Some sps help from the pro's please

[rworegon]

I will try to give as much detail as possible here.

I have quite a few sps in my 90 gal including acro's, milli's, monti's pocillipora (sp),etc.

Params are as follows:

salinity: 1.025 refractometer
Dkh: 8.17 Hanna
Cal: 440 API
Mag: 1360 Red Sea
PH: 7.98 recently calibrated probe RLK
Phosphate: .06 Hannah
temp: 78.9
Lighting: ( 2 ) 250w Halides 17K Geismann ( 4 ) 54w t5
fixture is about 7" above water line

I recently, within the last 6 weeks have started running GFO and carbon in seperate reactors.
My green slimer is showing bleaching tips. Still has nice green ployps with good extension. Probably closest to the top and center.
My pink birdsnest is browned out. High in the tank but far left end.
Red planet is looking good, maybe a little light on the tips but I thought that was normal for new growth. Mid level about half way between the center and right side.
Pocillapora is RTNing from the bottom with ragged polyp extension.

Everything else looks pretty good.

I'm wondering if my lighting is too close to the surface and causing the bleaching on the slimer. Thinking running the carbon has cleared up the water enough to make penetration better. Just a guess, thats why I'm asking.

I've been dosing Kent superbuffer Dkh to try to raise Alk and PH. Coming up slowly but having difficulty keeping it steady. Maybe this is the problem.
Been thinking about kalkwasser or baking soda but not sure how to get started with that.

Would love to hear some opinions or suggestions from those who have been successful with the sticks.

Thanks.

 

[-Logzor]

Discontinue running the GFO and these problems should subside. GFO is very potent, it rips PO4 out virtually overnight and this can eventually cause RTN if severe enough. Only use GFO in extremely small amount when your PO4 rises.

 

[rworegon]

I will take the reactor off line tonight and see what happens. How long before I should see some kind of response from the corals?

 

[-Logzor]

It can take SPS coral quite awhile to recover, especially if the RTN has set in, it may not stop until the coral is completely gone. However in the best case scenario the coral may start healing up with new growth within a week.

What size is the system and how much GFO were you running?

 

[rideit6578]

When I run ChemiPure Elite, I add the bags one at a time to introduce it slowly. not sure how you'd do that with a reactor but I'd take it offline for sure.

 

[rworegon]

It can take SPS coral quite awhile to recover, especially if the RTN has set in, it may not stop until the coral is completely gone. However in the best case scenario the coral may start healing up with new growth within a week.

What size is the system and how much GFO were you running?

System is 90 gal display, 20 gal sump, and about 7gal separate refugium. Gfo was about 3/4 cups. I'm guessing its about spent though because last week the Hanna tested .03. I will still take it off line and see if things start to recover. The Slimer has been very resilient. It was one of my first sps and survived a rather extreme super glue incident. recovered from that and is now about 5" tall with multiple branches.

 

[soccerbag]

Agree with the GFO - while the Carbon may cleaning up the water to assist with light penetration, I doubt that would cause the quick response your corals are exhibiting. I would also (if possible) raise the light for a few days to give the corals a chance to recover from the stress. You mentioned that you are dosing a buffer to keep your alk and ph up - have you been experiencing fluctuations with your alk? That can also cause RTN and some bleaching issues. Personally, I used 2 part with a doser but I know that is a more expensive route to go. Others use a Ca reactor but that can be pricey as well. If your alk is stable at 8.17, that is great. pH is fine where you listed it. The Alk really needs to be stable though.

I would test your Phosphates again with your Hanna to see if the GFO stripped out most of your PO4. If it's still reading .06, I've seen much worse. It's not ideal for SPS by any stretch and it should be .03 or lower. But .06 should not be causing this much damage IMO.

Hope that helps a bit. Keep us posted. Just remember, slow changes and then test for results. NOTHING good happens quickly when it comes to SPS. I doubt I'm telling you anything you don't already know. Good luck to you.

 

[bct15]

Burnt tips is a sign of high alk...have your verified your alk levels with another test kit? Maybe you reagent for your Hannah is bad...I'd double check it.

You will see burnt tips when running gfo and alk is above 9...most people who run gfo keep there alk at 8 or lower which sounds like you are doing but I'd verify those Hannah results.