Where coral goes to die....

[chefunk]

This is how I think of my tank. I'm so frustrated right now. I don't know what I'm missing. I have a IM Nuvo 20. In a week it will be 6 months old since start of cycle. Parameters have been solid for a long time. Ammonia - 0 , Nitrates - 20ppm, Nitrites - 0 ppm, PH - 8.4. Been that way for 2 months. The only thing I have problems with is keeping my salinity up, haven't figured that out yet, it's generally 1.014 or so. I have a clown and an oyster crested goby as well as snails and blue tip crabs that have been in there for up to 3 months, no problem. Any time I introduce a Soft coral, it goes belly up within days. I run a Aquagadget Reactor with Charcoal, filter floss as well as purigen in the media racks.

I went to the LFS the other day and spent time with a knowledgable person, talked a lot about my challenges and got some suggestions from him on placement, flow, etc. 5 days later they are all demonstrably dead or appear to be dying. What gives? What am I missing?

 

[Clinton]

Bump... I mean I even killed a Kenya tree [emoji1786]

 

[Flexstone2k]

Salinity is way too low. Keep at 1.023 to 1.025

 

[chefunk]

Salinity is way too low. Keep at 1.023 to 1.025

Excellent suggestion. How would I do that. I'm baffled as to why it won't stay up. I mi according to directions and test with a refractor and it still won't stay up.

 

[samnaz]

What’s the salinity of the saltwater you use for water changes?

 

[chefunk]

What’s the salinity of the saltwater you use for water changes?

1.022-1.024

 

[Rjukan]

Have you calibrated the refractometer?

I would ditch the purigen. Get into a solid water change regimen doing 5g every week for a few weeks. Check salinity of mixed SW to confirm it's correct.

 

[chefunk]

Have you calibrated the refractometer?

I would ditch the purigen. Get into a solid water change regimen doing 5g every week for a few weeks. Check salinity of mixed SW to confirm it's correct.

I have calibrated the refractometer. I do a 15% (3gal) water change every Sunday. Have since the beginning.

 

[chefunk]

I misspoke on the purigen. I'm using Chemi-pure. Why ditch that?

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

i agree with Rjuken, that salinity is way low. Not sure how it would be possible for 1.022-1.024 replacement water to not increase your salinity.

 

[absowry]

Don't change your filtering. Focus on getting your salinity up. Fish and most inverts can survive at levels as low as yours but corals just can't.

You'll need to bring it up slowly. I would start by making your water change water at 1.030 each time you change your water. Once you get your dt up to 1.024-1.026 then match your salinity levels of your water change with your dt

 

[chefunk]

i agree with Rjuken, that salinity is way low. Not sure how it would be possible for 1.022-1.024 replacement water to not increase your salinity.

could the low salinity alone cause the coral die off? I will increase the salt in my mix....

 

[chefunk]

Don't change your filtering. Focus on getting your salinity up. Fish and most inverts can survive at levels as low as yours but corals just can't.

You'll need to bring it up slowly. I would start by making your water change water at 1.030 each time you change your water. Once you get your dt up to 1.024-1.026 then match your salinity levels of your water change with your dt

I'm sorry - DT?

 

[Cassian]

salinity is way to low for coral
shoot for 1.025

 

[Bryson.bobby]

I’m not even sure it’s possible for coral to live in 1.014 salinity...

 

[absowry]

I'm sorry - DT?

Display tank. Meaning your main tank.

 

[chefunk]

salinity is way to low for coral
shoot for 1.025

Sound advice. Apparently.

 

[chefunk]

Display tank. Meaning your main tank.

Ah, thank you....got it.

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

could the low salinity alone cause the coral die off? I will increase the salt in my mix....

That low salinity could definitely cause the die off.

 

[samnaz]

I’m honestly not sure what could be causing salt to leave the tank and low salinity over time...