What's wrong with my SPS?

[arnel0387]

Tank Info:

90 gallon total water volume
vertex omega 150 protein skimmer
barebottom tank
35lbs real reef live rock
8x8x4 cermedia block x2
mp40 and gyre xf 150
ATI 6x54w dimmable sunpower w/ 48" reefbrite blue LED
4" filter sock changed twice per week
1/4 cup of BRS High-capacity GFO in BRS reactor changed every two weeks
1/4 cup of BRS 0.8 rox carbon on mesh bag changed every two weeks
Currently not dosing anything

30 sps frags and a few LPS (acans, space invader, wellso, euhpyllias) and ricordeas

Parameters:
Cal- 420 (salifert)
Alk- 9 (salifert)
Mag- 1300 (salifert)
Nitrate- 0ppm (API)
Phosphate- 0ppm (Hanna low range)
ph from 7.9-8.3

Is my water too clean?

I just turned-off my GFO. I literally don't get any algae on my rocks or glass.. I do weekly 10G water change.

Please help!

 

[arnel0387]

a few of my frags are turning like this.. One day they're totally fine and then I wake up and they look like this!

 

[arnel0387]

Always starts on the base too!

 

[Up2no6ood]

Any signs of afew?

 

[Zacco]

Cant really tell what's happening in the picture. Are the bases turning white , like they're bleaching? Did you frag these yourself or did you purchase them? If purchased, what lighting was the pervious owner or LFS using on them?

 

[preston469]

IMO, Your water is too clean if you dont have to clean your glass every two to three days. You need to be feeding them I use reef chili and amino acids. My nitrates are in the .05-.013 range and phosphates abpout .03 to .07. My sps grow like no other and constantly stay happy.

 

[TCK Corals]

Nitrate- 0ppm (API)

Phosphate- 0ppm (Hanna low range)

Sounds like the water may be too clean. Overall how is the polyp extension on the acroporas at night?

Also do you have a potassium reading?

Also what everyone else said. Any signs of AEFW?

 

[arnel0387]

Thanks for the quick replies!!

No AEFW or red bugs.
They mostly came from LED tanks.
Bases are turning white.

 

[reef_ranch]

You might consider taking one of the ceramedia blocks out if you still don't measure any nitrate or phosphate after removing the GFO. Or try dosing nitrate to raise your levels. Those blocks are amazing at removing nitrates. I had two in my 400 gal system which I feed heavily, removed one and my nitrates are still under 5 ppm. My phosphate, without GFO is under 05

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, it is possible the corals are starving, and feeding more or exporting fewer nutrients may be useful.

 

[arnel0387]

For example, I got a frag of the tyree purple dragon eyes and parts of base coral turned white, but now a week later, it's back to normal.

The picture is a sunset milli and last night it was doing so well, then I came home from work and part of the base is white but still had the polyps out

 

[Diesel]

Are all SPS doing this or just that Milli?

 

[M3ace9]

Maybe not enough flow. I have a few areas in my tank where SPS is not happy

 

[arnel0387]

Are all SPS doing this or just that Milli?

No not all SPS.. Maybe 5 frags max (this Milli, a Pearlberry, purple dragon eyes, a Navini, and a 30k Lokani). The Pearlberry, dragon eyes, Navini, and 30k Lokani were shipped last week and came from a well-stablished Radions tank.

The sunset milli I've had for a month

 

[arnel0387]

Maybe not enough flow. I have a few areas in my tank where SPS is not happy

I've got plenty of flow, a Maxspect gyre xf150 and an mp40.. Actually thinking about putting another mp40

 

[arnel0387]

Also, my red planet and PC rainbow have lost some color but encrusting on the plugs.. And great polyp extension.

Lack of nutrients?

 

[Diesel]

Well, looking over your # and the rate that all this Is happening you can go the easy way out and blame it on a lack of nutrients.
Before you do so you can also lower your ALK a bit, maybe between 8 and 8.5.
The reason I say that is that SPS can be sensitive for high ALK # as your nutrient # low.
On a normal way 9 isn't that bad but with a PO4 close to 0 it can be a high #.
Most SPS tank with ULNS have the ALK close to 8 or as me even below.
Other than that you can dose some AA and monitor how your SPS will react on that.

 

[sawdonkey]

You said your alk is at 9 dkh and you aren't dosing anything. How are you maintaining your alk/cal? Maybe you're having alk swings? It's really tough to keep things stable without dosing one way or another.

 

[arnel0387]

List of acros(status):
Tyree red dragon (fine)
Tyree IceFire echinata (fine)
Tyree purple monster (pale)
Tyree purple dragon eyes (getting better)
Tyree pink lemonade (fine)
Tyree Bali tricolor (fine)
BC campfire Milli (fine)
BC skinny love (fine)
BC Schizopolis Milli (whitish base)
BC pink Milli (fine)
BC bananas Milli (fine)
PC superman table (fine)
PC rainbow (lost color)
ORA red planet (pale)
ORA Pearlberry (whitish base)
ORA Oregon tort (a little pale)
ORA Hawkins Echinata (pale)
SC Orange Passion (brownish but polyps are orange)
Strawberry shortcake (pale)
Ponape birdsnest (fine)
Orange grafted Setosa (fine)
Yellow caroliniana (pale)
30k Lokani (recovering)
Vivid's Rainbow delight (brown and a little PE)
SteezySPS pink fury (losing some color)
WT Tierra del Fuego (2 weeks old in my system and shows excellent PE)

Could it also be the pH swing? Because they're fine during the day and when lights come back on, I come back from work and see the problem!

I don't want to lose any more corals! I've already lost a RR pink Floyd, a RMF red devil Nasuta, ASD rainbow Milli, and a tyree purple monster (I brought these on the plane from CA to FL and all RTNed within 48 hours.. Two survived that ride: the Tierra del Fuego and pink fury)

 

[arnel0387]

How can I lower my alk from 9 to 8?

Btw, I'm using the Red Sea regular (blue container) salt mix and perform 10G weekly water changes.

Also, I'm going to order the zeo coral Vitalizer and Xtra special.. Good idea?