Wheres the complaint department?

Silverdot1211 · Apr 7, 2022

So as the title states I want the general complaint dept for this Reefing hobby. Totally new to reefing had/have my tank up and running for like 1.5- 2 yrs.. Things generally have been good with the exception of corals.... they seem to be dying after like 6 months. As a matter of fact the most recent death was a mint chip acro that I posted about like a month ago. It was doing great and literally in a day and a half it's a white skeleton. No changes to the tank with one exception a 20% water change 3ish weeks ago. Segway to those curious.... all tests taken like 3 hrs ago
Tank 78 degrees
Salinity 1.024
Phosphate near zero
Cal 450
Alk 1400-1450
Mag no idea don't have a test kit
Ph 8.2
Dosing all for reef.
The clam seems to be the only thing thriving lol

Now as of yesterday my mint chip is dead ( I think...) prior to that I have lost like 6-8 corals. Now nothing super expensive but when they live and grow for like 4 to 6 months then die randomly its very irritating. When they are all like 40 or 50 bucks a pop it sucks. I am not rich but I make due for a single father with 3 kids. I know this isn't new to alot of people but how do people stay so positive so as to keep wanting to spend money on this really expensive hobby.... I knew going in the Challenges and the costs and with the exception of the lights (Noopsyche k7 pro v2) I bought all new top tier stuff and automated as much as I could to help eliminate the human error and maintain stability. Before people jump on me for the light I needed something at the time to fit the budget. I am trying to decide if I drop another 1k on the tank lights will it be worth it or close up shop walk away and go back to fresh water. Sorry for complaining but my patience, my wallet, and my dreams with this tank are dwindling. Hopefully someone has ideas or something. I dont post much but you guys have always been awsome and helpful.

Jedi1199 · Apr 7, 2022

Question that jumps out at me.... Why are you dosing "all for reef"?

Can you post a census of what exactly you have in your tank? water parameters are usually what people want to know, but without knowing what exactly you are trying to keep, water parameters alone really doesn't give us much to work with.

I for one, pretty much ignore water parameters anyway. But don't take that as a reliable way to run a tank...

CocoReef · Apr 7, 2022

Are you sure your alk numbers are correct? Even if measured in ppm over dkh that looks extremely high. If those are your correct alk numbers you are burning your corals. I havent heard of high alk killing corals but Ive also never seen anyone have such high alk either. Also if your alk has major swings that can be a cause of coral death. Especially with sps

Nano sapiens · Apr 7, 2022

We just had a thread on the topic 'Why so hard'.

A couple things I see often is new reef keepers jumping straight into Acropora. Without getting into all the specifics, let's just say they have very demanding requirements and need very stable conditions. Even intermediate and advanced reefers often find them challenging, so what more a novice?

For newer systems, you want to have at least some phosphate and nitrate present at all times. Getting '0' on a test kit (especially for any length of time) can lead to coral starvation (very likely at least a contibutor to your CC Acro demise). Ammonia is the only parameter that we should never see a reading for with our hobby grade test kits. Alkalinity is arguably the most important parameter to concentrate on keeping stable (8 to 9 dKH range is appropriate IME, just keep it as stable as you can at whatever number you choose)

My suggestion would be to first master keeping reef appropriate parameters stable over a long period (keep a log book to record testing results). If you like stony coral, try some of the easier ones first (Pavona, Leptastrea, Leptoseris, Favia, etc.) and if they grow and color up nicely, try a few non-Acro sticks like Birdsnest, Stylopora, Branching Montiporas. If all goes well, by this time your system will be more mature and your chances keeping Acros will be much improved.

And above all, keep reading, learning, applying and observing.

blaxsun · Apr 7, 2022

gbroadbridge · Apr 7, 2022

Your Alk cannot be right. I'm guessing you mean 140-145ppm

Your salinity is low side assuming it is measured with a calibrated instrument.
You should be closer to 1.026 for Coral

What is your Nitrate level? How often are you doing water changes? In a newish tank 10% a week is normal.

And yes, it is an expensive and demanding hobby, and it requires a lot of patience and a lot of time and effort when you start.

How do things go with Soft corals, and LPS like Trachy's and Hammers or are they giving problems too.

It does get better eventually

mindme · Apr 7, 2022

Salinity is a little low.

Not sure what is going on with your alk reading, it looks more like a Mag number which you say you don't have. I recommend keeping alk betwen 8 and 8.5 dkh. I have coral that can get unhappy if I go higher than that. 7.5-8.5 is really ok as long as it's steady. If you mean 140ppm for alk, then that is 7.8 dkh and should be fine. 1400 is nothing I recognize for alk.

Mag is somewhat important and can stunt growth if too high or low. Do you dose it at all?

Have you considered doing an ICP test to see if you have any pollutants in the tank? Metals and such?

Where are your nitrates at?

SPR1968 · Apr 7, 2022

I would firstly buy a magnesium test kit, it’s vital for the chemical processes that take place and if it’s low that ‘might‘ be the issue. A good target is around 1350

Also and very importantly check the alkalinity, again a good target is around 8-8.5 or thereabouts, that’s were I keep mine

Dan_P · Apr 7, 2022

Maybe, don’t spend money on a new light, but change the goal for the aquarium. Stay away from stony coral and organisms that are fussy about light.

CrunchyBananas · Apr 7, 2022

I will say, as long as your light isn't set way too strong (easy to do with noopsyches) that it isn't your light. Noopsyches are great lights and I personally had an acropora dominated tank 75 at one point using two of them. I would hear stories like this quite often when working at a fish store, and the overwhelming solution would just be to simplify.

Strip back and stop all dosings
Stick to 10% weekly water changes or 20% every other week
Feed consistently,
Test at least weekly if not more often (alk daily is best, phosphate a couple times a week)
Test and ensure your source water is clean
Send out an icp to rule out contaminants

Just by sticking with a simple routine, most tanks will stabilize and right themselves.

LeftyReefer · Apr 7, 2022

You say phosphates measure near zero... how about nitrates?
if nitrates are also at 0.0, then there is your answer.

ReefRxSWFL · Apr 7, 2022

Need more specs, including clarification of what your alk is. I'd also include what you are testing with, for example, near 0 phosphate with a Red Sea test kit could actually be 0.1, because the color change is so difficult to see with the human eye vs a Hannah checker.

Also, a full list of gear, and what are PAR levels where your corals are placed would help Its easy to bleach store bought corals. The way many stores display corals, they get like 50mmol. Corals under a G5 Radion, 3 feet above the tank in a LFS, can easily bleach out and die if stuck in your tank with PAR at 250mmol.

I know previously asked. Why All for Reef? What are you dosing for? Do you have more in the tank than the one clam?

Mr. Mojo Rising · Apr 7, 2022

what kind of corals are you losing From your post, it sounds like just acros, which the hardest of all. Do you have other corals besides acros, how are they doing? What about the easier ones like bali green slimer, how does that do in your tank?

Alk is most important for acros, but you did not say your alk level

And I'm sorry, I gotta point out that success in this hobby has little to do with how much you spend. It has everything to do with how much time you spend reading and learning.

ReefRxSWFL · Apr 7, 2022

As important is what you are testing with. Of course, no API test kits. Salifert is good for alk, mg & ca, but for reliable phosphate and nitrate, the Hanna Low range Phos and High Range for reliable results. Also, phosphate and nitrate weekly is more than enough.

Also, Julian Sprungs book would be a good investment.

sfin52 · Apr 7, 2022

Noops are fine and will do the job.

kados · Apr 7, 2022

Randy’s reef · Apr 7, 2022

Honestly just go back to fresh if you’re contemplating it in the slightest

Randy’s reef · Apr 7, 2022

Even tho you like the hobby , sometimes in life people can’t keep up due to their life example you said you have kids etc, freshwater is more forgiving as you already know , maybe later when the kids get older you give salt another shot??

Silverdot1211 · Apr 7, 2022

As usual thanks for all the replies....the salinity I know is slightly low and it has been measured with a calibrated meter. I dose because my my calcium and mag were being depleted at a rate that water changes were becoming a 2 week ordeal. I figured if I dose and automate it would be more stable.
As far as documenting I use a white board and test like every 2 to 3 weeks. My tests are done with API and salifert. I do have do some homework for some of your questions. Nitrates i can't honestly say right now (homework)

I understand spending money doesn't equate to success. Also as far as time commitment the tank gets 30 min to an 1hr a day aside from just gazing. Water change days are like 2 or 3hrs depending what I all have to do.
I know this hobby isn't easy and that's why I come here for help. I have generally have the mind set...always pay attention to the old guys that have been around a while. They usually know the short cuts they know what to look for.

I have not rented a par meter so I don't have measurements there. I am currently waiting on an ICP test.
Hardware I am running..

SC Aquarium 80 gallon cube
Bulk reef 300w ti heater tied to Ranco heater controller
Reef octopus 4 return pump
Reef octopus regal 150Int skimmer
GHL Profilux 4
Osmolator ATO
Marine depot elite 30in sump
2 noop lights 10 inches from the surface.

I think I answered everyone's questions with the exception of a few that I have to check on. The coral I have a variety. I attached pictures that I took this morning. I did turn the lights on prior the normal time. some of the corals are a little slow to wake up

I am hoping pictures are are worth a thousand words. If an actual list us needed I can come up with it but some I can remember and will have to look in my binder when I get home.