Zoas melting and other corals going down

CathyB · Nov 17, 2012

My zoas are melting and now my candy cane coral and bubble are looking bad. The ammonia is a 0, Nitrite is 0, Nitrate is 0 and PH is 8.2, the SG is 2.5 and the calcium is 500.

I have done 2 large water changes in the past two weeks to try and correct. The only difference has been that I was using a different salt. I changed from DD H2Ocean Pro+ to Instant Ocean Reef Crystal. My propeller to mix the salt water broke so my LFS gave me a used powerhead. And I had started using purple-up when I changed salt but I have stopped adding that.

There is no large algae outbreak but a little more red algae on the sand and glass. Oh and a stomatella snail died last night!

Any help would be great! I am going to also take a water sample to my LFS.

Helifreak · Nov 17, 2012

Hi

I'm a beginner but I have read that strong led can melt zoas and candy cane coral.

oceangirl2009 · Nov 17, 2012

Pics would help. If you have a diatom outbreak, that could affect your corals and your snails.

CathyB · Nov 17, 2012

Here is a picture of the zoas that are melting

oceangirl2009 · Nov 18, 2012

I'm not really sure what to tell you, but I would dip in something like coralrx daily until you see it come back. I've saved a couple of corals this way.

jlbzixxer · Nov 18, 2012

what is your
alk
mag
phosphate
@?

CathyB · Nov 18, 2012

I don't have a test kit for the alk, mag and phospate but I took a sample to the LFS and they said everything was good. They recommended carbon in the sump. They thought my SG was closer to 1.029 than whay I am showing on my refractometer.

Mstansbery · Nov 18, 2012

Check that colony for Nudibranchs!!

Ninjapotamus · Nov 18, 2012

Its hard to say for sure without knowing more about your setup but from my experience 9/10 times when zoas are melting the issue is a lack of nutrients(too clean). your large water changes are probably making the matters worse not better for the zoas.

always reefin · Nov 18, 2012

Salinity at 1.029 is way to high. Add RO/DI water very slowly and lower to 1.024-1.025. Also you need a test kit to test for ALK, very important you know what your level is. What is your ALK?

Steviereefs · Nov 18, 2012

IMO, I think that the candy canes look fine they look turgid,the zoas look like they are just closed up,maybe they are just irritated. Did you bring any new livestock into you tank recently?

CathyB · Nov 19, 2012

No new livestock. The only change at all was the type of salt that I was using. I will try to pick up a test kit today for the ALK.

mainereefer · Nov 19, 2012

CathyB said:
No new livestock. The only change at all was the type of salt that I was using. I will try to pick up a test kit today for the ALK.

the only test kits I own are alk, mag, calcium. if the prams are fine with these everything else will be fine.

I am guessing wou went to a "reef salt" and mag jumped

Dre59 · Nov 19, 2012

always reefin said:
Salinity at 1.029 is way to high. Add RO/DI water very slowly and lower to 1.024-1.025. Also you need a test kit to test for ALK, very important you know what your level is. What is your ALK?

+1

What else are you dosing into the tank? 2 part, etc.. etc....

Also is your LFS using API test kit? You might want to have another member test your levels with a better test kit IMO.

We will need numbers of your results..

NanaReefer · Nov 19, 2012

I see Cyanobacteria all over your sandbed. Poor flow and high nutrients and lighting may be the cause.
500 ca is high. I've been using Reef Crystals for 3 years and IMO its a good mix.
Just so you know.......zoas melt, period!! It doesn't always mean there is anything wrong with your tank