SERIOUSLY!? CANT KEEP SPS

[Shawn.B]

hey guys!
I am new to R2R, but not new to the hobby I have been in for about 10 years recently took 2 years off when I moved to my new house, I have been back at it for about a year. I have successfully kept thriving SPS tanks in the past... which is why this hurts so much

My current tank has been setup for the past year with LPS/Zoa for the past 6 months I have been trying to keep SPS. they always seem to slowly brown out/fade away then RTN

livestock:
2 BW clowns
1 Yellow wrasse
3-5 Snails
1 Peppermint shrimp
1 Conch
Lots of Acans, Lobo, Zoas/Pally, and some sad looking SPS

Feeding:
I feed every other day 2 brine cubes, reef roids, and target feed LPS with Fauna Marin
recently I've been dosing AcroPower 5ml/day - no effects

Equipment:
Display: 20gal long
Sump: 10gal
Lights: blackbox LED - modded with 10x445nm, 6x420nm, 2x410nm, 2x395nm, lenses removed.running 50%B - 10%W ... any higher and I bleach stuff
Skimmer: bubble Magnus Nac6
Biopellets ~100ml
Doser for Ca, Alk, Mg
Carbon once a month (usually)
GFO monthly - has been removed for the past 2 months

Parameters:
Ca 450 ppm-- rock solid - salifert
Alk 7.8 DHK-- rock solid - Hanna
Mg 1380 ppm -- rock solid - salifert
PO4 0.02ppm - Hanna
NO3 3ppm
SG 1.024
Temp 79.9

I am at a complete loss... myself and the LFS owner ( great guy) cannot figure this out. im currently thinking it may be my NO3 that needs a boost? I have a new test kit and KNO3 on the way - I want to try running just above 5ppm for a few weeks.

hopefully some of the experienced members can chime in here and we can get a dialog going!

 

[helen ann]

Hi ...
Can't help with SPS corals ... sorry!
Someone will chime in to assist.

Let me say while you are waiting ...

 

[twilliard]

I have found it rather hard to find the balance in a mixed tank. When LPS are happy SPS are not and vise versa

 

[Shawn.B]

I have found it rather hard to find the balance in a mixed tank. When LPS are happy SPS are not and vise versa

understandable, but I cant even get to where my SPS are happy and LPS hate me

 

[twilliard]

It takes a lot to make LPS unhappy like stripped water.
Have to done a Triton water test to check all your levels?

 

[Shawn.B]

No Triton test yet, I'm not even sure if they are available here in Canada... maybe something to look into

 

[twilliard]

possibly high DOC's?
You have what it takes but I feel it is a water condition

 

[twilliard]

Also in my tank I use GSP's to monitor my water. They are great indicators

 

[Shawn.B]

what would you recommend as a trouble shooting procedure?
I was convinced I was lacking NO3 the LFS tested with NYOS and confirmed 3ppm which squashed that idea.

 

[twilliard]

what would you recommend as a trouble shooting procedure?
I was convinced I was lacking NO3 the LFS tested with NYOS and confirmed 3ppm which squashed that idea.

3ppm is good
As long as the No3 leads the Po4 you are set
What kind of algae is growing in your tank?
I am thinking high DOC's but this is just a stab in the dark.

 

[DuesXX]

From my personal experience dude, black box LED units and SPS just don't go together. There is SOMETHING lacking.. My guess is proper spectrum. I was running the same over my tank, and just like you, it would start STN from the base and then just croak. I've since gone back to MH and everything is growing again. I had one colony that I was sure would be toast, but in the 2 weeks since going back, its encrusting and coloring up something fierce. And just like you, with the LED either it was too much light or not enough. It seemed there was no medium

 

[Shawn.B]

3ppm is good
As long as the No3 leads the Po4 you are set
What kind of algae is growing in your tank?
I am thinking high DOC's but this is just a stab in the dark.

Prior to my recent increase in feeding algae was non existent in my tank, I could go a month without cleaning the glass.
more recently (2-3 weeks) I have just the usually brown/green haze on the glass after a few days, with a bit extending sporadically on the sand

would high end GAC take care of that?

 

[twilliard]

GAC will lower the DOC's but be cautious as lowering the DOC's my affect the LPS
Also looking at your fish stock you may not have enough ammonia source

 

[Shawn.B]

From my personal experience dude, black box LED units and SPS just don't go together. There is SOMETHING lacking.. My guess is proper spectrum. I was running the same over my tank, and just like you, it would start STN from the base and then just croak. I've since gone back to MH and everything is growing again. I had one colony that I was sure would be toast, but in the 2 weeks since going back, its encrusting and coloring up something fierce. And just like you, with the LED either it was too much light or not enough. It seemed there was no medium

I've been doubting my lights and have considered going to T5
with my modifications to ensure a wide spectrum I just cant see it being the cause.

 

[DuesXX]

I've been doubting my lights and have considered going to T5
with my modifications to ensure a wide spectrum I just cant see it being the cause.

I'm just here to tell you... What you're describing is exactly what I was going through. I had 0 algae growth. Anywhere.. At all. And my limited amount of LPS were doing ok, but had serious color issues from just flat out wrong lighting. From what I've seen, if algae will grow, coral will grow as far as lighting is concerned. We just try to minimize the algae part.
Just for reference, this is what I was running in my black box:
Channel 1: 10 pcs 12000K White + 1 pcs 470nm Blue
Channel 2: 1 pcs 410nm UV + 2 pcs 395nm UV
Channel 3: 3 pcs 660nm Red + 6 pcs 470nm Blue + 6 pcs 450nm Royal Blue
Channel 4: 10 pcs 18000K White + 1 pcs 450nm Royal Blue

 

[twilliard]

I've been doubting my lights and have considered going to T5
with my modifications to ensure a wide spectrum I just cant see it being the cause.

If your LPS are doing fine than I would look elsewhere. Lighting is for photosynthesis now if your LPS are lacking then I would consider spectrum/par values.

 

[twilliard]

@saltyfilmfolks thoughts?

 

[markalot]

I would blame the light as well but you can overcome it by feeding heavier. The SPS, and in this case mostly acros in my experience. don't do well under all LED unless you are very careful to provide enough nutrition, and if you do that your export better be good or else water quality will decline. For me this is even the case if the coverage issue is solved. Raising nitrates and feeding reef roids daily was the only thing the would color up acros in an all LED tank, otherwise they would go pale and start receding.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

can I see a pic of the tank? and how high are the led?
yea thats an odd one.

one anomaly I ran into was the JBJ 28 cube:mad:, regardless of the food and varied intensity, It would not grow stuff. they would live and be fine but thats it. no browning no bleaching just bleh.....
but knowing a close number on HOW much light your giving the is most important. Lux or Par info would be handy.

I will say that my led now grow all of it. , or rather I can get good color and bleach AND brown.

my gut would say balance the tank to the sps, but also what sps are we talking about? acros?.

 

[Tahoe61]

What specific types of sps are your trying to keep?

I would remove the bi0-pellets and see if you notice a difference over the course of weeks. You should not have to change out the charcoal monthly every other month or longer since you only have 3 fish in a volume of 30 gallons and are feeding every other day.

What is your water source?