Sps bleaching

[shanie56]

Hi there first post so go easy on me,

I have kept a marine tank for nearly 2 years now and just starting to add some sps but can't seem to keep it alive especially Monti and acropora, the are bleached within 2-3 weeks. All levels are near on perfect iodine is maybe a tad low but that's it, has anyone got any ideas?
I attached a pic of a frag that has bleached

Thanks in advance people

 

[blackizzz]

Sorry to hear that you're having problems, some additional info might help us help you

Tank size?
Light?
Flow?
Other equipment?

When you say "near on perfect", what do you mean? What's perfect to you?

 

[KrisReef]

It is impossible to do any wrong in a first post. Welcome to R2R. I think you will find a lot of help with SPS and reefing in general here. GL

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi there first post so go easy on me,

I have kept a marine tank for nearly 2 years now and just starting to add some sps but can't seem to keep it alive especially Monti and acropora, the are bleached within 2-3 weeks. All levels are near on perfect iodine is maybe a tad low but that's it, has anyone got any ideas?
I attached a pic of a frag that has bleached

Thanks in advance people

Welcome to reef2reef!

What's your water pramameters? What lighting are you using?

 

[shanie56]

Sorry to hear that you're having problems, some additional info might help us help you

Tank size?
Light?
Flow?
Other equipment?

When you say "near on perfect", what do you mean? What's perfect to you?

Hi there thanks for the reply

Tank is 4x2x1, lights I am running 2 new fluval 3.0 for WiFi controller and my flow, I run 2 x Rosemont peacemakers so the flow is reasonable with high and low areas which I have tried moving them to with no difference, all my soft corals are doing extremely well, With massive growth.
Levels are,
Salinity 1.025
Ph 8.5
Kh 9.2
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Mag 1375
Calcium 420
Iodine 0.04

Hope this helps

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi there thanks for the reply

Tank is 4x2x1, lights I am running 2 new fluval 3.0 for WiFi controller and my flow, I run 2 x Rosemont peacemakers so the flow is reasonable with high and low areas which I have tried moving them to with no difference, all my soft corals are doing extremely well, With massive growth.
Levels are,
Salinity 1.025
Ph 8.5
Kh 9.2
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Mag 1375
Calcium 420
Iodine 0.04

Hope this helps

Let's focus on your water pramameters.

It was some time ago a accepted thought of keeping hard corals at 0 N03 and P04. That's not widely practiced now.

Raise your Nitrates to 5-10 ppm and your P04 to .02.

With your dkh at 9.2 and no N03 and P04, your corals have been starving to death.

Now on to the lights. Are they the Marine version? How high off the water line are they?

 

[shanie56]

Let's focus on your water pramameters.

It was some time ago a accepted thought of keeping hard corals at 0 N03 and P04. That's not widely practiced now.

Raise your Nitrates to 5-10 ppm and your P04 to .02.

With your dkh at 9.2 and no N03 and P04, your corals have been starving to death.

Now on to the lights. Are they the Marine version? How high off the water line are they?

Hi thanks for the reply your help much appreciated,

How would you suggest safely raising those without them spiraling out of control?

Yes both lights are marine grade lights and also.using is marine fish stores local to me, and they are about 6" off the water level.

Thanks

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi thanks for the reply your help much appreciated,

How would you suggest safely raising those without them spiraling out of control?

Yes both lights are marine grade lights and also.using is marine fish stores local to me, and they are about 6" off the water level.

Thanks

Lights are most likely okay. The manufacturer says at 3" they are at 381 par. At 12" they are under 100 par. Depending on placement in the tank, could be not enough par.

Raising N03 can be done a couple different ways. Turn off your skimmer for a few days and see if it helps.
Or
Feed more
Or
Dose potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate.

Phosphate, dose brightwells or seachem phosphorus.

Any dosing is done in small increments till the values are achieved. Dose one day, test later that day. Repeat untill target is met.

 

[shanie56]

Lights are most likely okay. The manufacturer says at 3" they are at 381 par. At 12" they are under 100 par. Depending on placement in the tank, could be not enough par.

Raising N03 can be done a couple different ways. Turn off your skimmer for a few days and see if it helps.
Or
Feed more
Or
Dose potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate.

Phosphate, dose brightwells or seachem phosphorus.

Any dosing is done in small increments till the values are achieved. Dose one day, test later that day. Repeat untill target is met.

Right, brilliant I will give that a go and maybe lower light a tad.

Thanks for your advice.