SPS and LPS all die in two weeks

[SeaDweller]

I”be had the kessil over six months

Well if that picture represents 6 mos of progress, then I’d say your one kessil over your tank isn’t doing that great and @Chaswood79 is correct: it’s not sufficient in providing thriving conditions.

so if OP has three, over his tank, it still probably isn’t enough to sustain maximal growth and health.


thumbing thru some of my pics, here is what one years of growth on one particular rock looks like.
the circled colony began as a small 1” frag from @ycnibrc , his Star is born Mille. The first pic represents maybe a couple months of growth (7/19) the next pics are from today. The colony is now nearing 7.5”, so imagine what it was at 6 mos, which I conveniently don’t have. Look at the surrounding colonies next to it.

there’s a lot at play for the OP as to why his stuff may be dying at 2 weeks, but it’s probably not all just lighting. @Chaswood79 isn't wrong in saying the Kessils aren’t strong enough, so it’s probably adding to the fact.

 

[Texas Rick]

Well if that picture represents 6 mos of progress, then I’d say your one kessil over your tank isn’t doing that great and @Chaswood79 is correct: it’s not sufficient in providing thriving conditions.

so if OP has three, over his tank, it still probably isn’t enough to sustain maximal growth and health.


thumbing thru some of my pics, here is what one years of growth on one particular rock looks like.
the circled colony began as a small 1” frag from @ycnibrc , his Star is born Mille. The first pic represents maybe a couple months of growth (7/19) the next pics are from today. The colony is now nearing 7.5”, so imagine what it was at 6 mos, which I conveniently don’t have. Look at the surrounding colonies next to it.

there’s a lot at play for the OP as to why his stuff may be dying at 2 weeks, but it’s probably not all just lighting. @Chaswood79 isn't wrong in saying the Kessils aren’t strong enough, so it’s probably adding to the fact.

So let’s take into account it’s the lighting issue. What is your recommendation in lighting?

 

[Arthacker87]

Sorry to hear that!!. Also people let's stay on topic!! Im sure the op appreciate everyone's input. I have learned less is more in SOME cases. I let my tank do its thing. I feed daily1 to 2x and do reef roads or live phyto 3x a week (ish). I stay consistent with it. I never check p04 or anything just kinda watch and if they start looking closed up or off I do a water change. Not the best method but sometimes too much change makes it hard to find out what happen. How old is tank and coral in tank (before it died).

 

[Texas Rick]

Well if that picture represents 6 mos of progress, then I’d say your one kessil over your tank isn’t doing that great and @Chaswood79 is correct: it’s not sufficient in providing thriving conditions.

so if OP has three, over his tank, it still probably isn’t enough to sustain maximal growth and health.


thumbing thru some of my pics, here is what one years of growth on one particular rock looks like.
the circled colony began as a small 1” frag from @ycnibrc , his Star is born Mille. The first pic represents maybe a couple months of growth (7/19) the next pics are from today. The colony is now nearing 7.5”, so imagine what it was at 6 mos, which I conveniently don’t have. Look at the surrounding colonies next to it.

there’s a lot at play for the OP as to why his stuff may be dying at 2 weeks, but it’s probably not all just lighting. @Chaswood79 isn't wrong in saying the Kessils aren’t strong enough, so it’s probably adding to the fact.

And if, let’s say it’s the lighting issue. Why isn’t my coral dying from using a kessil light? Let’s take into account I’ve had it for 6 months

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I don’t think it’s the lighting bc the lps are dying too. The 2 week death march makes it sound like starvation, specifically po4 starvation. Probably from the chaeto and over skimming. I only run my skimmer for 12 hours at night when my lights are off.
Here’s an interesting study about po4 starvation

Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates - PMC

Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.). We argue, however, that the direct negative effects on the ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[SeaDweller]

So let’s take into account it’s the lighting issue. What is your recommendation in lighting?

Probably wise to start with a par meter to see what numbers one is getting.

And if, let’s say it’s the lighting issue. Why isn’t my coral dying from using a kessil light? Let’s take into account I’ve had it for 6 months

OP’s issue isn’t simply lighting, Chaswood pointed out the lighting probably isn’t sufficient, in which case he’s still not wrong- those Kessils may not be providing enough to allow your corals to thrive. Are yours alive? Yes. Are OPs? No. I get that. So obviously it’s not “just the light”.

your lighting and situation don’t prove anything. It just means they’re alive for now, but is that enough for you?

 

[Oldcoder]

Thanks for some of the input I check and add PO4 every other day. I have been wondering about over skimming. I do have a oversized skimmer for the tank. It is down about 2hours every night easy to increase that to 4 or eight. Maybe give that a try. I have been assuming the green Cyno is sucking all the nutrients out which why I am adding PO4 constantly.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Thanks for some of the input I check and add PO4 every other day. I have been wondering about over skimming. I do have a oversized skimmer for the tank. It is down about 2hours every night easy to increase that to 4 or eight. Maybe give that a try. I have been assuming the green Cyno is sucking all the nutrients out which why I am adding PO4 constantly.

Can you post a pic of the green cyano?

 

[Oldcoder]

It comes out brown in a picture. In fact it looks brown until the whites come up. If you remove some and look under a microscope it looks like long green filaments it grows up the glass and comes off in sheets even loosely binds the gravel together. If you have seen the green film algae on glass that is it. I am kind of assuming it is Cyno since when I siphon it away it back in two hours.
I have seen some people who have luck adding few pound of live rock from Florida to get the corals to grow.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

It comes out brown in a picture. In fact it looks brown until the whites come up. If you remove some and look under a microscope it looks like long green filaments it grows up the glass and comes off in sheets even loosely binds the gravel together. If you have seen the green film algae on glass that is it. I am kind of assuming it is Cyno since when I siphon it away it back in two hours.
I have seen some people who have luck adding few pound of live rock from Florida to get the corals to grow.

Live rock is not a magic acro pill. My live rock was 15 years old when I got back into sps and I still struggled bc I was worried about po4/no3 getting too high. As soon as I stopped trying so hard my acros started surviving and thriving. I’ve never had green cyano so I really can’t advise in that area except I use chemiclean when I see a little red cyano.

 

[kevhee]

To the OP, I'm not saying that it isn't a nutrient problem, but what kind of sand do you have? I had similar issues with SPS and LPS living for a week to 2 weeks than polyp bailing or RTN. Did an ICP and found that my Black sand was leaching toxins (heavy metals) into my water. Changed out to aragonite, did some water changes to decrease the toxins and presto no mas RTN.

 

[Oldcoder]

I have the standard Carib sea nothing exciting I did order an ICP kit to see if anything strange shows up. Thanks for the reply. I was using a Home Depot bin for Ro water storage for about 9 months and found out the TDS was over 900 even though it cameout at zero. switched to Brut can and that problem went away but I made that change about six months ago.

 

[92Miata]

Well nothing odd in lighting or Chemistry. 8.3 dkh, 7.9 to 8.1ph, Calcium 410. MY only struggle has been keeping up on Phosphates have add Brightwell almost everyday. Chaeto in the fuge grows got some bubble algae but not much. Have three Kessil 360x over the four foot tank. Should have four per BRS. I am really wonder about blowing the green film algae into the water column. I assume it is what is taking all the Phosphate everyday. and other nutrients. Could that be the issue???

Have you done anything to confirm that your phosphate test is actually working?

Mushrooms doing great, lots of cyano, no corraline, and acros dying doesn't sound like low phosphate to me.

 

[Oldcoder]

Well using the Hanna 736 low nutrient model have double checked against the Nyos that I have. about every other day it comes out zero and add enough to get it to .03. You would think that it would slow down the green cyno as you mentioned. My refugium is grown stuff slowly. I have light set for only four hours a night. I am starting to see the coralline grow much better lately. Nitrate is steady at 3 these days think I should be adding some to get to five or so?