SPS Issues

denverjon · Aug 14, 2017

So i"m having some issues with my sps, which unfortunately has happened before. I've got a 250g mixed reef and everything was doing really good until about 10 days ago when I noticed some of my sps browning overnight. I left town for the weekend and I came home last night to a couple colonies that had rtn'd. Most of my other sps aren't looking too happy right now either. This has mostly affected my sps. Most of my lps are fine although a colony of favia has lost all its color.

I've been through this before and I know how hard it is to figure out the cause. My parameters have been fairly stable...

Alk 9
Calc 370
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0
PH 8.5
Salinity 1.025

FYI, I run carbon and an algae scrubber.

I know my calcium is a bit low but that shouldn't be the reason. Also, once everything started to brown out, I raised my phosphates thinking that maybe my water was too clean. I also dosed a small amount of acropower but I can't see that being the issue.

So working off the assumption that I'm not going to know the exact cause, I did a 20% water change today. Would you suggest doing another water change? And how about running something like Chemi-Pure in case there are metals or other toxins present?

Thanks for your advice!

denverjon · Aug 14, 2017

I forgot to mention that my mag was really low when i tested it today, around 1050. Could that cause RTN?

Lninwa · Aug 14, 2017

I'm sorry this is happening. Someone here I trust will be able to help you

Ty Hamatake · Aug 14, 2017

What salt do you use? I just read a thread where apparently a batch of HW Marine went out with really low potassium and people were losing their SPS because of it. Just so happens that I made the switch to HW a few months ago, I tested my water and turns out I was at 310. Either way, what's your potassium at?

Bret Brinkmann · Aug 14, 2017

I believe the carbon should take care of any toxins but I'm not sure about the metals. If you suspect metal, then you can get a Triton water test done. While you wait for the results you can inspect and clean your equipment to see if it has any rust or corrosion.

When they started browning was is it all over or more along the edges?

denverjon · Aug 14, 2017

I don't have a potassium test kit. I did send a water sample into aqua medic today for testing and I'll have the results later this week, including potassium. I've been using Reef Crystals for years.

In terms of browning, it happened fast. I've got a nice sized colony of the Fox Flame and the yellow tips browned overnight. I also had an orange mille, pink lemonade and miyagi tort lose most of their color in a matter of days.

Event my sps that I consider to be the hardiest are struggling right now. I've got a large colony of green slimmer that's rtn'ing and have lost several montipora.

gig 'em · Aug 15, 2017

To clarify, did you add PO4 to your tank right after the browning out and RTNing? Or did you start dosing AcroPower and PO4 right before this event began? I don't believe that lack of PO4 is an issue, my tank and many others have performed just fine with little no measurable PO4 in the system. I would suggest not dosing AcroPower if things aren't happy. AcroPower could be like playing with a loaded gun if the system isn't completely happy.

I would do a large water change. Water changes are always my first course of action when something is wrong and I can't pinpoint the cause. 20% water change is a good goal. Have you added anything else recently? Did you swap out the carbon or dose anything the day before this event?

hybridazn · Aug 15, 2017

Do you dose 2 part? Possible alk swing?

Check all pumps and hardware for anything rusting.

Coronus · Aug 15, 2017

Water change is good. I would stop dosing everything. Your just adding more nutrients to the water helping the browning to continue. Clean up the water a bit through water changes. A couple of 25 % water changes every 4 days or so will start thing off right. Keep track of alk by testing daily as not to swing due to water changes.
I would turn off carbon and def no acro power or chemipure or anything like that. If lps are fine, its probably not a toxin but high nutrients or light deficiency.
Acros turn brown due to lack of light and high nutrients. Start here.

denverjon · Aug 15, 2017

Thanks for the info. A couple thoughts...

-I had an alk swing 6-8 weeks ago which stressed things out at the time but everything seemed to return to normal. I dose 2 part and test every other day and my alk has been stable since.

-Regarding my lighting, I've got a solid setup with led's, t5's and halides so I don't imagine that's the issue unless my halides are going bad. I don't have a par meter but I've been running them since mid-January, so they're only 7 months old.

-I'll take your advice and stop dosing acropower. I've only dosed it in small amounts and did so after my corals started to brown. I'll also do another water change in a couple days.

-Regarding my phosphates, I slowly raised them by feeding more and turning off my skimmer, but I did this after my corals started to brown as I thought that might the issue.

I raised this question earlier but could low magnesium cause these kind of issues? My mag was a little over 1,000 when I tested it yesterday.

Donovan Joannes · Aug 15, 2017

Can you list down your lighting equipment and schedule?.

Biggles · Aug 16, 2017

denverjon said:
I raised this question earlier but could low magnesium cause these kind of issues? My mag was a little over 1,000 when I tested it yesterday.

No idea why this wasn't addressed earlier, if every parameter was spot on but your Mg was sitting where yours is i would expect to see exactly what you're seeing mate. Lift it 50-100 a day until you get it back over 1300.

It will take a lot of Mg solution to get it back up from such a low level. Hope things turn around for you soon.