Need help:SPS does Awesome, LPS not so much

Lowefx · Oct 18, 2019

So first off, I'm disappointed that R2R is not on Tapatalk anymore. It was very easy accessible and kept me engaged.
Anyways, my LPS like Acans, and chalice's are STN'ing but my SPS like Waltdisney and Red Dragon are thriving and growing so fast. Now before you ask what every single parameter is, i don't know the trace elements at this time. Im waiting for a test kit that i ordered. But the basics are very standard and within good range. 1.025, ca 390, alk 8.4, mag 1420, temp 77. Lighting i have an ATI 6bulb 48" T5's.

I hope i can get a few other reefers who have experienced this and can point me in the right direction without going on tangents.

Thanks fellow reefers!

Retro Reefer · Oct 19, 2019

May be a nutrient issue.. I have undetectable N&P and my LPS need constant feeding to stay happy, my SPS could care less with the exception of maybe some color loss.

Auquanut · Oct 19, 2019

^^ That was my first thought too. Might be something to consider when the test kits come in.

Lowefx · Oct 19, 2019

po4 is 0.04 and no3 is 8 i think as of last week

ca1ore · Oct 19, 2019

How about nibblers? I keep large SPS colonies but acans and many chalice just end up as lunch.

Dr. Dendrostein · Oct 19, 2019

Lowefx said:
So first off, I'm disappointed that R2R is not on Tapatalk anymore. It was very easy accessible and kept me engaged.
Anyways, my LPS like Acans, and chalice's are STN'ing but my SPS like Waltdisney and Red Dragon are thriving and growing so fast. Now before you ask what every single parameter is, i don't know the trace elements at this time. Im waiting for a test kit that i ordered. But the basics are very standard and within good range. 1.025, ca 390, alk 8.4, mag 1420, temp 77. Lighting i have an ATI 6bulb 48" T5's.

I hope i can get a few other reefers who have experienced this and can point me in the right direction without going on tangents.

Thanks fellow reefers!

Comrade, you mention nothing about feeding LPS corals

Auquanut · Oct 19, 2019

Lowefx said:
po4 is 0.04 and no3 is 8 i think as of last week

Those numbers don't sound too bad to me. Unless there's been a drastic change, I wouldn't think that's your problem. I target feed reef chili a couple times a week. The LPS really respond to that.

Vstryker · Oct 19, 2019

I have a similar problem... Sps doing great but lps have slowly started to shrink up or recede. I have 2 mp40 higher up at about 70% and 2 xr30 in a 4x2' tank. Is there no happy medium for a moxed reef tank?

Lowefx · Oct 22, 2019

Auquanut said:
Those numbers don't sound too bad to me. Unless there's been a drastic change, I wouldn't think that's your problem. I target feed reef chili a couple times a week. The LPS really respond to that.

So feeding reef chili I didnt see much of a reaction. I even covered up the coral with a bottle so the shrimp didnt steal it. Still seeing some areas receed. I'm still waiting on the water test.

Lowefx · Oct 22, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
Comrade, you mention nothing about feeding LPS corals

So once a week I feed 2 cubes of chopped brine, and a squirt of oyster feast(spot feed). Otherwise flake food twice a day.

Lowefx · Oct 24, 2019

ca1ore said:
How about nibblers? I keep large SPS colonies but acans and many chalice just end up as lunch.

Not hat i have seen. If anything the fish and shrimp steal all of the food.

Lowefx · Nov 7, 2019

Well, results are in. I have since brought Calcium up, but i need to get iodine and a few more items. tell me what you think!

my results

Lowefx · Nov 8, 2019

Will GFO take out the aluminum, lithium, and silicon?

Lowefx · Nov 13, 2019

Bump...

topjimmy · Nov 13, 2019

Funny story, I have the exact opposite problem. LPS grow great, sps wither and die...

I'm simply resigned to not putting any sps in the tank anymore.

Zoajohn · Nov 13, 2019

In the same boat man. All my acans, euphyllia, favias, chalices one day started losing tissue. Fast forward to now and every frag of the above I add dies at the 4 week mark almost to a tee.

Zoas and SPS thrive. And oddly enough a plate coral and trachy are doing well. Rainbow BTA doing great too.

Sea MunnKey · Nov 13, 2019

So far my mixed reef is thriving. Try applying activated carbon and water changes.

Could it be new salt?

Lowefx · Nov 15, 2019

Anyone?

Lowefx · Nov 15, 2019

topjimmy said:
Funny story, I have the exact opposite problem. LPS grow great, sps wither and die...

I'm simply resigned to not putting any sps in the tank anymore.

Ohh the irony

Zoajohn said:
In the same boat man. All my acans, euphyllia, favias, chalices one day started losing tissue. Fast forward to now and every frag of the above I add dies at the 4 week mark almost to a tee.

Zoas and SPS thrive. And oddly enough a plate coral and trachy are doing well. Rainbow BTA doing great too.

I noticed on my ICP test that my iodine was super low. I've dosed over the past few days. I'd be curious if there was a correlation between the two.