Trouble with SPS (HELP)

[dbjonesjr]

Hi all. Typically I avoid asking for help and advice as I prefer to figure things out on my own. However, I am about to give up in my journey to keep SPS as I have been riddled with problems. I'll try and start from the beginning and provide as much useful information as I can.
My current tank has now been set up roughly six months. It is a 90 gallon display, Ruby 36 sump, and a 30 gallon frag tank. The sump and frag tank are behind the wall of the main display.
My parameters (for the most part) are all on par or within accepted values. I will list them below. I have had two batches of frags I have gotten (from locals) essentially RTN or STN. The only frag I've had last more than two weeks was a green slimer acro. It actually looked pretty good until it didn't.
Now to a theory I've come up with. I didn't think much of it till a local guy named Brian (Lazy's Coral House) mentioned that he's been having problem with chromium in his tank (busted MP40 magnets). I suddenly remembered busting a thermometer in my tank at the beginning of cycling (it was a deep blue with the little metal balls). Could this be a culprit? Did it leach something in my tank that is still there even after weekly water changes of 20%? Anyways, I could ramble on but I'll wait for the experts to ask some more specfics.
Parameters:
Alk - 8.0 dKH
Calc - 430 ppm
Mag - 1450 ppm
Phosphate - .04 to .08 ppm
Nitrate - 0 (by API and Salifert)
I have dosed aminos to try and combat low nitrates. A buddy told me all my zoas suck them up.

 

[29bonsaireef]

Do you think any of the little beads from the thermometer may still be in the tank? I'm not sure if that is your main issue, but it could definitely be doing something if they're still in there.

 

[dank reefer]

I'm no expert, but if your nitrate is at zero, then that can be one of the problems. Are you using carbon or geo in your setup? Also, how much are you feeding (daily, every other day)?

 

[dbjonesjr]

Do you think any of the little beads from the thermometer may still be in the tank? I'm not sure if that is your main issue, but it could definitely be doing something if they're still in there.

It’s possible but unlikely considering the tank is bare bottom. I’ll go around with a good magnet next time I clean (that’s the plan).

 

[dbjonesjr]

I'm no expert, but if your nitrate is at zero, then that can be one of the problems. Are you using carbon or geo in your setup? Also, how much are you feeding (daily, every other day)?

I use carbon periodically (probably 1 week every month). I don’t use GFO, but I did implement chaeto into my nutrient reduction plan (had nitrate problems in last tank). The chaeto use has ceased since prior to adding the second group of frags. I feed roughly 2 cubes every day. I feel this is too much for my livestock but I am trying to raise nitrates. I have a bunch more fish in QT currently. Sometimes if I’m home in the morning I’ll throw some pellets in the tank.

 

[dean.reef]

Hi all. Typically I avoid asking for help and advice as I prefer to figure things out on my own. However, I am about to give up in my journey to keep SPS as I have been riddled with problems. I'll try and start from the beginning and provide as much useful information as I can.
My current tank has now been set up roughly six months. It is a 90 gallon display, Ruby 36 sump, and a 30 gallon frag tank. The sump and frag tank are behind the wall of the main display.
My parameters (for the most part) are all on par or within accepted values. I will list them below. I have had two batches of frags I have gotten (from locals) essentially RTN or STN. The only frag I've had last more than two weeks was a green slimer acro. It actually looked pretty good until it didn't.
Now to a theory I've come up with. I didn't think much of it till a local guy named Brian (Lazy's Coral House) mentioned that he's been having problem with chromium in his tank (busted MP40 magnets). I suddenly remembered busting a thermometer in my tank at the beginning of cycling (it was a deep blue with the little metal balls). Could this be a culprit? Did it leach something in my tank that is still there even after weekly water changes of 20%? Anyways, I could ramble on but I'll wait for the experts to ask some more specfics.
Parameters:
Alk - 8.0 dKH
Calc - 430 ppm
Mag - 1450 ppm
Phosphate - .04 to .08 ppm
Nitrate - 0 (by API and Salifert)
I have dosed aminos to try and combat low nitrates. A buddy told me all my zoas suck them up.

Check your ro water is 0tds

 

[dbjonesjr]

Check your ro water is 0tds

It is, always has been. Use a TDS meter and replace cartridges often.

 

[BestMomEver]

This sounds complicated. Have you sent off an ICP test? If not, I would recommend doing that ASAP.

 

[AngryMike2016]

0 nitrates is no good. Consider dosing Neonitro.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Definitely get an ICP test.

 

[dbjonesjr]

ICP test will be ordered ASAP . Currently not in a rush considering I have zero surviving frags!

 

[dank reefer]

Do you have any coraline growing in your tank? Just saw that your BB.

 

[dbjonesjr]

Do you have any coraline growing in your tank? Just saw that your BB.

Yes on rocks. I just removed crushed coral (worthless) lol. I have plenty of coralline growing on my frag tank glass though.

 

[justingraham]

Although 0 nitrates is no good u claim to have Zoas so I don’t think that is your problem
If those a params u have are consistent then that’s not your problem
What are your lights and time of lights and what is your flow?
How are you keeping your alk and calcium stable water changes dosing pump?
Ur tank is 6 months old did you use brand new dry rock? If so you might just have to wait another six months to get all the good bacteria all over the rocks

I’m a take a stab in the dark and say either pest or bad frags are ur problem did you check the frags when they came in?

 

[dbjonesjr]

Although 0 nitrates is no good u claim to have Zoas so I don’t think that is your problem
If those a params u have are consistent then that’s not your problem
What are your lights and time of lights and what is your flow?
How are you keeping your alk and calcium stable water changes dosing pump?
Ur tank is 6 months old did you use brand new dry rock? If so you might just have to wait another six months to get all the good bacteria all over the rocks

I’m a take a stab in the dark and say either pest or bad frags are ur problem did you check the frags when they came in?

Frags were mostly fresh cuts from a tank of very high quality. I run Ocean Revive lights at 100% on the blues (typically) and 10% on the whites (typically). When acclimating corals I’ll typically turn it down to about 30% and 1% respectively and ramp up after a week. Blues run 12 hours and whites run 6 hours. The tank I get frags from also uses the same lights plus T5 supplements (maybe this would help, considering my frag tank is T5 and I do get more coralline in there?). The rock in my display is all new but I’ve got about 50 lbs. of very old Pukani (has been wet for over 5 years per the guy I bought it off of) throughout the sump and frag tank. I keep parameters in check using kalk in my ATO (not enough demand to need dosing yet). I do have a dosing setup I will implement when necessary. When I do water changes I use two part to match parameters if necessary (I use Brightwell and typically it needs some buffering from the 6.5 dKH it mixes at). I use a Gyre and supplementary Koralias for flow. Turnover is roughly 40-45 times the tank volume.
I believe I addressed all your questions. I’m not sure what’s going on, and I’ve done extensive research to try and figure out what my issue is. Everything else does well in my tank excluding SPS frags. Hell, I can’t even keep monti cap alive.

 

[justingraham]

Frags were mostly fresh cuts from a tank of very high quality. I run Ocean Revive lights at 100% on the blues (typically) and 10% on the whites (typically). When acclimating corals I’ll typically turn it down to about 30% and 1% respectively and ramp up after a week. Blues run 12 hours and whites run 6 hours. The tank I get frags from also uses the same lights plus T5 supplements (maybe this would help, considering my frag tank is T5 and I do get more coralline in there?). The rock in my display is all new but I’ve got about 50 lbs. of very old Pukani (has been wet for over 5 years per the guy I bought it off of) throughout the sump and frag tank. I keep parameters in check using kalk in my ATO (not enough demand to need dosing yet). I do have a dosing setup I will implement when necessary. When I do water changes I use two part to match parameters if necessary (I use Brightwell and typically it needs some buffering from the 6.5 dKH it mixes at). I use a Gyre and supplementary Koralias for flow. Turnover is roughly 40-45 times the tank volume.
I believe I addressed all your questions. I’m not sure what’s going on, and I’ve done extensive research to try and figure out what my issue is. Everything else does well in my tank excluding SPS frags. Hell, I can’t even keep monti cap alive.

How do the corals die?

 

[dbjonesjr]

How do the corals die?

I’ve had some STN, some RTN, some seem to just fade (what happened with my Setosa). There is a variety. As mentioned I’ve had some frags look great for over a month and then bite the bullet.

 

[justingraham]

From bottom up top down flesh peeling off?

 

[Reef Hammer]

I had similar struggles until I add T5’s. I now run a hybrid T5 and LED fixture. I also had to wait for about a year before having any success as I started with dry rock. How often are you checking your alkalinity? I also got my tank s little “dirty” by turning off my protein skimmer for about a week.

 

[dbjonesjr]

From bottom up top down flesh peeling off?

I’ve had some Seriatopora and Stylophora do that but I feel like the Montis almost didn’t have a starting point. They kinda just fade away.