Something is nuking my corals.

[mnofziger1]

I came back from a weeks vacation and a torch and frog spawn were gone. No flesh, just skeleton. A day later a hammer started melting. Parameters were fine but nitrates were 20, I figured from the dead corals. I dipped the remaining hammer and holy grail. This morning the last hammer is melting - video attached (I hope).

Thoughts.

 

[Dom]

No video.

Please post your actual and complete water chemistry numbers. I suspect your chemistry isn't "fine" with this going on.

 

[mnofziger1]

No video.

Please post your actual and complete water chemistry numbers. I suspect your chemistry isn't "fine" with this going on.

I don’t know why I always have trouble posting attachments. I’ll try again

 

[mnofziger1]

 

[Lavey29]

No phosphate and low magnesium is part of the issue your LPS are dying. How old is the tank? What is your par levels?

 

[mnofziger1]

Tank is 3 years old. Corals were recent additions - in the last 2 months. - have been fine and happy until last week. So far nems and Zoe’s are ok (fingers crossed).

 

[Lavey29]

Tank is 3 years old. Corals were recent additions - in the last 2 months. - have been fine and happy until last week. So far nems and Zoe’s are ok (fingers crossed).

Corals decline from the inside out. It can take weeks or months before they show the decline. What light par are they in? What flow?

 

[mnofziger1]

Corals decline from the inside out. It can take weeks or months before they show the decline. What light par are they in? What flow?

Don’t know par. So far it’s impacted 4 different corals in 4 different parts of the tank, mid to low. I would say flow is moderate overall.

 

[Dom]

I don’t know why I always have trouble posting attachments. I’ll try again

I've always found my Anemones to be a good barometer for water chemistry.

Your chemistry numbers aren't terrible. But were it my tank, I would be trying to elevate all of the numbers a small amount.

This can be achieved by performing faithful, weekly, 20% water changes.

How big is your tank?

What salt do you use?

Do you do water changes?

 

[Lavey29]

Don’t know par. So far it’s impacted 4 different corals in 4 different parts of the tank, mid to low. I would say flow is moderate overall.

Well par is a critical component. I was having coral issues early on. I thought my XR15 lights at 70% intensity were plenty par for mixed reef. I was shocked how low my par was when I rented a par meter. My lights now run at 100% intensity which resulted in thriving coral growth. This may be your problem.

It is also possible that one of the new corals you added had a bacteria infection and infected other corals. If you see complete die off within a 24 hour period then this also may be a factor. If corals are under stress their immune systems collapse and they are susceptible to infection such as BJD.

 

[mnofziger1]

I've always found my Anemones to be a good barometer for water chemistry.

Your chemistry numbers aren't terrible. But were it my tank, I would be trying to elevate all of the numbers a small amount.

This can be achieved by performing faithful, weekly, 20% water changes.

How big is your tank?

What salt do you use?

Do you do water changes?

That’s interesting I’ve had a couple nems for a couple years now. They seem happy.
I will say that I’m not very faithful on water changes - I did do one prior to vacation. My tank is approx 70 gal. I get my saltwater/ro from LFS.

 

[mnofziger1]

Well par is a critical component. I was having coral issues early on. I thought my XR15 lights at 70% intensity were plenty par for mixed reef. I was shocked how low my par was when I rented a par meter. My lights now run at 100% intensity which resulted in thriving coral growth. This may be your problem.

It is also possible that one of the new corals you added had a bacteria infection and infected other corals. If you see complete die off within a 24 hour period then this also may be a factor. If corals are under stress their immune systems collapse and they are susceptible to infection such as BJD.

Other than nems and zoes and various other soft this was my first venture into torches and hammers. Sounds like par is worth investigating. Thanks.

 

[Dom]

That’s interesting I’ve had a couple nems for a couple years now. They seem happy.
I will say that I’m not very faithful on water changes - I did do one prior to vacation. My tank is approx 70 gal. I get my saltwater/ro from LFS.

Okay! Now we're getting somewhere.

If you would commit to 20% weekly water changes, I'd be willing to bet that you will see a big improvement.

Remember, water changes are not only for exporting nutrients, but also for replenishing elements consumed by the tank.

I curious about something...

Do you think you could test the water you are getting from the local fish store? If you find nitrates and phosphates in the water you are buying, I would suspect that they are selling you old water.

I urge you to begin making your own water. You can never be sure what you are getting when you buy it.

Dom

 

[Lavey29]

Other than nems and zoes and various other soft this was my first venture into torches and hammers. Sounds like par is worth investigating. Thanks.

You can use the free photone app to get a general par reading. It was pretty close to par meter accuracy. Some people even put their phones in ziplock bags to read underwater but I just used it at the water surface.

 

[Chrisz]

You can use the free photone app to get a general par reading. It was pretty close to par meter accuracy. Some people even put their phones in ziplock bags to read underwater but I just used it at the water surface.

What's the App?

 

[Lavey29]

What's the App?

It's called photone