What just happened?

[TheEngineer]

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.

My nutrients have been at zero, basically forever. I used to dose nitrates, but stopped for a myriad of reasons. I started feeding reef chili and then I got this huge boom in bubble algae and I had a diatom bloom. Still haven't gotten the bubble algae under control. The jump in dKH was slow (in theory). I'm using a doser and I can see the activity records of that channel. It runs 45 seconds every 2 hours. The house got warmer than usual and the temp rose, but only 0.5F.

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.

Thanks. I liked it a lot... this colony was growing really fast right before this happened and under the new lights. I guess that could be it.... I think the additional algae is fueled by the coral die off. Something had to be causing the funky smell.

Did the spectrum of the lights change at all?

(Hey Kyle) Yeah, when I switched from the Kessil to the Radion.

 

[CoralWealth]

how old is the tank and how long have you had these colonies? I am assuming you bought them as colonies as at least in that picture I dont see any encrusting. Do you have any FTS?

It looks more like STN/RTN to me then just a bleached coral.

 

[XNavyDiver]

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

I run 2 radions on a 100 gallon cube, and I'm pretty sure (not 100% positive) that the AB+ settings have the UV channel at 100%. I'm leaning towards the light acclimation theory of what happened. I turned down the UV channel on both mine some time ago at the recommendation of my lfs people who run all their tanks under radions.

 

[TheEngineer]

how old is the tank and how long have you had these colonies? I am assuming you bought them as colonies as at least in that picture I dont see any encrusting. Do you have any FTS?

It looks more like STN/RTN to me then just a bleached coral.

Tank has been up 2.5 years. I've had the colonies for around 2 months. Yes, bought as colonies.

Now my hammer coral is closed up... something's off....

 

[TheEngineer]

I just pulled the poly filter pad. That's the most recent change in the tank. I've been using the same two part, so I don't think it is a chemical issue re: dosing.

Could be the light, but would it really take that long for signs of trouble to start? I have an orange setosa in the tank that looks just fine. Clam is fine, acans are fine too.

 

[CoralWealth]

Tank has been up 2.5 years. I've had the colonies for around 2 months. Yes, bought as colonies.

Now my hammer coral is closed up... something's off....

yeah there is definitely something in your tank that the corals are not liking. How are the fish doing?

The light probably had a little to do with it, but usually they adjust pretty fast especially since when you measured the pur there was not a big difference at all. I definitely think there is something in the tank, like heavy metals. When you do water changes, are you 100% sure your TDS is 0? When was your last water change?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I would do maybe a 15-20% water change and turn down the lights a bit, something's wrong with the water quality if all the zoas and now your hammer are closed up.

 

[TheEngineer]

yeah there is definitely something in your tank that the corals are not liking. How are the fish doing?

The light probably had a little to do with it, but usually they adjust pretty fast especially since when you measured the pur there was not a big difference at all. I definitely think there is something in the tank, like heavy metals. When you do water changes, are you 100% sure your TDS is 0? When was your last water change?

Just one fish (8 year old clown fish) and she seems fine. I haven't done a water change in probably 3 months. I'm on a well. I had the water tested about 2 years ago, no metals. I test my RODI water with an inline and hand held meter. Shows 0 TDS.

 

[Dilan Patel]

I would tune down the radions to max 40% for a few weeks than up them slowly

 

[KMench]

I wouldn’t necessarily say his pur is the same. Lux is only s measurement of light output, not photosynthetically usable light. Ur stated the spectrum had changed between the first light and this new one, so there very may we’ll be an issue with higher light intensity albeit light spectrum that is not visible or as easily discernible to the human eye depending upon the wavelength we are talking about.

 

[TheEngineer]

I would do maybe a 15-20% water change and turn down the lights a bit, something's wrong with the water quality if all the zoas and now your hammer are closed up. Perhaps turn down the lights a bit too.

The zoas have been an ongoing problem I've never been able to solve. They're great great great... closed up an melting.... great great great... closed up and melting... repeats. The hammer sometimes closes for a bit, but not usually this tightly.

I've got 5 gallons I can do right now. I'll get it mixing and start making more RODI for a second round.

 

[CoralWealth]

Just one fish (8 year old clown fish) and she seems fine. I haven't done a water change in probably 3 months. I'm on a well. I had the water tested about 2 years ago, no metals. I test my RODI water with an inline and hand held meter. Shows 0 TDS.

First thing I would do is a water change

 

[TheEngineer]

Points re: light well taken. I'm turning it down right now...

 

[TheEngineer]

First thing I would do is a water change

Water is mixing...

Adjusted the lights to 40%... this look right?

 

[KMench]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/aafeature

Here’s a good article about lights

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well, we already know there is a problem in the tank. I.e. zoas.
IMstilllimitedE , an acro will/can sit for weeks with no issue in less than favorable conditions and then just go poof. Like brown up in low flow, or not even brown, just not get flow and fall apart(my Walt smith pink birds nest rip).

So personally , I don't feel that it's a light ph nutints issue. I thinks the root of the problem systemic unfortunately. Perhaps one of those was tipping point but....

I changed lights on my little sps tank with a lux meter a total of four times in its first year and lost nothing.

 

[TheEngineer]

I think I'm going to just bite the bullet and do a full on triton test on the tank. Maybe it will show something.

 

[XNavyDiver]

Well, we already know there is a problem in the tank. I.e. zoas.
IMstilllimitedE , an acro will/can sit for weeks with no issue in less than favorable conditions and then just go poof. Like brown up in low flow, or not even brown, just not get flow and fall apart(my Walt smith pink birds nest rip).

So personally , I don't feel that it's a light ph nutints issue. I thinks the root of the problem systemic unfortunately. Perhaps one of those was tipping point but....

I changed lights on my little sps tank with a lux meter a total of four times in its first year and lost nothing.

@saltyfilmfolks, Would you mind giving some detail as to what, in your opinion, a systemic problem is? I ask for my own clarification and edification. Thanks!

 

[spiraling]

When my nutrients fall that low my zoas don't like it. I need to dose aminos or nitrates / phosphates to keep them from melting.
Do you have carbon? If your zoas or other coral are dying they might be poisoning the others.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@saltyfilmfolks, Would you mind giving some detail as to what, in your opinion, a systemic problem is? I ask for my own clarification and edification. Thanks!

Something is making his zoas sick. I have no Idea what that could be in this case but examples would be, Stray voltage, a patch of rock or sand gone anerobic(sulfur leak), a rock with copper , penny in the overflow etc. anything that effects everything in the system.

Fwiw, my 55 just had a prob with all the acros and only some Sps. The other tank with all the acros in it is fine.