Sps dying from tips .

[amazongb]

I have similar issues when I had high phos from a dino battle and brought it back down too quickly with rowaphos. I took out the rowaphos and let everything stabilize. 37 ppb (which I read is 0.11ppm) isn't THAT high for acros. I run a tank with 8dkh and my acros will suffer tip burn at any phos lower than 0.03. I agree with above that removing rowaphos is probably a good start. Whenever I have those damaged tips, I clip the damaged areas after everything stabilizes and the tissue usually grows back over the clipped areas.

I've had P04 as high as .77 and the tank looked fine, including acros.. but I panicked and reduced P04 with GFO too quickly and almost nuked my tank. I've learned to stop messing with things when the tank looks fine.. Good advice here...

 

[Rmckoy]

What is your magnesium at? It plays a critical role in sustaining high alk and cal levels.

Alk is 1300

high alk ?

 

[Rmckoy]

Do you test ALK/CA at the same time every day? Also, what time do you dose ALK, and CA?

Testing it between 4:30 and 5:30pm every day .
I dose closer to 8-9pm

 

[Rmckoy]

I just realized it does say phosphorus. So then adjust the reactor so the level keeps lowering until you get to around 20ppb phosphorus just try to beep it steadily going down not too fast and try to avoid spikes.

Slower or faster tumble ?
Yes it says phosphorus ( ppb ) using Hanna ulr
Converted to phosphates is .11

 

[Suohhen]

Alk is 1300

high alk ?

1300 mag is fine. Magnesium is the reason we can maintain calcium and alk at these high numbers by slowing precipitation.

 

[Rmckoy]

Other than rowaphos and water changes . The largest water change I can do so far is about 10%
25gal

I don’t want to get into carbon dosing if I can avoid it .
Dosing nitrifying bacteria in established reefs has proved effective for lowering nitrates . But does it have any effect on phosphates ?

 

[Rmckoy]

Seachem Aquavitro products such as remediation is supposed break down excess food , sludge , waste abs detritus ( which causes phosphates .

I can dose some of it ...

Tomorrow is my water change day .
I’ll update this post tomorrow after testing .

 

[Rmckoy]

Water change last night .
So in addition the one thing that’s changed was lights were raised up 1” and suspended from chains instead of resting on ghetto boards across the top of the tank .
I do have more spread and light to the corners now .
Could this cause sps to die from the tips or can we blame it strictly on high phosphates

alk is still at 7.5 ( 134ppm )
I will test phosphates when I get home ,

 

[Rmckoy]

Next possible thing I’m thinking ...

I’ve had red flatworms for awhile .
apparently they die releasing toxin .
could that be a contributing factor ?

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Next possible thing I’m thinking ...

I’ve had red flatworms for awhile .
apparently they die releasing toxin .
could that be a contributing factor ?

Probably not if you are running carbon. My guess is that your tank isn’t as stable as it needs to be. A lot of SPS don’t like rapid changes. If you are having to dose ALK, you should really consider a doser. Adding it all at once every day could be an issue. But, I think the main issue is stability. My NO3 hardly ever changes. My PO4 may change 0.005 in a week, but that is probably test error inherent in the Hanna ULR.

 

[Rmckoy]

Probably not if you are running carbon. My guess is that your tank isn’t as stable as it needs to be. A lot of SPS don’t like rapid changes. If you are having to dose ALK, you should really consider a doser. Adding it all at once every day could be an issue. But, I think the main issue is stability. My NO3 hardly ever changes. My PO4 may change 0.005 in a week, but that is probably test error inherent in the Hanna ULR.

Phosphates have always been higher .
nitrates are 10 and stable .
I do have carbon in a reactor 1tbs per 10 gal

and rowaphos in the other .
Phosphates are constantly rising .... could this be the flatworms causing it ?

 

[Rmckoy]

Probably not if you are running carbon. My guess is that your tank isn’t as stable as it needs to be. A lot of SPS don’t like rapid changes. If you are having to dose ALK, you should really consider a doser. Adding it all at once every day could be an issue. But, I think the main issue is stability. My NO3 hardly ever changes. My PO4 may change 0.005 in a week, but that is probably test error inherent in the Hanna ULR.

I have a dosing pump .
to set up to dose the 2ppm alk it’s using per day worth setting up ?

does 12ml alk effect anything ?

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I have a dosing pump .
to set up to dose the 2ppm alk it’s using per day worth setting up ?

does 12ml alk effect anything ?

Phosphates have always been higher .
nitrates are 10 and stable .
I do have carbon in a reactor 1tbs per 10 gal

and rowaphos in the other .
Phosphates are constantly rising .... could this be the flatworms causing it ?

I doubt the flatworms are causing the PO4 rising.

In that size of tank, I don’t think that little ALK would cause an issue unless it wasn’t getting mixed well and fell on the effected SPS. With that little consumption, I might consider Kalkwasser in the top off instead of dosing.

 

[Rmckoy]

I doubt the flatworms are causing the PO4 rising.

In that size of tank, I don’t think that little ALK would cause an issue unless it wasn’t getting mixed well and fell on the effected SPS. With that little consumption, I might consider Kalkwasser in the top off instead of dosing.

I’ve always been confused with kalk .
how much to add etc .

the tank has been stable since October ....
no consumption of anything until about a month ago .
I’ll attach a picture .
this massive tabling acro , every tang , blenny and wrasse are picking the algae growing .
The other picture added , that dark colour has just started ....,

something is off ......,

 

[amazongb]

What's your RODI setup like?

 

[Rmckoy]

What's your RODI setup like?

Spectpure 90gpd

just changed the di resin .

 

[ReefBeta]

I have a dosing pump .
to set up to dose the 2ppm alk it’s using per day worth setting up ?

does 12ml alk effect anything ?

With that big of a acro colony there, 2ppm alk consumption per day is highly suspicious. I would expect 0.5~1 dkh (10~20ppm) consumption daily if the SPS and coraline are growing. So I assume they are not doing well, then something change push them over the edge. Since you mention moved light up, it could be light is not enough for either of them to show significant growth.

 

[Suohhen]

12 alk has been shown to increase growth in SPS but also can increase the risk of alk burn, but yeah 2ppm alk a day, I think you mean dkh cause that makes a whole lot more sense. Combine high alk with alk swings and it could very well be alk burn however I often see such disagreement on what causes alk burn so idk.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I’ve always been confused with kalk .
how much to add etc .

the tank has been stable since October ....
no consumption of anything until about a month ago .
I’ll attach a picture .
this massive tabling acro , every tang , blenny and wrasse are picking the algae growing .
The other picture added , that dark colour has just started ....,

something is off ......,

Based on what you have reported with phosphorus movement, I wouldn't call it stable. Stability isn't just ALK. Add to that that you are aggressively trying to remove PO4, that isn't stable IMO. My phosphorus moves 2-3 ppb at the most for a test. Have you considered an ICP test?

 

[Rmckoy]

12 alk has been shown to increase growth in SPS but also can increase the risk of alk burn, but yeah 2ppm alk a day, I think you mean dkh cause that makes a whole lot more sense. Combine high alk with alk swings and it could very well be alk burn however I often see such disagreement on what causes alk burn so idk.

12 is 12ml being dosed daily ...
not 12dkh