LPS fading away showing skeleton

[AC0DX]

I have 2 plates, a torch, and an acan. All four are retracted and showing their skeletons. I have zoas, zena and a leather and they all look great. The fish look and are doing great also. Here are my test results:
Cal - 440
KH - 107.4
Ph - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Am - .25
PH - 8

The only change I have made has I switched brands of salt because my LFS was out of what I using. I have Current Orbit ICs for lights. Any idea what is going on?

 

[Mal11224]

The change in salt might have something to do with. Also, ammonia should be undetectable. Did you notice any sudden changes in alk with the new salt? How old is the tank? May take time for the soft corals to adjust.

 

[AC0DX]

The change in salt might have something to do with. Also, ammonia should be undetectable. Did you notice any sudden changes in alk with the new salt? How old is the tank? May take time for the soft corals to adjust.

The tank is 8 months old. I did not notice the alk change at all. I am always around 6. I know that is low but I am bit scared to mess with this because I don't fully understand the solution. I have read that baking soda will help here.

 

[AC0DX]

The tank is 8 months old. I did not notice the alk change at all. I am always around 6. I know that is low but I am bit scared to mess with this because I don't fully understand the solution. I have read that baking soda will help here.

I am not positive on the Am number -- the color is on the line between the two so I took the higher value.

 

[Mal11224]

The tank is 8 months old. I did not notice the alk change at all. I am always around 6. I know that is low but I am bit scared to mess with this because I don't fully understand the solution. I have read that baking soda will help here.

Think you need to get your Alk up a little. not sure what salt you are using or how you are dosing but if you are going to be successful with keeping corals, you need stability. Alk should be somewhere in between 7.6 - 9.0. changing salts will also throw some things off in your tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Are you running a GFO or chemical filtration media ?

 

[AC0DX]

That is what I was thinking. So as read and understand, I should be able to use baking soda to slowly bring my Alk up with out screwing up Cal or PH. Am I correct?

 

[AC0DX]

Are you running a GFO or chemical filtration media ?

Nope and I am not dosing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Do some smaller water changes. It’ll bring both cal and alk up evenly.
And slowly. That’s key.

One prob with newer tanks, corals are a 50/50 sometimes.

Your nutirnts are kinda low , and it’s hard to say if the coral in question has been getting too much Light , not enough nutrients, or not quite the right flow.

I wouldn’t point just alk as a single concern.

 

[AC0DX]

Yea every thing appeared great till I switched salt. I know the alk has been hanging at 6 which I know is low. I used 1 1/4 tsp baking soda and brought it up 1k to 7. In a couple days I will bring it up one more 1 notch and see where we are at. I am new to salt water so I am learning. My goal is to not kill things while I learn.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea every thing appeared great till I switched salt. I know the alk has been hanging at 6 which I know is low. I used 1 1/4 tsp baking soda and brought it up 1k to 7. In a couple days I will bring it up one more 1 notch and see where we are at. I am new to salt water so I am learning. My goal is to not kill things while I learn.

I say the same thing after almost ten years.
Look at your salts. It’ll list the alk.
If it’s higer than ten , you’ll want to do much smaller changes. Going from Six and adding a salt w an alk of 13 can be bad news.

I’m assuming you are using rodi water.

 

[Mal11224]

You can use the reading below if you need to figure out how to use baking soda for your tank. Your Alk is low but it also seems as if you need consistency in your tank. I run my tank at 5 ppm nitrates and 0 phosphates. But that's my tank. If you are doing water changes regularly, then maybe you don't need to dose. Depends on the demand but testing will help you figure it out and dial it in. Below is a write up from Randy.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#11

 

[AC0DX]

I say the same thing after almost ten years.
Look at your salts. It’ll list the alk.
If it’s higer than ten , you’ll want to do much smaller changes. Going from Six and adding a salt w an alk of 13 can be bad news.

I’m assuming you are using rodi water.

It is Fritz Pro:

Salinity 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)
Calcium 400-450 ppm
Magnesium 1350-1450 ppm
Alkalinity 8.0 - 9.0 dKH
Strontium 9 ppm
Potassium 400 ppm

I use RO/DI water.

 

[3mm3]

Can you test magnesium

 

[AC0DX]

Can you test magnesium

I do not have a test kit for that

 

[3mm3]

Do you feed the corals?
Are the zoas growing/spreading?
My opinion is you have a magnesium issue.

 

[AC0DX]

Do you feed the corals?
Are the zoas growing/spreading?
My opinion is you have a magnesium issue.

I do feed reefRoids and Coral Frenzy. The zoas are growing and spreading.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Do you feed the corals?
Are the zoas growing/spreading?
My opinion is you have a magnesium issue.

Magnesium will drop at a relatively even level wic calcuim and alkalinity.
I’m also not aware of an issue that could arise due to a lower than that balanced number. In stony coral or otherwise.

What’s your theory?

 

[3mm3]

I do feed reefRoids and Coral Frenzy. The zoas are growing and spreading.

I would definitely get magnesium tested then. With zoanthids growing you have nutrients. Many lps recede when magnesium drops to 1100's. (my personal experience)
If your acans where doing good I would go either way with it being magnesium or a light issue (too much par) however acans can handle some high par

 

[3mm3]

Magnesium will drop at a relatively even level wic calcuim and alkalinity.
I’m also not aware of an issue that could arise due to a lower than that balanced number. In stony coral or otherwise.

What’s your theory?

My guess is with high calcium and low alk the systems magnesium is low and not in balance.
Also if I see lps recede I have found it to be magnesium. Chalice where always the first to show.