Trouble with LPS

[ReefingBliss]

Ok starting to get very frustrated. I can not keep LPS alive. Parameters are stable (I'll post below) but other then my hammer they all die with in 3-4 weeks. I don't get what I am doing wrong. So far I have list 2 Duncan's both multiple head healthy corals and a very healthy 7 head acan.

Tank 36x18x16
Flow Reefocto varios 4 return
Powerhead gyre 230 I think at 20%
Lighting 2 AI Hydra 26
Alk 8.2-8.6
Cal 420-450
Mag 1250-1300
Nitrate 25
phosphate .03-.08
salinity 1.025
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
ph 8.2

 

[Flippers4pups]

Can you explain how they decline?

 

[Sabellafella]

Ok starting to get very frustrated. I can not keep LPS alive. Parameters are stable (I'll post below) but other then my hammer they all die with in 3-4 weeks. I don't get what I am doing wrong. So far I have list 2 Duncan's both multiple head healthy corals and a very healthy 7 head acan.

Tank 36x18x16
Flow Reefocto varios 4 return
Powerhead gyre 230 I think at 20%
Lighting 2 AI Hydra 26
Alk 8.2-8.6
Cal 420-450
Mag 1250-1300
Nitrate 25
phosphate .03-.08
salinity 1.025
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
ph 8.2

Could you possibly get a photo of your tank?

 

[ReefingBliss]

Attachments aren't working from my phone I'll get pictures up in the morning. The Duncan's both just stopped extending their tentacles, until they just kinda receded back to nothing. The Acans basically the same. I have pictures of all of this I'll get up tomorrow.

 

[DSC reef]

Sounds like a possible nipping fish or invert.

 

[Auquanut]

Do you have any other corals in the tank (softies/SPS) that are unaffected?

 

[MERKEY]

I second a chance of nipping by a fish, shrimp, crab, or even snail...

 

[NanoDJS]

so you have 4 pucks on a 36" tank I have to ask what are your light s photo-period/ intensity/ and spectrum please

 

[MERKEY]

so you have 4 pucks on a 36" tank I have to ask what are your light s photo-period/ intensity/ and spectrum please

It is good coverage that's for sure

but definitely could be harming if too high.

 

[Neo Jeo]

I was loosing lps left and right. My salt tester was way off due to defective solution. As I brought my salt level down my lps took off! Check your checker

 

[ReefingBliss]

Okay sorry guys been at work.

So tank mates:
Fish:
2 Black Ice Clowns
1 Orchid Dottyback
1 Yellow Flanked Wrasse
1 Banghii Cardinal
1 Starry Blenny
1 Wheeler's Goby (maybe have not seen since put in tank he and the pistol shrimp ran to the back)
Inverts:
3 Emerald Crabs
1 Cleaner Shrimp
3 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Pistol Shrimp (maybe see above note)
4-7 Hermits
5-9 Snails Trochis and Astrea
Coral Unaffected:
11 various Mushrooms
3 Head Blue Tip Hammer
Lots of Zoa and a few paly
Coral Affected:
Duncans (killed two with multiple heads)
Acans (killed one with about 9 heads)

I'll attach some pictures. The Duncan was the first to decline. I was target feeding them every other day about. I feed a mix of Mysis, LRS Fertile Frenzy, Reef Nutrition ROE and Phyto mix daily. Plus the target feeding E.O. day.

Lights I have them on the Dmitry Tumanov Preset availible from their website. I just turned the whole day down by 10% across the board so maxing out at 65% from 230PM-630PM

 

[MERKEY]

You have a lot on that list that could do it.

I had to remove all my emerald crabs due to eating zoes, polyps, clams....I've also heard of shrimp going rogue as well.

Set up an iPad or your phone on a chair to record it all night and see what's having a midnight snack!

 

[DSC reef]

I don't trust crabs or peppermint shrimp. I've seen starry blennies nom nom on LPS

 

[ReefingBliss]

Wouldn't they go after my Hammer too? Its been in the tank way longer never any issues.

 

[tehmadreefer]

I'd start with the emeralds and most definitely the peppermints

 

[MERKEY]

Emeralds will go after what ever is available first and closest. They dont really care in my experience. So if something iij ng hasn't gotten eaten yet it possibly could when the rest are all gone.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sounds like the exact behavior I experienced when I got false salinity reading and as soon as it got to 1.027, huge improvement. I highly recommend with water sample get a second, even third opinions to see what others are coming up with for salinity reading
Now its at 1.026 and here are duncans:

 

[ReefingBliss]

I test at 1.025 and I calibrate my Milwaukee before every test. So I don't think that is it. I will have my LFS check tomorrow too.

 

[ReefingBliss]

Bump any other ideas?

 

[DSC reef]

Try looking at your tank at night, sometimes inverts will bother corals then. I'm still thinking a fish or invert is picking at them.