Some lps dying??

[reeferwinz]

Hello all, I’ve had issues recently with some of my lps and I’m looking for a bit of help as I am some what new to coral. My torch coral detached from the skeleton and eventually died, my hammer coral receded to nothing and my acanare also receding. Strange thing is I have an elegance coral which so far seems ok.

My tank is an aqua one mini reef 120 with the Mars aqua led 165w.
NO3 - 2ppm
PO4 Salifert reading 1ppm!? (Could this be the issue)
dKh - 14 (again very high)
Ca - 414
Ph - 8.2

Any help would be much appreciated and advice on getting these whacky levels sorted. I am new to this so go easy on me, thanks in advance

 

[Retro Reefer]

If your phosphate and Alk are truly those numbers that’s potentially your problem, can you have your LFS verify those readings? I would get your Alk down to about 8 and use something like phosguard to bring down the P04 to under 0.10

 

[destro]

Sad to hear about your corals... it hurts I know!

What is your salinity?
Your alk is high. What salt are you using and are you dosing?

 

[reeferwinz]

If your phosphate and Alk are truly those numbers that’s potentially your problem, can you have your LFS verify those readings? I would get your Alk down to about 8 and use something like phosguard to bring down the P04 to under 0.10

I will take some samples and double check this week, thanks. How would I go about lowering my alk? And I have debated this, I recently upgraded the skimmer from the stock one and will see how that gets on. Thankyou!

 

[reeferwinz]

Sad to hear about your corals... it hurts I know!

What is your salinity?
Your alk is high. What salt are you using and are you dosing?

My salinity is 1.026. I currently get my salt pre mixed from the fish shop. I do want to start mixing my own salt so I have more control over what goes into my tank. I am not dosing at the moment as I have a relatively low stock. I am doing 20% water changes every fortnight

 

[destro]

Stability is preached over and over again in the hobby. Best way to achieve this is to test often.

I will take some samples and double check this week, thanks. How would I go about lowering my alk? And I have debated this, I recently upgraded the skimmer from the stock one and will see how that gets on. Thankyou!

Small water changes until you reach your desired dKH over a few days.
You don't want your alk to swing too hard or other corals will suffer.

My salinity is 1.026. I currently get my salt pre mixed from the fish shop. I do want to start mixing my own salt so I have more control over what goes into my tank. I am not dosing at the moment as I have a relatively low stock. I am doing 20% water changes every fortnight

What salt is your fish shop using? For example if they are using salt that mixes at 12 dKH, you're going to have a hard time lowering alk with water changes. Every salt mixes different.

Did you recently stir up the sand from cleaning by chance? That could cause elements to spike.