SPS Die-Off - Help!

[joe-ejs]

Hello, I have a mixed reef tank that is two years old. It was maturing nicely until about a month ago. I am now losing the majority of my SPS corals. My softies seem fine. I am trying to determine the cause and solution to the problem. I am wondering if I might have a Bacteria infection or something that I am missing. Any advise is appreciated. Here is what I know thus far

- Just received results back from ICP water test. All parameters look perfect except Barium which is just slightly high.
- Alk = 8.6
- Calcium - 440
- SG - 1.027 - (I am working to reduce this to 1.026)
- Temp - 80
- Nitrate - 4.3
- Phosphate - .02 - (Hanna Test Kits used for all testing)
- I run a UV 7x24

Known issues and changes applied over last 90 days:

- Tank has historically been running Low Nutrients. Nitrate and Phosphate both measured 0 (Hanna testing)
- I then started to dose NoPhos and NoNeo to bring parms inline. ( i have only dosed a total of 3 times thus far)
- Green turf type algae outbreak over last few months. I continue to struggle to make it go away (manual and WC's)
- Return pump shut down for 8hrs or so. Caused temp to rise to 90. Lowered it to 80 over several hrs.
- Do have two Gyres that ran during this timeframe, keeping circulation in tank. Heater was in the sump, thus temp spike.
- Return pump did shut down 2 other times / different days, for short outages (less than 4hrs). I have since resolved return pump issues. This shutdown caused temp to drop 6 degrees.
- I have also used Chemipure Elite a few times over the last 90 days.

I am not sure what the next troubleshooting step should be. Is it possible I have a bacteria infection?

 

[pshootr]

I could be wrong, but I suspect the 90° temperature Spike was bad news.

 

[SPS2020]

Agree with the above (temp spike to 90). I would not chase anything at this point, just try to keep things stable which is paramount for SPS especially Acros.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, I have a mixed reef tank that is two years old. It was maturing nicely until about a month ago. I am now losing the majority of my SPS corals. My softies seem fine. I am trying to determine the cause and solution to the problem. I am wondering if I might have a Bacteria infection or something that I am missing. Any advise is appreciated. Here is what I know thus far

- Just received results back from ICP water test. All parameters look perfect except Barium which is just slightly high.
- Alk = 8.6
- Calcium - 440
- SG - 1.027 - (I am working to reduce this to 1.026)
- Temp - 80
- Nitrate - 4.3
- Phosphate - .02 - (Hanna Test Kits used for all testing)
- I run a UV 7x24

Known issues and changes applied over last 90 days:

- Tank has historically been running Low Nutrients. Nitrate and Phosphate both measured 0 (Hanna testing)
- I then started to dose NoPhos and NoNeo to bring parms inline. ( i have only dosed a total of 3 times thus far)
- Green turf type algae outbreak over last few months. I continue to struggle to make it go away (manual and WC's)
- Return pump shut down for 8hrs or so. Caused temp to rise to 90. Lowered it to 80 over several hrs.
- Do have two Gyres that ran during this timeframe, keeping circulation in tank. Heater was in the sump, thus temp spike.
- Return pump did shut down 2 other times / different days, for short outages (less than 4hrs). I have since resolved return pump issues. This shutdown caused temp to drop 6 degrees.
- I have also used Chemipure Elite a few times over the last 90 days.

I am not sure what the next troubleshooting step should be. Is it possible I have a bacteria infection?

While salt is a tad high, it is 1.03+ I see cause issues.
I cant understand how no3 and po4 is low and youre getting GHA which forms in higher levels.
Starting with basics. . . Any change in lighting or water flow?
With a mixed reef , softies often release low level toxins which can affect SPS however chemipure Elite would have addressed that but Elite can also get nutrients so low that SPS suffer but yours seem to be in a safe range.
SPS often suffer from stress from external factors and changes in water parameters but ICP appears to detect nothing Unless something changed right after ICP test such as sudden change in alkalinity, salinity, or temperature swings.
Other issue would be lighting if its causing overproduction of zooxanthellae within coral as well as temperature spike which triggered the tissue loss. As in australia reefs, they had very high temps if you recall and bleached out all the coral

 

[bobnicaragua]

I agree with the likely culprit being the temp spike. Your hair algae outbreak is probably from going from 0 nutrients to regular dosing. Add a bunch of turbo snails.

 

[Rennurdoar]

- Tank has historically been running Low Nutrients. Nitrate and Phosphate both measured 0 (Hanna testing)
- I then started to dose NoPhos and NoNeo to bring parms inline. ( i have only dosed a total of 3 times thus far)

Am I understanding this incorrectly? You're already at low nutrients, but dosing Nophos? Doesn't that remove nutrients also? If you're running completely 0 on nutrients, won't that kill SPS/corals also?

Edit: Nevermind, I think you're using NeoPhos, not nophos correct?

 

[dwest]

Agree with temp spike. I would stabilize the tank and not do anything else based on the die off.

 

[brandon429]

you must drop your light intensity and sustain it until fixed, thats first cpr move in bleach/tissue loss control

 

[mattdg]

My thought is this was a 1-2-3 punch. I am dealing with something similar myself.

Changed nutrient levels, there was a major heat swing and a change in Alk (likely a spike) while the coral were stressed. SPS can manage one, but throw a whole bunch of changes at them and they will suffer. At this point, you have coral with weakened immune systems and algae fighting for space and nutrients. Basically a lot of instability in the system.

My feeling is you should lower light levels slightly but mainly leave things alone, especially if your tests came back stable. Monitor your ALK, as it will be an indicator of coral health, as they begin to recover.

Hoping things turn around.

 

[Duffer]

i agree with temp swing, i'm also thinking if you have turf algea, you may be getting a false reading on your phosphates, which maybe consuming the phosphates and feeding off of them..

 

[joe-ejs]

A little clarity on my original post:.

1.) I have had low nutrients readings for many months. Self inflicted, underfeeding...not adding any Amino Acids / Trace Elements, etc
2.) The Green algae appeared during low nutrients as noted in Point 1..
3.) I added Chemipure Elite to see if it would fight the algae, with the belief there are nutrients (phosphate) in the tank even though I am not getting any readings, as algae is growing.
4.) I then removed Chemipure Elite, thinking I may have bottomed out the tank even worse..
5.) I then dosed NeoPhos and NeoNitrate to raise Nitrates and Phosphates..
6.) SPS problem seemed to expedite after I dosed the products. Not sure if it is related or just a coincidence.

 

[joe-ejs]

While salt is a tad high, it is 1.03+ I see cause issues.
I cant understand how no3 and po4 is low and youre getting GHA which forms in higher levels.
Starting with basics. . . Any change in lighting or water flow?
With a mixed reef , softies often release low level toxins which can affect SPS however chemipure Elite would have addressed that but Elite can also get nutrients so low that SPS suffer but yours seem to be in a safe range.
SPS often suffer from stress from external factors and changes in water parameters but ICP appears to detect nothing Unless something changed right after ICP test such as sudden change in alkalinity, salinity, or temperature swings.
Other issue would be lighting if its causing overproduction of zooxanthellae within coral as well as temperature spike which triggered the tissue loss. As in australia reefs, they had very high temps if you recall and bleached out all the coral

A little clarity on my original post:.

1.) I have had low nutrients readings for many months. Self inflicted, underfeeding...not adding any Amino Acids / Trace Elements, etc
2.) The Green algae appeared during low nutrients as noted in Point 1..
3.) I added Chemipure Elite to see if it would fight the algae, with the belief there are nutrients (phosphate) in the tank even though I am not getting any readings, as algae is growing.
4.) I then removed Chemipure Elite, thinking I may have bottomed out the tank even worse..
5.) I then dosed NeoPhos and NeoNitrate to raise Nitrates and Phosphates..
6.) SPS problem seemed to expedite after I dosed the products. Not sure if it is related or just a coincidence.

 

[vetteguy53081]

A little clarity on my original post:.

1.) I have had low nutrients readings for many months. Self inflicted, underfeeding...not adding any Amino Acids / Trace Elements, etc
2.) The Green algae appeared during low nutrients as noted in Point 1..
3.) I added Chemipure Elite to see if it would fight the algae, with the belief there are nutrients (phosphate) in the tank even though I am not getting any readings, as algae is growing.
4.) I then removed Chemipure Elite, thinking I may have bottomed out the tank even worse..
5.) I then dosed NeoPhos and NeoNitrate to raise Nitrates and Phosphates..
6.) SPS problem seemed to expedite after I dosed the products. Not sure if it is related or just a coincidence.

Not a coincidence- Thanks for clarification. As we often speak of stability, no3 and po4 elevated, then it was lowered by SC Elite and then raised again and chemically which likely uspet the SPS

 

[joe-ejs]

Not a coincidence- Thanks for clarification. As we often speak of stability, no3 and po4 elevated, then it was lowered by SC Elite and then raised again and chemically which likely uspet

Not a coincidence- Thanks for clarification. As we often speak of stability, no3 and po4 elevated, then it was lowered by SC Elite and then raised again and chemically which likely uspet the SPS

So if this is caused by self inflicted error, is just letting things stabilize the best course of action at the moment?

Should I reduce light as suggested, do a larger water change, or just let it ride out as is and replant my SPS as needed?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So if this is caused by self inflicted error, is just letting things stabilize the best course of action at the moment?

Should I reduce light as suggested, do a larger water change, or just let it ride out as is and replant my SPS as needed?

Yes on all questions. Often coral that turns white still has algae retained and need conditions acceptable to them to restore themselves

 

[joe-ejs]

Yes on all questions. Often coral that turns white still has algae retained and need conditions acceptable to them to restore themselves

So if i am going to reduce lighting, it is intensity or duration or both? Is there some guidelines on how much and how long?

Just trying to not create a bigger problem

 

[vetteguy53081]

So if i am going to reduce lighting, it is intensity or duration or both? Is there some guidelines on how much and how long?

Just trying to not create a bigger problem

STABILITY IS KEY
If the numbers are what they've been and no change in lighting schedule - maintain what you have. You can reduce white but not more than 5%