SPS HELP!!

[Ace6090]

Hey guys need some help! I had two original Hydra's 12" over a 40 Breeder using the AB+ scheduled I posted months a while ago. I then upgraded tanks to an 80 gallon about 6 months ago. When upgrading I added 4 T5's (Coral+, Blue+, Purple+ and AquaBlue+) and turned down the intensity on the Hyrda's. Recently pucks on the Hydra's died so AI upgraded me to Hydra52HD's. I used the AB+ w/T5's posted by Orcus and put them on a one month acclimation at 80%. Currently I am about 1/2 way through the acclimation and have lost about 5 acros. I have an Apex PMK and the PAR read 220PAR (@80% acclimation, same as before the upgrade) and now 240PAR. I chose the 80% acclimation due to the PAR readings in the tank before the upgrade. Since the upgrade PAR has only changed by 20-40 and I am losing SPS left and right. I am not however losing any LPS.

I am not sure why so many corals are dying with only a 20-40 PAR change. The 4xT5's are 12" from the water with the two Hydra52HD's in the middle of T5's.

Water Parameters are stable:
KH: 9
Ca: 450
Mg: 1350
NO3: minimal
PO4: minimal
I have a healthy sump, healthy fish and run the skimmer 24/7 except 2 hours after feeding each day.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[favites]

Hey Ace-- sorry to hear about your losses! Did the corals STN/RTN etc? How did the coloration of the sps change with the acclimatization prior to the loss? Assuming all your other parameters are stable and the light is the cause, I would state the obvious: turn your Hydra's way down and acclimate even slower....I am not familiar with your par meter but you are certain the readings are taking the LED light into account?

if we are looking for other factors outside your light source -- might be helpful to see a picture of your tank and some of the healthier sps..do you have algae? increasing light intensity and minimal po4/nitrates could be an issue..

 

[Ace6090]

favites, the coral started turning brown slowly a few weeks ago, likely due to the dying Hydra pucks. Then a couple of days after upgrading to the Hydra52HD's the coloration started to return. Then, yes, RTN quickly following a few days later.

As for the PAR meter, I believe it has blue light compensation but not 100% sure.

As for the other coral I have healthy LPS but all the SPS are starting to die off. I do have algae growth but agree PO4 and NO3 might be the issue. One thing to note is one of the SPS is dying from the bottom up.

 

[jda]

This could be a combo of new tank and lighting change. I would turn the Hydras down quite a bit and see if anything stabilizes - they are just supplementing your T5s anyway.

There is way more output in the T5s that the PAR meter cannot measure. This is high quality light, however and not likely your issue.