SPS Corals Dying

[ddreher47]

Need some help here... my new SPS coral frags are dying. Here is my tank chemistry:

Nitrate 12
Cal 340
PO 0.02
MG 1600
ALK 12.6
PH 7.8
Nitrite 0.1
Ammonia 0.02
Iodine 0.06
Iron 0
Salt 1.025
Temp 77.4

test kit is Red Sea

some photos from my setup is also attached. I called the LFS about the MG and they asked me to bring a water sample bc I am not currently dosing anything and think it is odd my MG is that high. I use Reef Crystals as salt. They also recommend a 25% water change. They think I have some detectable ammonia and nitrite because I have been doing weekly water changes of 10% and taking the water from the sand which is stirring up detritus. I also started a bio pellet reactor about 30 days ago.

please let me know your thoughts...

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Sorry to hear about you troubles. Ive had issues with SPS in the past by running high alk with low phosphate and nitrate levels. How long exactly have you had the corals?

Have you always ran your alk above 12dkh?

 

[ddreher47]

Sorry to hear about you troubles. Ive had issues with SPS in the past by running high alk with low phosphate and nitrate levels. How long exactly have you had the corals?

Have you always ran your alk above 12dkh?

I have had the corals for a week. My ALK usually runs about 10. I buffered for PH a couple days ago and think I should not have. The tank has only been up for a total of two months.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I have had the corals for a week. My ALK usually runs about 10. I buffered for PH a couple days ago and think I should not have. The tank has only been up for a total of two months.

2 months in general isn’t long for a tank to start housing corals but it can be done. First thing to consider is stop chasing numbers. PH buffers screw with your alk too causing all sorts of problems. The number one most important aspect to keeping livestock happy is providing stable and consistent conditions.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Plus keep in mind PH rises and falls throughout the day. The peak happening in combination with photosynthesis and dropping at nightfall. That is why refugiums are great, they have the reverse lighting schedule as the display tank maintaining a more stable PH. You can also crack a window to remove the excess C02 around the tank. Do you run a protein skimmer?

 

[ddreher47]

Plus keep in mind PH rises and falls throughout the day. The peak happening in combination with photosynthesis and dropping at nightfall. That is why refugiums are great, they have the reverse lighting schedule as the display tank maintaining a more stable PH. You can also crack a window to remove the excess C02 around the tank. Do you run a protein skimmer?

I do run a protein skimmer. I also just left the LFS and found out I was testing wrong with the Red Sea test kits. I was pulling the plunger on the test kit past the 1 ml mark because I thought it needed a total of 1 ml of fluid which is not the case. Here are my new numbers:

ALK 10.2
MG 1440
PO 0

They are thinking the same as you that my tank my be too new. I also bought the frags online which could have caused some shock in shipping.

Thanks for your help!