Recent coral loss

Dw79 · Dec 18, 2020

So I have recently lost a few corals. First was a 5 head Duncan, then about a week later was my Acans. Duncans were on my rock work and Acans were on sandbed. I have a long tentical leather that closed up soon after, that is still closed. I have noticed that the leather partially opens every now and then after lights out, but not more than a few small nubs sticking out during the day. I have also spotted shortly before my leather closed up, that it has a small branch like stem sticking out off its base ( hoped it was a new head starting, but heard they split). It has now been closed for going on 3 weeks.
The only thing that has changed in my tank is that I recently installed an ATO, first two corals closed up or died before this.
46 gallon Bowfront sumpless tank with HOB Reef Octo 1000 Skimmer, HOB Seachem Tidal Filter with filter sponge, corbon and Tidal Matrix and now XP Aqua sumpless ATO( I hoped this would add more stability and solve the problem) I am at a loss and any help would be great. The only other thing I can think of is that something in the tank is going after my corals.
I have a breeding pair of Ocellaris Clowns, a Blue Damsil and a Yellow Watchman Goby, aswell as a mix of Snails.
PH 8.2 or close to (api test evey other test is Salifert)
Salinity 1.025
Cal 400
Alk 9
Mag1200 ( slowly bringing back up)
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0.25 (high and always has been, but has never been an problem. All soft and LPS)
Regular weekly 15 gallon water changes and next to no algae growth.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
I have pics, but got a new phone and for some reason it won't let me post them.

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

Sorry, also tested ammonia and that was zero aswell

Spieg · Dec 19, 2020

Have you tried dipping corals to see if you have any pests (bugs/worms/nudis) that might be attacking your corals?

Tamberav · Dec 19, 2020

what lighting and flow? Also pictures?

Do you use RODI water?

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

Spieg said:
Have you tried dipping corals to see if you have any pests (bugs/worms/nudis) that might be attacking your corals?

Ya, sorry. It was a lot to fit all in one post. I tried dipping the Acans and they still died

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

I would like to post photos, and for some reason, since my new phone, none of the links at the top of each thread are highlighted anymore

vetteguy53081 · Dec 19, 2020

All the list coral mentioned requires moderate light and water flow
Although you did well with high phosphate, it may have become an issue and Duncan and leather dying may have released toxins
I would place some chemipure elite in path of flowing water
Having no sump is a challenge with lack of chemical filtration
Are you sure you’re not getting false salinity reading ?

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
All the list coral mentioned requires moderate light and water flow
Although you did well with high phosphate, it may have become an issue and Duncan and leather dying may have released toxins
I would place some chemipure elite in path of flowing water
Having no sump is a challenge with lack of chemical filtration
Are you sure you’re not getting false salinity reading ?

Salinity has been spot on and constant since adding the ATO. It went up and down before, but not since

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

Here is the leather with some sort of stem coming from the base

vetteguy53081 · Dec 19, 2020

Dw79 said:
Here is the leather with some sort of stem coming from the base

Toadstools tend to do this. As for salinity, get a second opinion if you can- Friends refractometer or water sample to a trrusted LFS.
I once had 2 different gages tell me 1.024 and it was actually 1.031

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Toadstools tend to do this. As for salinity, get a second opinion if you can- Friends refractometer or water sample to a trrusted LFS.
I once had 2 different gages tell me 1.024 and it was actually 1.031

Thanks, I will take a water sample to my LFS

Uncle99 · Dec 19, 2020

What I can’t tell is tank maturity.
How old is this system?
How long did you have those corals that died?
How did they die, slowly or virtually overnight?

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

Uncle99 said:
What I can’t tell is tank maturity.
How old is this system?
How long did you have those corals that died?
How did they die, slowly or virtually overnight?

Tank is a little over 3 years old, FOWLR for the first year. They all died slowly and oddly in the order I got them. The Duncans I got first and they closed and slowly died till I could see skelleton inside each head. Acans next and now leather closed up

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

All of the lost corals had been in the tank and doing great for more then a year

Dw79 · Dec 19, 2020

Found a pic and figured out my new phone. Duncan already gone at this point. Acan closed up (bottom right) and leather still happy, (top center)

Dw79 · Dec 21, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Toadstools tend to do this. As for salinity, get a second opinion if you can- Friends refractometer or water sample to a trrusted LFS.
I once had 2 different gages tell me 1.024 and it was actually 1.031

Took a water sample to my LFS yesterday after a water change and these are the numbers I was given.
Mag 1320
Cal 400
Kh 9.9
Phos 0.1
Nitrate 3
Could the lower Nitrate be the problem? It is normally higher then that

Dw79 · Dec 21, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Toadstools tend to do this. As for salinity, get a second opinion if you can- Friends refractometer or water sample to a trrusted LFS.
I once had 2 different gages tell me 1.024 and it was actually 1.031

Oh, and Salinity was 1.026