Keep Losing Corals Randomly

[jtcplumb]

My 125 mixed reef has been running for 2 yrs. It has been doing well overall but I have not had good luck with certain corals. Here is my particulars.

1- Royal exclusive 180 mini bubble king protein skimmer
2- Eshop sump with socks and pads
3- Apex Gold system
4- Apex dosers for calc and alk
5- Two vortech mp 40 powerheads
6- ATI 60" 4x75w led with 1-80w 60" T5 Coral plus, 2-80w 60" T5 Blue Plus, 1- 80w 60" Purple Plus bulbs. Par is 260 at middle of tank as per apex par reading
7- Live rock aquascape
8- Here are parameters
alk 9.8 Calc 420 Mag 1560 PH 8.01 temp 78.5 Phos 0.07 Nitrate 30ppm Nitrite 0ppm Salt 1.026 Amonia 0
Parameters stay the same. Light on from 6;30 am to 7pm they start wirh sunrise across tank ramping up at about 11am and sunset across tank and off at 7pm.

Dosage amount
Alk 7pm-7am 30ml each total of 60ml daily
Calc 7am-7pm 80 ml daily
Please help me out as getting frustrated losing corals they do ok for a while and then something happens.

 

[Dystinction]

When you say "certain corals" what do you mean by this?
Just random corals of any variety from time to time, or more specific categories or types like say softies, LPS or SPS are more commonly lost?

The only thing that stands out to me is that your ALK number is a bit high for my personal preference. That's not to say that it wouldn't work, but not where I, personally, would aim for.

 

[jtcplumb]

When you say "certain corals" what do you mean by this?
Just random corals of any variety from time to time, or more specific categories or types like say softies, LPS or SPS are more commonly lost?

The only thing that stands out to me is that your ALK number is a bit high for my personal preference. That's not to say that it wouldn't work, but not where I, personally, would aim for.

Here are a few corals mostly LPS. A couple Acros just got brown tips first time. They have been in tank for over a year no issues. The alk level is within desired level by many including Randy Holmes. So I don't know what do you keep yours at ?

 

[creas]

I agree with the above comment that we need a little more info about what kind of corals are dying. What kind of a clean up crew do you have and do they ever pick on corals or try to steal food from them? Do the corals die quickly or melt away over time?

 

[jtcplumb]

I agree with the above comment that we need a little more info about what kind of corals are dying. What kind of a clean up crew do you have and do they ever pick on corals or try to steal food from them? Do the corals die quickly or melt away over time?

Torch coral in tank for 2 yrs then head slowly dies melt. The stylphora coral was put in two weeks ago showing some white spots. Cleaning crew is maintained by maintance guy not sure whats in there now. Never saw any picking or taking food away from corals. Corals dye slowly melt over time. I think mostly LPS

 

[Bdog4u2]

I think your alk is fine since your nitrates are at 30 ppm. You might want to cut that in half its a little high for some sps and can turn some Brown but doubt it would kill a established coral in your tank.

 

[dankreef]

If your losing everything with those params I'd say there's an unknown in water. Triton for sure . Nitrates are high but shouldn't cause tank death unless your test is not accurate and it's even higher . Who knows what your maintence guy that probably doesn't care is doing . Do it yourself

 

[jtcplumb]

Yes I have been dosing 10ml daily for two weeks red sea NO3 PO4 -X haven't seen decline yet.

 

[jtcplumb]

Are you losing LPS? I have about 3 n03 and I find about 300-350 par is a really good low point for most sps some like less than 300 obviously. With that high neutrient load it might be a tad low on the light. What kind of flow do you got rocking in there?

I have a nice flow with the two mp 40's Maybe I will raise the par a little to see if that makes a difference.

 

[jtcplumb]

If your losing everything with those params I'd say there's an unknown in water. Triton for sure . Nitrates are high but shouldn't cause tank death unless your test is not accurate and it's even higher . Who knows what your maintence guy that probably doesn't care is doing . Do it yourself

I am testing myself and that is level I am coming up with what is triton ?