Please Help!! with parameters

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

For the past 5 days my corals have not been opening/extending and its very frustrating.
I have a 75 gallon mixed tank but mostly LPS, 30 gallon sump, Reed Octopus Skimmer, Sicce 3.0 return and MP40QD. Its been up and running for 8 months.
Up until the past 5 days the corals have been doing fine. I did a 35 gallon water change last night and all parameters are as follows. Let me know if I miss something. I tested everything twice.

Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer and hydrometer) - Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
PH: 8.2 (Red Sea Reef Kit)
KH: 3.5 meg/l - 9.8 dKH (Red Sea Pro Test Kit)
Ammonia: 0 (Red Sea Reef Kit)
Nitrite: 0 (Red Sea Reef Kit)
Nitrate:0 (Red Sea Reed Kit)
Phosphate: 0 (API Test Kit)
Calcium 500 (API Test Kit)
Magnesium: 1400 ppm ( Red Sea Pro Kit)

I have no clue what could be causing the corals to not open. Any help is appreciated.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 27, 2016

There's nothing in the reported parameters that would make corals stay closed.

So I'd look for other issues, especially anything that has changed recently.

Is the alk higher than usual for your tank? Very low nutrients sometimes need lower alk.

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

I have not added anything to the tank besides the MP40 a few days ago and that wouldnt cause the corals that stay closed. I even went out and got a ground probe just in case there was stray current going into the tank.

Greatreefer · Feb 27, 2016

Did you notice this behavior before or after the water change?

What's your water temp?

What kind of lights and how old are they?

Post some pictures if you can.

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

The water temp is sitting at 78 degress, 6 bulb AquaticLife T5 (All bulbs new but 1) - 3 Blue Plus, 1 Coral Plus, 1 Geissemenn Super Purple and 1 AquaticLife 42/460. All corals but 3 that I got back about a month ago at WWC in Orlando I have had for 5 to 7 months.

Greatreefer · Feb 27, 2016

Do you dip your corals before they go into the tank?

Could be predators.

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

Yes. Before anything is added into the tank I dip them for a few minutes and verify that nothing is on them.

Greatreefer · Feb 27, 2016

Joel-
Post some picts of the corals and your tank.

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

Tru REEF · Feb 27, 2016

Well next is to run carbon to get out any unwanted toxins in the water.

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

I started running carbon and GFO in a BRS reactor when I noticed the corals closing.

Tru REEF · Feb 27, 2016

Parameters look good. And if u haven't seen any change since running the carbon. My last option would be to re-dip them all for at least 5 minutes. Luckily you're not over stocked on corals yet.

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

No. Thank God. Its depressing enough seeing my tank down and not looking beautiful. Luckily my fish are doing well.

Tru REEF · Feb 27, 2016

Its a beauty just to see it come together and you're well on your way. Now that i take a second look at your pictures how is your flow directed?

Joel Franco · Feb 27, 2016

I have the mp4o on the opposite wall of the over flow. I took out the other pump.

Greatreefer · Feb 27, 2016

Wondering if either your alk is too low for your magnesium or your magnesium is too high for your alk.
Do you document your water parameters?
Do you dose anything in your tank?
The corals do look stressed.
You could also try to move the power heads to cut down on the flow.

Lenny_S · Feb 27, 2016

Agree with Randy's earlier post, Alk is a little high for ultra low nutrients.
You may want to stop running the GFO but leave the carbon going.
Is there any way you can think of that some kind of contaminate or metals could have made their way into your water?

StoneFlyTyer · Feb 27, 2016

Joel Franco said:
For the past 5 days my corals have not been opening/extending and its very frustrating.
I have a 75 gallon mixed tank but mostly LPS, 30 gallon sump, Reed Octopus Skimmer, Sicce 3.0 return and MP40QD. Its been up and running for 8 months.
Up until the past 5 days the corals have been doing fine. I did a 35 gallon water change last night and all parameters are as follows. Let me know if I miss something. I tested everything twice.

Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer and hydrometer) - Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
PH: 8.2 (Red Sea Reef Kit)
KH: 3.5 meg/l - 9.8 dKH (Red Sea Pro Test Kit)
Ammonia: 0 (Red Sea Reef Kit)
Nitrite: 0 (Red Sea Reef Kit)
Nitrate:0 (Red Sea Reed Kit)
Phosphate: 0 (API Test Kit)
Calcium 500 (API Test Kit)
Magnesium: 1400 ppm ( Red Sea Pro Kit)

I have no clue what could be causing the corals to not open. Any help is appreciated.

What were your parameters before water change, also u said that u added a mp 40 that may cause an issue if it's blown to hard on them, I added an jebo 4 and my coarls didn't open for a few days until they got used to the new flow

Joel Franco · Feb 28, 2016

So after a lot of pondering trying to figure out what has changed I have found the answer. I accidentally used the wrong salt for the last 2 batches. I used Instant Ocean and accidentally picked up Reef Crystals.