Do you have Spring and Summer SPS die off?

[czynot]

Do you have issue with sps STN or RTN during spring thru summer? Have you pin down the cause of it?

I have seen this issue every year. The tank do amazing during from October to March. Sps seems to STN or RTN from march to September. Nothing change during this time. Same light schdule, same alk, PH, Temp.
My tank
160 Gallon, Radion G6 with T5, Chiller, Calcium reactor. Dosing redsea ABCD color trace. Red sea blue salt.
Par: 500
Alk-7.8-8.0 (testing with Alktronic)
Temp 77-78.0 (control by fans and chiller)
cal: 475
Magnesium: 1450-1500
No3: 18.0ppm
po4: 0.06-0.10
PH: 7.9-8.1

 

[KrisReef]

Not seen this one before. Bumping

 

[EnterName]

Most likely: Selective perception


Other possibilities:

Does sunlight hit your tank? Maybe it's too much?

Does temperature sometimes rise above the heating target temperature in summer? Even slightly elevated temperatures can increase the probability of STN/RTN/BJD.


Far less likely:

If you have chlorinated tap water it might be possible the city is using more chlorine in summer as warmer water causes more bacteria growth. Maybe this additional chlorine isn't properly removed which causes some additional stress?

 

[Dave-T]

Some people think that pollen can cause coal loss.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Yup, have it going on right now too. It actually helps keep the tank trimmed. Tank temps are a degree or two higher as well.

 

[annihil8ted]

I would say it’s probably temp related. Despite the measurement of the tank being steady, there’s definitely a gradient across the tank depending on winter vs summer. For tanks that aren’t super dialed in, this can also show itself as algae growth too. Growth in winter time and gone come summer

 

[czynot]

I have been thinking it is pollen related too since it always start in spring thru summer. I did read some reseach paper saying pollen will increase organics (DOC) in the water. High DOC isnt good for SPS.
Also Possible with city water too ( i have 7 stage rodi). NYC water supply dose not use chloramine. Rodi and tank water ICP (5/2026) test came back clean. Nothing pops out besides slightly elevated idoine and potassium level.
It can not be temp related. Chiller and fans kept the tank temp steady at 77-78 degrees. My heaters rarely turn on during winter months since my lights and pumps keeping the temp high. Apex running the fans during winter to keep temp at 77-78. I have kept all the windows closed all year round to eliminate pollen coming in.

I rule out pest because I interceptor the tank every 3 months.
No Nutrient or Alkalinity spike.
No Temp Spike
20gallon water change every 2 weeks.



conculsion:
At the moment I am pointing toward some kind of bacteria of fungal infection going on in the tank. Some Sps brown out with lost of polyp extensions. Some are peeling (STN).
I started to do antibiotic treatment in the display two week ago. PE return few days after starting the treatment. So far it slow down the sps die of. Too early to confirm if it stop the die off.


If this is a bacteria related infection. Why it happen during warmer weather?

 

[vcnt]

following

 

[SFNanoReef]

Depending on your location, it could be your source water. The guy from Polo Reef talked about this. During the summer, there’s often a significant increase in runoff and contaminants that can end up in the water supply. Many water treatment plants also switch to or increase free chlorine during peak summer water usage. It really depends on your area, but he mentioned that he avoids water changes during the summer, and doing so significantly reduced his SPS losses. I forgot his name, but I thought it was an interesting point. I think it was during a TSA tank tour video.

 

[czynot]

Depending on your location, it could be your source water. The guy from Polo Reef talked about this. During the summer, there’s often a significant increase in runoff and contaminants that can end up in the water supply. Many water treatment plants also switch to or increase free chlorine during peak summer water usage. It really depends on your area, but he mentioned that he avoids water changes during the summer, and doing so significantly reduced his SPS losses. I forgot his name, but I thought it was an interesting point. I think it was during a TSA tank tour video.

Poloreef is in Long Island. Long island use well water. They were never connected to same water supply as the tristate. Tristate water supply is from catskills. NY water use Chlorine and UV to kill off bacteria and virus. But who knows if any pesticide enter the reservoir.