Corals are slowly necrosing - no clue why

coker98

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I've had reef tanks since 2004 and this large tank has been the most trying and puzzling for me.

I have a 350 cube tank and I've run into problem after problem.

At first, most of my LPS melted away.

I assumed it was due to blown slime disease. I dipped what I could and was able to save some corals.

Still some were STNing. I checked my params and after finding some nutrients thought it might be that. Phosphate was at 0.08ppm and nitrates were at less than 5ppm.

I started to think that maybe my crushed coral sand bed might be contributing. This was my first tank with crushed coral and thought I needed it to prevent the sand from blowing around.

Phosphates are now at 0.05ppm and nitrates are still less than 5ppm despite having close to 40 fish with a mixture of large and small.

Now my SPS have seemed to be affected by what ever is going on and I'm watching colony after colony disappear.

I've blown corals with a turkey blaster and haven't produced anything.

I have a regal 300 sss for skimmer, a large ATS, aquamaxx XXL reactor with phosban and carbon, caluerpa/chaeto with full spectrum leds over it and just added a couple of uv sterilizers to see if that would help.

My nutrients have been higher in previous systems and corals have done fine.

Does anyone have anything that could help me narrow things down?

Pretty much on the verge of breaking the tank down. Possibly selling it.

Thanks for any help in advance.
 
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coker98

coker98

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Think I might have figured it out. Ran the usual tests and here's where I'm at.

PO4 = 0ppb, yes parts per billion

I tested twice to be sure. 8 weeks ago it was 0.08ppm.

No3 = 0.02ppm

10 days ago it was approximately 5ppm

Alk = 9.3dkh

Cal = 419ppm

Mag = 1280ppm

I think the instability combined with rapid food loss caused this.

Seems logical and I just hoped it wasn't bacterial.
 

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