Corals slowly dying after tank upgrade.

[Sstadler]

So I recently upgraded my reef from a 55 to a 125. It seemed everything was doing fine until I noticed my GSP rock island wasn’t opening fully. Shortly later I noticed that the current was blowing away pieces of the purple base of the GSP. This is not due to a strong current. I tested everything and everything seemed fine. Now, my Xenia island, my Kenya trees, singulara, BTAs, RFAs, and clove polyps are not fully extending. It seems like they are under stress. The only change I made during the tank upgrade was changing lights (from kessil 360s to ATI Sunpower 6x80s). I noticed a minor outbreak of cyano, but it’s only in a a few small spots and smy toadstool is doing fine. And I have a couple mushrooms that are doing fine. I feel that if I cannot find a fix for this my corals are going to shrink completely and wither away.

NEW tank has been up and running for 3 months. Old tank was running for a couple years.

Parameters as follows:

salinity - 1.026
Temp - 79.0
Ph - 8.1
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Alk - 8.5
Mag - 1450
Phos - 0
Cal - 450

 

[redeyejedi]

The change in lights is probably the most obvious issue.

 

[Brandon3152134]

Lighting is most likley the problem I'd say. Their environment changed which is very stressful but then on top of that their lighting changed could be throwing things out of wack

 

[Rubberfrog]

Change in lights and zero phosphates

 

[((FORDTECH))]

So I recently upgraded my reef from a 55 to a 125. It seemed everything was doing fine until I noticed my GSP rock island wasn’t opening fully. Shortly later I noticed that the current was blowing away pieces of the purple base of the GSP. This is not due to a strong current. I tested everything and everything seemed fine. Now, my Xenia island, my Kenya trees, singulara, BTAs, RFAs, and clove polyps are not fully extending. It seems like they are under stress. The only change I made during the tank upgrade was changing lights (from kessil 360s to ATI Sunpower 6x80s). I noticed a minor outbreak of cyano, but it’s only in a a few small spots and smy toadstool is doing fine. And I have a couple mushrooms that are doing fine. I feel that if I cannot find a fix for this my corals are going to shrink completely and wither away.

NEW tank has been up and running for 3 months. Old tank was running for a couple years.

Parameters as follows:

salinity - 1.026
Temp - 79.0
Ph - 8.1
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Alk - 8.5
Mag - 1450
Phos - 0
Cal - 450

You have 0 phosphate every coral loves phosphate

 

[Sstadler]

I’ve been feeding HEAVILY for the last 3 months so I’m not sure why phos hasn’t risen. I was thinking lights also, but didn’t think it would have such a huge impact on my tank

 

[Rubberfrog]

Did you move over your old rock?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I’ve been feeding HEAVILY for the last 3 months so I’m not sure why phos hasn’t risen. I was thinking lights also, but didn’t think it would have such a huge impact on my tank

Ok so for 3 months you feed heavy but phos still not going up. Obviously it was time to try another method

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I’ve been feeding HEAVILY for the last 3 months so I’m not sure why phos hasn’t risen. I was thinking lights also, but didn’t think it would have such a huge impact on my tank

Maybe what you feel is heavy feeding really is not

 

[Williamson’s Reef Verified Sponsor]

Nothing kills corals faster than a change in lighting with to much par to fast. It can’t hurt to turn down the lights.

 

[onewooten]

As stated before, try reducing your light cycle. If all of your parameters are the same between the old and new tank and the only things that changed were the tank size and lighting...then its probably your lighting. Also, can't hurt to have someone else check your water parameters to double check your numbers (local fish store?). Good luck!!!

 

[Sstadler]

Did you move over your old rock?

I moved over most of it. Some pieces I didn’t. But I still added new rock due to the tank being significantly larger