Coral dying - please help - pictures attached

[jjmin]

Hello,

Desperately need help. I have a 45L tank with a skimmer, biorings, sponge filters. With a peacock mantis shrimp, 4 clownfish, and a mix of coral, as well as one anemone wandering around the tank, started about 5 months ago. We used sand from a friends long-running tank to start with, as well as some of his coral rubble & biorings.

Over the 5 months, we've lost quite a few corals, putting it down to beginner errors, and we thought we had everything stable.
Suddenly, the last couple of days, 2 of our lps coral suddenly 'dropped' their entire soft tissue parts and died, and another 2 are now about to do the same.

The water is a bit cloudy, and there appears to be a film on top of the water (looks kind of oily?) as well as a bit of bubble/foam accumulating at the edge of the water surface in the corners.

The fish and shrimp seem fine and healthy, eating & behaving normally. We've tried more regular water changes, spreading them out, adding Nutrafin cycling supplement, nutrients for the corals, and just added air bubblers today.

I cannot figure out what we are doing wrong, and desperately trying not to lose any more coral. Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Mg: 1410 ppm Salifert
Ca: 480 ppm Salifert
Alk: 11.5 dKH Salifert
NO2: 0 - 0.05 ppm Salifert
NH3/4: 0 mg/l Sera
Salinity: 1.026 / 35
Temp: 25 - 28C

 

[cdemoss01]

Since this is an emergency... @vetteguy53081 go! Dont worry the doc is in.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello,

Desperately need help. I have a 45L tank with a skimmer, biorings, sponge filters. With a peacock mantis shrimp, 4 clownfish, and a mix of coral, as well as one anemone wandering around the tank, started about 5 months ago. We used sand from a friends long-running tank to start with, as well as some of his coral rubble & biorings.

Over the 5 months, we've lost quite a few corals, putting it down to beginner errors, and we thought we had everything stable.
Suddenly, the last couple of days, 2 of our lps coral suddenly 'dropped' their entire soft tissue parts and died, and another 2 are now about to do the same.

The water is a bit cloudy, and there appears to be a film on top of the water (looks kind of oily?) as well as a bit of bubble/foam accumulating at the edge of the water surface in the corners.

The fish and shrimp seem fine and healthy, eating & behaving normally. We've tried more regular water changes, spreading them out, adding Nutrafin cycling supplement, nutrients for the corals, and just added air bubblers today.

I cannot figure out what we are doing wrong, and desperately trying not to lose any more coral. Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Mg: 1410 ppm Salifert
Ca: 480 ppm Salifert
Alk: 11.5 dKH Salifert
NO2: 0 - 0.05 ppm Salifert
NH3/4: 0 mg/l Sera
Salinity: 1.026 / 35
Temp: 25 - 28C

Not familiar with this reef salt but alk is slightly high and salinity can come down slightly to 1.025 while not detrimental can be contributors. Some reason this happens suddenly are:
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity high or recent change
- Addition of new corals

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

the sand is super clean, looks like the light is not strong enough to reach the sand level. What kind of light do you have and what intensity? IMO its a lighting issue

4 clowns in that small tank? Good luck on that

 

[vetteguy53081]

the sand is super clean, looks like the light is not strong enough to reach the sand level. What kind of light do you have and what intensity? IMO its a lighting issue

4 clowns in that small tank? Good luck on that

I have 11 clowns and started with 14 in a 20 gallon drop off. It can be done and know of many with 6 or more in nano settings. Yes , there is potential for battle which mine will chase each other occasionally especially at feeding but no damage inflicted upon each other

 

[vetteguy53081]

the sand is super clean, looks like the light is not strong enough to reach the sand level. What kind of light do you have and what intensity? IMO its a lighting issue

4 clowns in that small tank? Good luck on that

Here is that drop off tank. Had to search for pic

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Here is that drop off tank. Had to search for pic

Thats amazing! I take my comment back for sure. I'de love to try that someday

 

[reefpanda]

I’m thinking insufficient light as well

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What light are you using?

 

[VintageReefer]

I’m more concerned about the Peacock mantis and multiple fish. The mantis will decide one day to eat them

Could the mantis be striking the corals ?

Sorry for getting off topic, what kind of coral is this

 

[Lavey29]

Bottomed out nutrients levels means your corals are starving to death.

 

[goosemans]

Did these issues start suddenly? after a water change? or are the corals slowly withering away over time?

 

[goosemans]

I’m more concerned about the Leacock mantis and multiple fish. The mantis will decide one day to eat them

Could the mantis be striking the corals ?

Sorry for getting off topic, what kind of coral is this

Bounce bubble coral, $700

 

[Hairyteeth]

I’m more concerned about the Leacock mantis and multiple fish. The mantis will decide one day to eat them

Could the mantis be striking the corals ?

Sorry for getting off topic, what kind of coral is this

Really stressed bubble coral maybe? Was also wondering the same thing

 

[VintageReefer]

Really stressed bubble coral maybe? Was also wondering the same thing

Doesn’t seem normal to me. And could be indicative of a water issue

 

[Entity77]

Nobody can or should give you advice without you actually listing two of the most important parameters: nitrate and phosphates.

 

[BryanM]

The OP listed nitrates at 0, and as was stated that is quite problematic, things are starving. I would guess phos is quite low as well.

Test for phos, and likely start dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos to bring back up to detectable levels, and you likely will see a turn around.

 

[exnisstech]

Weak lighting and a wandering nem :thinking-face:

 

[Entity77]

The OP listed nitrates at 0, and as was stated that is quite problematic, things are starving. I would guess phos is quite low as well.

Test for phos, and likely start dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos to bring back up to detectable levels, and you likely will see a turn around.

NO2 listed, not NO3

 

[I never finish anythi]

What is the tank temp op ? Does it fluctuate between 25 and 28 . If so that's not good