What just happened?

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

I just got back from a 4 day trip (don't all bad stories start this way?) at midnight last night. As soon as I walked in the door I smelled it... that strong ocean scent. Something was clearly wrong...

I kicked on the light and my red planet is completely bleached, the tricolor is extremely pale and my birdsnest is halfway bleached. I just started using an alk doser and assumed it overdosed the tank. I pulled the doser and went to bed.

This morning I checked the alk and it's 9.6 dKH. A little higher than I'm shooting for, but it only went from 8.6 to 9.6 over a 4 day period. Didn't test calc yet, but it was 430 when I left. It typically drops about 5-10 per day, so it should be fine. I added carbon, but I have no idea what happened or what to do next...

Help!

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

I put a poly filter pad in there last week. I just pulled it out. It hasn't changed color at all. Only one fish and she's alive and well. Saw the two crabs last night. Nothing large in there that could have died.

Dilan Patel · Oct 12, 2017

Would you be able to give some more test results such as Nitrate,Phosphate,Nitrite, Ammonia. Also Good choice of running Carbon.

Dilan Patel · Oct 12, 2017

What type of lights,Intensity,Duration,How big is the Tank. ALl general info to help us undersatnd your system.

daelie · Oct 12, 2017

Can't see it being the alk, 1dkH over 4 days is really nothing, some people dose that much in one big daily dose to keep up with demand. Did your tank overheat or the lights get left on while you were gone?

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: Honestly haven't tested since my cycle
Ammonia: 0
SG: 35ppt
Temp: 77-77.5F
Lights:
Switched to a Radion G4 a few weeks ago. I run SPS AB+ at 60%.
Lights run 7:30A-7:00P
Tank: 50g cube

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

daelie said:
Can't see it being the alk, 1dkH over 4 days is really nothing, some people dose that much in one big daily dose to keep up with demand. Did your tank overheat or the lights get left on while you were gone?

My wife didn't say anything about the lights being stuck on. I use the internal controller on the Radion. I don't see anything wild on the temp or the pH.

3mm3 · Oct 12, 2017

What light did you switch from?

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

I switched to running outside air on my skimmer on 10/8. You can see the daily pH swing has condensed a bit.

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

3mm3 said:
What light did you switch from?

Kessil A360 running at 90%

3mm3 · Oct 12, 2017

I'm thinking you have an intensity increase that may have contributed to bleaching

nautical_nathaniel · Oct 12, 2017

Are the SPS bleaching or is it RTN/STN? Do you have any algae issues or cyano/diatoms outbreaks?

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

3mm3 said:
I'm thinking you have an intensity increase that may have contributed to bleaching

In theory, the jump was fairly small. I based the numbers off of the BRS numbers. I also measured with my lux meter. I went from 25,000 lux at the water surface to 28,000 with the radion.

nautical_nathaniel said:
Are the SPS bleaching or is it RTN/STN? Do you have any algae issues or cyano/diatoms outbreaks?

I don't know. I'll post a pic.... Yes I have algae issues. I have some spirolina as well. None of the corals have seemed affected by the algae previously. Its mostly bubble algae, but I see some new turf algae growth since before I left.

Robsk · Oct 12, 2017

You seem to have some great information on your tank. Any metals? Something rusting? Electrical current in the waters? Otherwise, I would be inclined with the data you shared that the acclimation to the lights might be the problem. Sorry about it all. Coming home from trips to upside down tanks is no fun.

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

Iphone pic. Please ignore the zoas.... they're a lost cause...

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

Robsk said:
You seem to have some great information on your tank. Any metals? Something rusting? Electrical current in the waters? Otherwise, I would be inclined with the data you shared that the acclimation to the lights might be the problem. Sorry about it all. Coming home from trips to upside down tanks is no fun.

I had two tube clamps that were rusting. I took them off a couple weeks back and replaced them with plastic. I actually bought the poly filter pad just because I was worried about that.

TheEngineer · Oct 12, 2017

Same coral right before I left.

Mal11224 · Oct 12, 2017

I see a few things that may have contributed. You were gone for four days and your nitrates are at zero, may have starved the corals. Not sure if you had someone adding nutrients to the tanks. Also, although your alk jumped 1 dkh, it is not known if it was a sudden jump to 9.6. If that is the case, then it may be your immediate issue. Also, noticed that your temp while you were gone fluctuated more than it did when you were home. May not be the main issue, but everything together may have cause thes RTN to occur. also, looking at your zoas, I'd say that nutrients is an issue.

nautical_nathaniel · Oct 12, 2017

So sorry for your loss, that was a very good looking colony.

I'm leaning more towards the lights as others have suggested, Radions are super strong over a 50 gallon cube like that. But, I also am seeing more algae in the before and after pictures so you may have some nutrient issues and quick fluctuations in nitrates, phosphates, and alkalinity can stress SPS out and lead to RTN.