutrients.
Now your coralline turning grey is the result of your low ALK long term

 

[Sean Shimer]

Ok

 

[najer]

Zoas are generally bullet proof, be interesting to see pics, are you sure it is not a predator that you haven't seen?

 

[ahiggins]

Correct on the undetectable nutrients and low ALK.
Turning skimmer off to keep nutrients in your water and drop some flake or pellet food in your filter sock.
I will tag @Mini Coop in here as she had similar problems last week with nutrients.
Now your coralline turning grey is the result of your low ALK long term

been a while since Ive seen you around!

 

[Nano man]

Kenya trees are that one coral(pest) that can grow in the worst conditions.

 

[Sean Shimer]

My lights are: WIFI Dimmable165W LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum For Live Fish Tank Reef Coral

from PopularGrow and I have two over my tank

My salinity
The zoanthids under white light so you can see the grey where the caroline algae used to be

And the Kenya which is looking not so happy under my normal day lights

I have my mixing bucket going so it'll be ready in 4-5 hours for a water change

 

[redfishbluefish]

You might be giving them too much light. Do you have those turned down a bit....quite a bit?