Need coral help

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

I didn't know which coral forum to post in, because Im having trouble with both SPS and LPS. I keep losing LPS and my SPS is peeling.

Salinity: 1.023
Calcium 380-400
ALK - 8
Phosphates said <.04
Nitrates were between 20-30

I had been dosing NOPX and then stopped and then started again because I was getting some alage.

My LPS recedes and my chalices are starting to recede now as well. Please ask any info.

CodyRVA · Feb 16, 2016

Nitrates are very high

JOKER · Feb 16, 2016

Salinity is a little low to my liking. How are you checking it? I got rid of refractometer and got a Milwaukee. Couldn't be happier.

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

JOKER said:
Salinity is a little low to my liking. How are you checking it? I got rid of refractometer and got a Milwaukee. Couldn't be happier.

Refractometer. I calibrate it once a week.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 16, 2016

so thought to call. +1 to the above.
and need to know your lights

CodyRVA · Feb 16, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
Refractometer. I calibrate it once a week.

I've seen many successful systems at 1.023, unless it abruptly fell to this measure, i doubt thats the issue.

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
so thought to call. +1 to the above.
and need to know your lights

Forgot about that. I running 3 Radion G3 on 70% about 10" of the water. Im running the radiance program

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

Doing a 30 gallon water change right now. Im doing about 1.028 in the water.

CodyRVA · Feb 16, 2016

The most obvious question, has anything changed within the past few weeks? New additions, dosers functioning properly, ATO, temp, etc.

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

CodyRVA said:
The most obvious question, has anything changed within the past few weeks? New additions, dosers functioning properly, ATO, temp, etc.

No dosing, weekly water changes. Temp swings, there have been a few.

CodyRVA · Feb 16, 2016

I would still investigate those Nitrates. How long have you been using the NOPX and how long did you use it before you noticed algae and stopped?

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 16, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
Forgot about that. I running 3 Radion G3 on 70% about 10" of the water. Im running the radiance program

CodyRVA said:
The most obvious question, has anything changed within the past few weeks? New additions, dosers functioning properly, ATO, temp, etc.

And if the lights are new drop the uv back.(sun burn) in theory your running around 600 par (really rough est) at its peak under each light.(from website)

JOKER · Feb 16, 2016

Also when calibrating a refractometer temp. is important. Should be calibrated with 77 degree solution. Lower temp. will give higher reading. I run into that because I keep my house at 69 in winter.

JOKER · Feb 16, 2016

What salt do you use and how big is tank? If you are changing with water at 1.028 you will have some swing in alk and cal.

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

JOKER said:
What salt do you use and how big is tank? If you are changing with water at 1.028 you will have some swing in alk and cal.

Tropic Marin Pro reef. My system is 250 gallons.

briancarterkc · Feb 16, 2016

Since you're struggling with LPS and SPS I wouldn't think your nitrates are the issue. LPS are generally forgiving on nitrates. Questions:
- did this suddenly start or have you had these struggles for a while/forever?
- what is your water source for WC and top-off? If your own RODI do you have a recent TDS reading?
- do you have softies in the tank? How are they?
- do you run carbon? (Can manage chemical warfare in a mixed tank)
- how are your fish doing (rule out electrical issues).
- do you dose anything in the tank?

Jeremy Russell · Feb 16, 2016

I see this kind of thing alot in the winter with people who's aquarium ph drops too low at night, I've seen people run as low as 7.4 night with a 7.5 or 7.6 peak ph with the house closed up and the heat on. My tanks won't go over 7.8 without dosing kalk and or drawing skimmer intake air thru soda lime.

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

briancarterkc said:
Since you're struggling with LPS and SPS I wouldn't think your nitrates are the issue. LPS are generally forgiving on nitrates. Questions:
- did this suddenly start or have you had these struggles for a while/forever?
- what is your water source for WC and top-off? If your own RODI do you have a recent TDS reading?
- do you have softies in the tank? How are they?
- do you run carbon? (Can manage chemical warfare in a mixed tank)
- how are your fish doing (rule out electrical issues).
- do you dose anything in the tank?

I have been struggling with this for awhile
Water top off is my RO/DI unit. Output reads zero
I have some zoa's and mushrooms. They seem fine, except for one candy apple red frag of zoas. They are only half open.
I run ROWAPHOS and Chemipure
Fish seem 100% fine
I dose NOPX daily, Fuel once a week. Red Sea coral colors once a week. I stopped all dosing, but my phosphates started getting high a month or so ago, so I started back with the NOPX.

Could it be temperature related? My return pump went (DC12000) so the only pump I could be was a SICCE 5.0 which seems to produce more heat. My temperature probe is in the return pump section in my sump. Should I move it?

I have also been getting zero growth. I was for awhile, then when this problem started everything seemed to just stop. For example, my rasta zoa's went from one or two to 7 in 2 months, since then (6 months ago) nothing.

Breakthecycle2 · Feb 16, 2016

Jeremy Russell said:
I see this kind of thing alot in the winter with people who's aquarium ph drops too low at night, I've seen people run as low as 7.4 night with a 7.5 or 7.6 peak ph with the house closed up and the heat on. My tanks won't go over 7.8 without dosing kalk and or drawing skimmer intake air thru soda lime.

You know I didn't think of that.