whats causing stn

[aslmx]

Starting to get stn but not sure why. I went from mh to led a month and half ago. All alk cal and other readings are good. I have been using a bucket of salt that is a year old but was new when I opened it. I recently changed a skimmer pump and noticed my ground probe was unplugged but that was a week ago. I put in a new eheim heater last week and temp is 79-80. All fish and lps are ok but sps are going down. Not expensive stuff just birdsnests and montis but I dont want to lose them. My leds are 50% blue and 30% white as of now. I dont know if the lights are the issue because ive went days without light with no issues. Im thinking its the salt. Any help?

 

[aslmx]

ttt

 

[Saltgator]

Stn from the top (tips) or base?

 

[aslmx]

Base. I thought that's where it always started. Sorry

 

[Saltgator]

Base. I thought that's where it always started. Sorry

I'm no expert, but I'll try to help. Stn from the top is usually burnt tips from alk burn, but I've been told adjustment from mh to LEDs can cause this too. Stn from the base, from what I've been told is associated with nutrients. How's your nitrate and phosphate? Other than that, it could be that the sps is shading the base. LEDs allow more shadowing IMO.

 

[erndog]

To many acros in this hobby lol What does "stn" stand for?

 

[Saltgator]

Slow tissue necrosis

 

[aslmx]

phos and nitrates are at 0 with api tests. I was running my skimmer just when my lights were on because the pump was going bad but now im running it 24/7. I might try shutting it down at night to see if that helps give more nutrients. I only feed once a day. Its a 75g heavy stocked; 2 clowns , scopas,tomini, lawn mower and melanarus. Im going to be upgrading to a 210 after Christmas but would love to get a handle on it until then. Should I up my lights percentage to see what happens?

 

[cjrudy]

If you have delicate corals like any SPS you should be using better test kits than API

Go pick up Salifert test kits and double check all your readings Alk, Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4

 

[aslmx]

If you have delicate corals like any SPS you should be using better test kits than API

Go pick up Salifert test kits and double check all your readings Alk, Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4

Ive used both. I have salifert for alk mag and cal, they read the same as api and are more difficult for me with all the drops and mixes.

 

[Saltgator]

Do you have pics of your tank and possibly the sps effected?

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Following along

 

[aslmx]

I can get pics later this weekend. Can apitasia outbreak cause stn also? Im getting a bunch of those. Right now im trying to just maintain what I have until I get my 210 running. Im pretty sure that nothing from this tank will be going in the 210 besides fish.

 

[Saltgator]

I can get pics later this weekend. Can apitasia outbreak cause stn also? Im getting a bunch of those. Right now im trying to just maintain what I have until I get my 210 running. Im pretty sure that nothing from this tank will be going in the 210 besides fish.

I don't think aiptasia will cause it. I have a massive outbreak in my tank. They might sting certain parts, but shouldn't cause stn. Just fyi, I tested and tested zero PO4 for a while until a certain member asked me to check my sand. Boom, phosphates thru the roof. Sps would stn then rtn. I've been pulling my sand out with no other changes and my sps are growing and finally happy. Do you vacuum your sand during water changes? Any algae growth?

 

[aslmx]

I use to vacuum the sand but I haven't done it in a couple of years. My tank and sand are old. I might try and put my gfi reactor back on line and see if that helps. I know its probably something I've done because I changed so many things at once. I've fragged most of the corals to try to regrow them. Some of them are 4 years old. They might be dieing of old age.. I've also talked with people that have the same leds I have and they haven't experienced any problems and they have a lot nicer corals then mine so I can more then likely rule the lights out if the problem. I've not had any algae or red slime but I ll check closer to the sand next test.

 

[michaelis88]

Mostly can be para swing recently. Or lack of light in the base.
I prefer the first one tho.
Need pics and more details about ur tank instead of telling us ur para is ok.

 

[aslmx]

alk-8.6, cal 430, mag- 1380, phos-.5, nit. 0, sg 1.025, temp 80

 

[Zippy]

I have had similar issues on and off this year. I have a 55 gal heavily stocked sps tank. Mostly due to growth. The problem is I get fluctuations with alk and cal so easily due to the amount of coral and only 70 gal total water in system. It's these swings that cause it for me. That why I'm upgrading to a 120 with 40 gal fuge.....more water stability.

 

[aslmx]

I have had similar issues on and off this year. I have a 55 gal heavily stocked sps tank. Mostly due to growth. The problem is I get fluctuations with alk and cal so easily due to the amount of coral and only 70 gal total water in system. It's these swings that cause it for me. That why I'm upgrading to a 120 with 40 gal fuge.....more water stability.

yea. I hope thats the issue, Ive just never had it this bad. Im upgrading to a 210 with a 40 breeder after Christmas.