SPS bleaching from the base up

[httorihanzo]

Tonight I did some night diving in the aquarium and found these little guys crawling all over. Over a 100 mini brittle stars I'd guess. Anybody think this might be part of the cause?
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[trido]

No, the brittle stars will not eat Acros. Swinging alk is 90% of the time the cause of SPS receding at the base. I have a couple dying much like your from too high of alk at 12.2Dkh.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Look up Low Nutrient System for SPS.

For whatever reason when you have a LNS System (Low Phosphate and Low Nitrate) you have to keep Alkalinity between 7 and 8.

I know many people that have High Alkalinity like you do but they feed a lot and do not have Nitrate and Phosphate that Low.

The New Pump is very very powerful from what I hear.

One guy uses it at only 10 Percent.

Maybe they are getting too much Flow.

Green Slimers are Bulletproof so something is very very wrong.

Any Acro Eating Flatworms or Red Bugs?

Are all your Softies and LPS doing good?

Any Stray Voltage?

Your problems could stem from one of these or a combination.

It sounds like you have the SPS system set up right in terms of High Lighting and Flow but maybe cut back on the Flow and decide what you want to do with Alkalinity and Check for Pests.

 

[robby2782]

I've had it happen from letting magnesium fall below 1300, dosing gfo, and letting alk rise or fall too fast. Alk is usually the most common like most have stated, but keep an eye on any sudden changes. Another thing I've dealt with personally was a worn magnet to the propeller in my eheim pump to my calcium reactor that had RUST getting in the tank.

It's definitely not the brittle stars, but the good news is you're probably on your way to mitigating further damages to your fragments.

 

[httorihanzo]

Thanks everyone! I am going to make sure my Alk is stable and under or around 9. I need a new test kit.

Any preference between Saiflert and Red Sea?

Sailfert $90 for Alk, Ca, Mg
Red Sea $50 for all 3

 

[robby2782]

Salifert is more accurate in my opinion

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I had a lot of bad experiences with Red Sea tests the only one I will use is the alk this one cause they have many I don't know why they have so many different test to test the same thing.

 

[robby2782]

I had a lot of bad experiences with Red Sea tests the only one I will use is the alk this one cause they have many I don't know why they have so many different test to test the same thing.

Agreed

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Had a mag test from them that told me my mag was 1500 for months then my tank started to look down so went and get a salifert mag test and my mag was 1050 will never buy any other test from them only the one in the pic.

 

[httorihanzo]

Sounds like red sea is out!

 

[MadCityReefer]

I have had accurate results with the Hanna Alk checker, even put it up against the Salifert. Stay away for the Calcium Hanna Checker

 

[JMSKI333]

+1 on Alk swings. I have had similar issues. Missed a couple nights of Kalk top off and my Alk dropped pretty low.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Thanks everyone! I am going to make sure my Alk is stable and under or around 9. I need a new test kit.

Any preference between Saiflert and Red Sea?

Sailfert $90 for Alk, Ca, Mg
Red Sea $50 for all 3

Where do you get 90?

I just looked them up and they are both 65.00 for all 3 Tests.

Salifert is considered the "Gold Standard" and the Best Kit on the Market.

Go with Salifert.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I have had accurate results with the Hanna Alk checker, even put it up against the Salifert. Stay away for the Calcium Hanna Checker

What are you thoughts on the Hanna Phosphate Tester?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I have one don't use it anymore

 

[MadCityReefer]

I have the phosphate checker too, it works easy and has positive reviews but I barely check my phosphate so rarely use it.

 

[Jimbo]

For those who are saying Alk swings caused RTN. How big a swing are we talking about ?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

If I go pass 8 I start seeing it

 

[that Reef Guy]

For those who are saying Alk swings caused RTN. How big a swing are we talking about ?

I too am interested in this.

Good Question.

What is the cutoff where you risk RTN?

What Number?

 

[maroun.c]

Two things to watch out here,
Alk below 8 if you have an ULNS.
Or a 1-1.5 spike up or down in a short time span could start this.
Again many tanks have had more important shifts with no ill effects or shifts that affected only one or a few corals and not all which makes it really hard to pinpoint set limits for corals to start reacting.