Returning to my sad tank after RAP NYC. Help!

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Hey guys, I need some advice and guidance (again...). For some added context, I had a high nitrate issue a while back that we are still correcting.

@Gumbies R Us and I have been gone for the last week at RAP NYC, and we've had a family member coming over and feeding out tank frozen mysis every other day while we were away. When we came home yesterday, we were met with a sad site. Although they looked okay when we left, at some point, our Duncan looked like it had some polyp bailout while we were gone. There were between 6 to 8 heads on it, but four are now entirely skeletal. What's left looks pretty punny.

We sent an ICP Analysis the day before we left for our trip; check out the report below. There are some obvious areas of improvement, such as phosphates. We have Brightwell NeoPhos coming in the mail tomorrow to correct that issue. Additionally, my torch and candy cane also look sad. The mushroom, toadstool, BTA, and fish are all doing well, but I'm afraid the bottom is about to drop out with them as well.

We also have an army of spirorbid worms, pineapple sponges, and unknown algae growing. The picture below is for identification. It is more red in person. Does anyone know what it is?

I'm trying not to get too down about this, but it feels like it has been one thing after another for the last several months with the tank. Any tips or advice is very much appreciated. It's gut-wrenching to see your tank members in such a state.

Here is the ICP report. Some parameters not included in the ICP report are Nitrates, which are currently high at 40-50, and Salinity at 1.025.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

WOW! sURE SORRY TO HEAR THIS HAPPENED. I am sure somebody can come in and help out. This scenario scares me because I am going out of town for a week n the fall and While I am trying to prepare now with things like ATO , and dosing, stories like this make me nervous. I hope all clears up for you soon.

 

[moretor1]

High chlorine, low calcium and low magnesium mean your salinity testing might be off and you might just need some WCs or dosing

I would really bump up that magnesium you can raise it like 50ppm a day or something like that

What is your KH? If it's a bit low I would dose kalkwasser to bump it and the calcium up

I saw a lot more success in keeping things alive when I bumped my calcium to ~420 and mag to 1450

As for your nutrients I have no clue tbh. What filtration are you using? Are you using any media like chemipure or gfo?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

High chlorine, low calcium and low magnesium mean your salinity testing might be off and you might just need some WCs or dosing

I would really bump up that magnesium you can raise it like 50ppm a day or something like that

What is your KH? If it's a bit low I would dose kalkwasser to bump it and the calcium up

I saw a lot more success in keeping things alive when I bumped my calcium to ~420 and mag to 1450

As for your nutrients I have no clue tbh. What filtration are you using? Are you using any media like chemipure or gfo?

I dose AFR for Ca and KH; I just added some last night as I figured it would be low. The salinity should be correct; I calibrated my hydrometer a day before sending the water off and got 1.025. Filtration is a filter sock in the back of the tank. No GFO or other forms of media

 

[moretor1]

I dose AFR for Ca and KH; I just added some last night as I figured it would be low. The salinity should be correct; I calibrated my hydrometer a day before sending the water off and got 1.025. Filtration is a filter sock in the back of the tank. No GFO or other forms of media

Calibration fluid or rodi?

How old is the fluid? Might be worth it to grab a few of the Hannah packets. They're like $3 for peace of mind

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Calibration fluid or rodi?

How old is the fluid? Might be worth it to grab a few of the Hannah packets. They're like $3 for peace of mind

Fresh RODI fluid

 

[moretor1]

Fresh RODI fluid

I would grab a packet of the Hannah liquid tbh

Randy has an article somewhere about how refractometers can skew overtime.

The prism comes slightly out of line over time and it can positively or negatively skew the further away from the calibration point

That or a hydrometer and graduated cylinder to verify it would work as well

 

[Rjukan]

I agree with @moretor1 you should calibrate using proper fluid rather than RO. I learned the hard way, and will always use calibration fluid now.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

What are you using for source water and salt?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What are you using for source water and salt?

Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, water is from a 4-stage RODI unit

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, water is from a 4-stage RODI unit

I’d do a water change and maybe test the new water to make sure it’s good. Any idea what par the duncan is in?

 

[Lavey29]

the first year is always rough. No way around it unless you add a couple pieces of real live wet ocean rock and jumpstart your biome.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I’d do a water change and maybe test the new water to make sure it’s good. Any idea what par the duncan is in?

I wish I had a way to test PAR; I had the Duncan at the bottom of the tank but moved it up last night to see if it would do better at higher light.

 

[Lavey29]

I wish I had a way to test PAR; I had the Duncan at the bottom of the tank but moved it up last night to see if it would do better at higher light.

Use the free photone app with your phone to test par at your water surface. Some put their phone in ziplock bags also.

 

[shakacuz]

algae resembles lyngbya

 

[Dburr1014]

Reason to use fluid and not rodi is found here.

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/index.php

And a diy fluid using table salt is here.

https://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/

 

[Just John]

What is that algae like if you pull it out - slimy or tough? It looks a lot like the Bryopsis I have in my tank, which is tough.

 

[Miami Reef]

The “chlorine” is not an issue. That is referencing chloride.

The anemone in your tank looks really good. Perhaps your phosphates are too low, but the anemone can survive by catching the fish food.

The magnesium level, if accurate, is too low.

Use a DIY or a proper calibration solution for the refractometer; RO/DI won’t work unless it’s for a true seawater refractometer (like the digital Milwaukee).

If you salinity is around 35ppt and you are using Red Sea salt, I’d disregard the ICP magnesium reading. ICP Analysis is not a reliable company for testing.

 

[braaap]

the first year is always rough. No way around it unless you add a couple pieces of real live wet ocean rock and jumpstart your biome.

Couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s not rough if you know what you are doing. There is so much wrong in this thread/tank I don’t know where to start.

 

[Solo McReefer]

I first noticed the Si

That causes problems

Then the Chlorine

Oochie momma

Everyone is suggesting water change. Odds are that's where the Chlorine is coming from. Check your carbon block?

Make sure your DI cartridge is going the right way.

Maybe change the RO membranes, how old are they?

Send an ICP of your fresh made salt water while you're at it. That will give you a clue as to where stuff is coming from

(Maybe someone sprayed bleach in your tank, known to happen)