Can’t seem to keep any SPS

[Djhype97]

Hey guys, I have a IM Nuvo 30L (built in sump) running for almost 2 years (in oct). Since February I’ve tried to keep some sps, starting with “beginner” frags like green slimmer, birdsnests, and digi’s. Needless to say, each time I put one in, they seem to do well for about a week, then slowly pale out, or STN and die. My parameters have been pretty steady and I test regularly.

Nitrate 5ppm (Salifert)
Phosphate .031 ppm (Hannah)
Alk 8.5 dkh
Mag 1380 (salifert)
Calcium 400 ppm (api)
No ammonia or nitrite
I keep the temp between 78-79 degrees using Apex
I dose ESV to keep alk and calcium steady and do biweekly water changes with RPM salt

I don’t know if I’m missing something or what, but any help is appreciated

 

[Hydrored]

What are you running for lights? Also what salinity?

edited- misread the phosphate reading

 

[Crustaceon]

Hey guys, I have a IM Nuvo 30L (built in sump) running for almost 2 years (in oct). Since February I’ve tried to keep some sps, starting with “beginner” frags like green slimmer, birdsnests, and digi’s. Needless to say, each time I put one in, they seem to do well for about a week, then slowly pale out, or STN and die. My parameters have been pretty steady and I test regularly.

Nitrate 5ppm (Salifert)
Phosphate .031 ppm (Hannah)
Alk 8.5 dkh
Mag 1380 (salifert)
Calcium 400 ppm (api)
No ammonia or nitrite
I keep the temp between 78-79 degrees using Apex
I dose ESV to keep alk and calcium steady and do biweekly water changes with RPM salt

I don’t know if I’m missing something or what, but any help is appreciated

You’re probably doing too much too fast. Your parameters look great, but everytime you do something like a water change or dose 2-part, you can cause a temporary parameter swing which will shock sps. These things need to be done very SLOWLY.

Here are my parameters:
8.1ph
Sg 1.026
Temp 81
Alk 7.4
Cal 400
Mg 1400
Nitrate 10
Phosphate .08
Lighting is 6-bulb t5ho

Dosing is handled by a calcium reactor
Waterchanges are 1g daily through an auto water change system.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

I would consider an ATI water test to check for metals. If you have snails they are sensitive to metals and will die. I found out the hard way. Also sps will suffer and pale out. I would also consider going with less frequent water changes. Another good sign is if you have coralline growing, then sps should grow.

 

[Lizbeli]

Parameters are good imo. Flow and lighting are the next two concerns. Paling out is usually a nutrient or lighting issue.

Just to be sure- using 0tds rodi water? Gotta start with basic questions lol.

 

[Djhype97]

I would consider an ATI water test to check for metals. If you have snails they are sensitive to metals and will die. I found out the hard way. Also sps will suffer and pale out. I would also consider going with less frequent water changes. Another good sign is if you have coralline growing, then sps should grow.

I don’t believe I do have metals. Just based on the snails example, I can say that I haven’t lost any snails, they’ve actually been growing. Do you think it’s still worth looking into that?

 

[jstncoffman]

in a small tank things happen fast, are you checking your alk when the light are off? Also what salt are you using, is it RODI water, are you testing the water prior to making a water change, when yoy change your water is the temp close to what the display is, are you using a ATO, alot of open questions, i my self run a 30g nano and keep sps well , also what are the lights and light conditions sps are very prone to proper light, meaning, too much can cause issues and too less RTN STN issues

 

[jstncoffman]

remember also chasing numbers can be causing alot of issues, do you use a QTank, dip coral, ext?

 

[Djhype97]

Parameters are good imo. Flow and lighting are the next two concerns. Paling out is usually a nutrient or lighting issue.

Just to be sure- using 0tds rodi water? Gotta start with basic questions lol.

for flow I have 1 jebao sine wave pump and a Aqamai kps wave pump

for lighting (sorry i should have posted that since it’s important for sps) I’m running 2 AI prime16 HD. I’m using a variation of the ab+ schedule at about half the intensity.
I make my own RODI water using a BRS 150gpd system with 0 TDS

 

[jstncoffman]

What do you feed ? And how often?

 

[Flux Capacitor]

I had the exact same thing happen for almost 2 years. Did you start with dry rock? I think that was the cause of all my problems. I dosed prodibio for a while, which I think increased my bacteria maybe that helped? I wrote about it in my build thread. I also brought my ALK down to 7.5 I’m not sure if that’s a factor too, but my current test sps have encrusted, and been alive over a month now.

 

[Djhype97]

in a small tank things happen fast, are you checking your alk when the light are off? Also what salt are you using, is it RODI water, are you testing the water prior to making a water change, when yoy change your water is the temp close to what the display is, are you using a ATO, alot of open questions, i my self run a 30g nano and keep sps well , also what are the lights and light conditions sps are very prone to proper light, meaning, too much can cause issues and too less RTN STN issues

I don’t check alk while lights are off. I try to test at the same time of day each time, usually around 3 in the afternoon. I use RPM salt and have tested it before a water change. I normally don’t have to add anything’s to the mix since it’s pretty on point with the parameters I have listed. Maybe my light intensity is too low?

 

[hotdrop]

Are you sure you are getting strong healed frags? Sometimes pet store will sell you weak dieing stuff or frags with pests

 

[jstncoffman]

ohhh nooo, RPM, I've had a really bad experience with that stuff lost a while 125G TANK with that stuff, I stick to Bi onic for 2 part, had a full SPS reef 3 years old, started using RPM and 3 months later BOOM STN RTN , totally dropped out of the hobby because of that crash

 

[Djhype97]

remember also chasing numbers can be causing alot of issues, do you use a QTank, dip coral, ext?

I don’t have a qt tank but do dip with coral

What do you feed ? And how often?

Feeding flakes normally. On days that I don’t ill feed some mysis (like half a cube) and I feed reef roids about once a week

 

[Fishingandreefing]

What are you running for lights? Also phosphates are high IMO. Also what salinity?

If I am reading correctly .031 for phosphate is not high. I got .29, that high too me.

 

[jstncoffman]

I don’t have a qt tank but do dip with coral

Feeding flakes normally. On days that I don’t ill feed some mysis (like half a cube) and I feed reef roids about once a week

I feel something isn't right, I keep my levels as so
Alk 8.6
Cal 500
MG 1350
Nitrate 8
P04 .12
Sal 35
Temp 78
Feron 1ppm

 

[Djhype97]

You’re probably doing too much too fast. Your parameters look great, but everytime you do something like a water change or dose 2-part, you can cause a temporary parameter swing which will shock sps. These things need to be done very SLOWLY.

Here are my parameters:
8.1ph
Sg 1.026
Temp 81
Alk 7.4
Cal 400
Mg 1400
Nitrate 10
Phosphate .08
Lighting is 6-bulb t5ho

Dosing is handled by a calcium reactor
Waterchanges are 1g daily through an auto water change system.

Thanks for the info. I should’ve added that I run my salinity at the same as you (1.026). From what I’ve been gathering around the forums is to try and run at a lower Alk between 7-8dkh. I’m thinking I should let the levels naturally come down on their own and hold off on doing a water change until they do.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What are you running for lights? Also phosphates are high IMO. Also what salinity?

0.031 po4 too high????!!! I couldn’t disagree more. 0.031 po4 is too low for sps frags

 

[jstncoffman]

Thanks for the info. I should’ve added that I run my salinity at the same as you (1.026). From what I’ve been gathering around the forums is to try and run at a lower Alk between 7-8dkh. I’m thinking I should let the levels naturally come down on their own and hold off on doing a water change until they do.

No water changes are Mando, maybe adjust your dosing to the balance of the WC, just my opinion