Struggling a bit. What am I missing here?

[certain_code]

Put basically, I have been in the reef tank community for about 10 years now starting with a 29 gallon Petco tank and now up to a 80 gallon Deep Blue shallow tank. I have certainly learned a lot and have coral and fish loss as a cost. I am at the point now where I want to get to growing and having nicer SPS and LPS coral but am struggling with what I am missing. Perhaps some of you pros can make recommendations.

Equipment:
80 Gallon Deep Blue shallow tank
20 Gallon long sump
8x39 ATI Sunpower (11 Hour cycle, ~18" off the top of tank, no PAR readings )
BRS Dual reactor (only running 2 cups of carbon currently)
Bubble Magus Curve 5
JBJ Chiller
3 Heaters (for redundancy and if one gets stuck on it wont cook the tank)
Reef Angel Pro Controller
(2) RW-15 Pump (Else more)
Jebao dosing pump (doses BRS 2 part calcium and alkalinity)
Jebao return pump ()

Specs:
PH - 7.9 - 8.1
Temp - 78-79F
Salinity - 1.027 sg (refractometer)
ALK - 140 ppm CaCO3 equivalents (Hanna)
Cal - 390 ppm (Red Sea)
Phosphates - 0.0004 ppm (Hanna)
'trates - Undetectable (ATI)
'trites - Undetectable (ATI)

Livestock:
1 Platinum clown
1 Tomini Tang
1 6 Line wrasse
1 Neon Dotty back
1 Yellow Goby
Various coral, some SPS and anem (about 8 or 9 total)

So what am I missing? Should I be running GFO again? More frequent water changes? Better lighting/closer to waterline? All help much appreciated of course!

 

[d2mini]

What exactly is the problem/struggle?

 

[Tank2379]

Yes What would be the prob? Are you experiencing no SPS growth?

 

[certain_code]

What exactly is the problem/struggle?

Sorry, should have specified Haha. I just have not had any luck with coral growing really. My parameters are stable but coral color and health does not seem strong at all. The few sps I have tried to keep gradually lose color, never have extended polyps, and eventually die.

 

[Tank2379]

Have any Stray voltage?

 

[certain_code]

Have any Stray voltage?

Never really tried to test it. Can I test it with something like a multimeter?

 

[Paul C.]

How old is this set up? Your parameters seem to be in order. 18" seems rather high to me, Im running a ATI hybrid at 11" on the same tank. I know theres going to be some conflict in suggestions, however your tank is incredibly "clean". I'd try a lil dirtier water to be honest.

 

[d2mini]

Hmmm....
The only thing I can see in your parameters you posted related to coral is your water may be too clean with no nitrates and low p04.
Definitely no reason to run GFO.
I would add more fish. Get more fish poop in your system to feed your coral.

 

[Tank2379]

Never really tried to test it. Can I test it with something like a multimeter?

One way to test is putting your hands in the sump close to heaters. If you feel a shock then you know that could be one problem.

 

[certain_code]

How old is this set up? Your parameters seem to be in order. 18" seems rather high to me, Im running a ATI hybrid at 11" on the same tank. I know theres going to be some conflict in suggestions, however your tank is incredibly "clean". I'd try a lil dirtier water to be honest.

Setup is about 6 months old now, everything was transferred except the sanded from a 2 year old 55 gallon. Seeded the sanded with some old sand. You're not cooking you coral with your lights that close? I had them around 13" after slowly moving them down from 20" and coral seemed to be bleaching out. I was thinking the same about the clean water though. Need more fish to help with that.

Hmmm....
The only thing I can see in your parameters you posted related to coral is your water may be too clean with no nitrates and low p04.
Definitely no reason to run GFO.
I would add more fish. Get more fish poop in your system to feed your coral.

I was leaning towards this as well. Ran heavy gfo after the transfer to play it safe but was shocked by such low level on the Hanna. Still trying to find compatible fish to add.

 

[certain_code]

One way to test is putting your hands in the sump close to heaters. If you feel a shock then you know that could be one problem.

This seems funny to me but I recently repositioned them and didn't seem to feel a shock. Will look up some better ways to test for it though. Thanks

 

[Paul C.]

Your running a 8 bulb? Thats a lot of light. Might be why they were bleaching. Unless its a dimmable.

I run the ATI at 75% power for the t5's and 60% on the LED side. Got Zoa's and chalices doing just fine with P04 readings up around .2 via Hanna.

 

[certain_code]

Your running a 8 bulb? Thats a lot of light. Might be why they were bleaching. Unless its a dimmable.

I run the ATI at 75% power for the t5's and 60% on the LED side. Got Zoa's and chalices doing just fine with P04 readings up around .2 via Hanna.

It is the 8 bulb and not dimming. What are you running?

 

[d2mini]

GFO can really be dangerous to your inhabitants.
I had changed mine once. Then noticed that all my gorgonians closed up which never happens. SPS started getting all pale. My huge plating purple monti went completely iridescent white!
I started researching and then removed the GFO completely. Everything starting coming back almost instantly. Even the purple plate fully recovered over time.
I no longer run GFO. I have a good skimmer, a huge ball of chaeto growing gangbusters under an HPS grow light, and I run some carbon. And my parameters are pretty much identical to yours.

 

[beaslbob]

what did you feed your sps?

 

[bobstir]

One way to test is putting your hands in the sump close to heaters. If you feel a shock then you know that could be one problem.

Sorry, but this is the absolute worst advice I've ever heard. Go the multimeter route.

 

[d2mini]

I thought multimeters were misleading?
Saltwater is highly conductive and will almost always show some voltage. Voltage isn't the problem, current is.
And I didn't think there was an easy way to test for current?

 

[Paul C.]

I am running a 36" ATI Hybrid.

 

[evolved]

I see a whole heck of a lot of light on for a really long time, plus relatively low nutrients.

I'd greatly reduce the photo period and feed a bit more.

 

[chefjpaul]

I see a whole heck of a lot of light on for a really long time, plus relatively low nutrients.

I'd greatly reduce the photo period and feed a bit more.

+1