I am trying to figure out how to post the actual results of my Triton Lab saltwater test results for my 120g tank. I have been losing SPS in my tank for the past 7 months. My prized collection has been devastated. I suspected a low alk incident in March and quickly stabilized the alk, its now 6 months later and the carnage has continued unabated. It isvery slow STN, some small frags RTN's over night or within 12 hours but most all colonies have been slowly receding from the base up. I moved many frags and a few small colonies to my nano reef and they seemed to do fine for a while. Now some are showing the same STN from base up. This led me to think a bacteria infection that I am just passing from SPS to SPS and tank to tank. The only other corals to show any issue have been my Zoas in the main tank, they are up and down. All other LPS are fine. The SPS colonies are continuing to grow well at the tips and color is so-so. I tried gluing the leading edge of death with only one success, a smooth coral that I glued and moved to the nano reef. It has maintained well, all other corals that I have glued slowed down recession for a few weeks then it started again. Moving them or leaving them in the main tank does not seem to matter.
I have set up a 60g reef tank in the garage that is cycling right now for some new acropora that I am receiving later this month. I am hoping that these new additions will be fine in the holding tank. I was considering moving all unaffected frags to the holding tank as well but I am afraid that if it is a bacteria infection that is spreading I will take it into that tank as well. I figure new corals will be safe in the holding tank. Any thoughts on my plan of action in that regard? I am thinking of dipping affected SPS in Coral Rx but I have read that that may have little affect if the infection is "deeper" into the coral, like at a cellular level I guess. It will only help the surface of the corals. Any thoughts on that?
I use ESV 4-part salt, I dose BRS alk and Ca nightly on a hourly schedule, I just put carbon on the tank last week (which I think may be speeding up the recession
), otherwise that's it for additives. I do a weekly 15% water change, and there is a Poly-Filter pad in the sump that I replace monthly.
So back to my test results, Until I can get the whole page to display which I cant figure out, here are the worry spots:
Tin- 42.50 high red zone
Copper 2.15 High yellow zone
Bromide 62.20 high red zone
Boron 2.26 high yellow zone
Strontium 4.10 high yellow zone
Lithium 221.50 high red zone
Molydenum -12 low yellow zone
Iodine -34.08 low yellow zone
I am thinking about sending in a sample of my make-up saltwater to Triton...before it ever hits my tank and see what those results looks like. Is the tin and copper in the tank only or part of the make-up water? Are the results really out of whack and may be the reason for my terrible troubles or did I somehow get a terrible bacterial infection that is spreading and taking out the acropora?
If it is a bacterial infection how in the world do I ever bounce back from it will it always be in the tank even if all sps are removed?
One other thing, some time ago, in 2013 I believe, I had a vinegar overdoes, I pumped 1/2 gallon in the tank over 24 hours. This led to a massive bacteria bloom. I posted here to you and you suggested some water changes and let it play out. After a few water changes over 5 days my tank was amazing!!! The corals never looked better, they grew, color was stupendous and it was the best thing to have happened to my tank in years. I think all of this growth and health led to the low alk incident early this year as I didn't keep up with it enough. I also had someone re-build my rock scape with that Emco cement or some such thing in July 2014 (thank god as it probably saved my whole tank from destruction in the Napa quake). I don't knwo if that is contributing but he assured me it doesn't leach anything into the reef.
Any thoughts and help is super appreciated.
I have set up a 60g reef tank in the garage that is cycling right now for some new acropora that I am receiving later this month. I am hoping that these new additions will be fine in the holding tank. I was considering moving all unaffected frags to the holding tank as well but I am afraid that if it is a bacteria infection that is spreading I will take it into that tank as well. I figure new corals will be safe in the holding tank. Any thoughts on my plan of action in that regard? I am thinking of dipping affected SPS in Coral Rx but I have read that that may have little affect if the infection is "deeper" into the coral, like at a cellular level I guess. It will only help the surface of the corals. Any thoughts on that?
I use ESV 4-part salt, I dose BRS alk and Ca nightly on a hourly schedule, I just put carbon on the tank last week (which I think may be speeding up the recession
), otherwise that's it for additives. I do a weekly 15% water change, and there is a Poly-Filter pad in the sump that I replace monthly.So back to my test results, Until I can get the whole page to display which I cant figure out, here are the worry spots:
Tin- 42.50 high red zone
Copper 2.15 High yellow zone
Bromide 62.20 high red zone
Boron 2.26 high yellow zone
Strontium 4.10 high yellow zone
Lithium 221.50 high red zone
Molydenum -12 low yellow zone
Iodine -34.08 low yellow zone
I am thinking about sending in a sample of my make-up saltwater to Triton...before it ever hits my tank and see what those results looks like. Is the tin and copper in the tank only or part of the make-up water? Are the results really out of whack and may be the reason for my terrible troubles or did I somehow get a terrible bacterial infection that is spreading and taking out the acropora?
If it is a bacterial infection how in the world do I ever bounce back from it will it always be in the tank even if all sps are removed?
One other thing, some time ago, in 2013 I believe, I had a vinegar overdoes, I pumped 1/2 gallon in the tank over 24 hours. This led to a massive bacteria bloom. I posted here to you and you suggested some water changes and let it play out. After a few water changes over 5 days my tank was amazing!!! The corals never looked better, they grew, color was stupendous and it was the best thing to have happened to my tank in years. I think all of this growth and health led to the low alk incident early this year as I didn't keep up with it enough. I also had someone re-build my rock scape with that Emco cement or some such thing in July 2014 (thank god as it probably saved my whole tank from destruction in the Napa quake). I don't knwo if that is contributing but he assured me it doesn't leach anything into the reef.
Any thoughts and help is super appreciated.
