General concerns about mixed reef health

[PokeFish]

As a junior in high school, its hard for me to be super involved in my aqurium. But recently i have noticed some concerning things- it seems that the general health of my tank is declined. What I mean by this is

Asternina stars outbreak
Less polyp extension on sps
Bubble coral receeding??

Last one is my biggest concern- I’ve had Mr Jello the Bubble Coral for years abd I would hate to lost him. When I went on vacation a month earlier there was a salinity swing, but I got it back down

The picture shows the visible skeleton from recession, and the bubble has not been open very much either. There IS an anemone that moved near it and this bubble opens pretty big so maybe they stung each other?

I also have three species or gorgs and they have been getting chunky, so I’n concerned maybe chemicals might be in the water column, although I do run carbon

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Here are my parameters

 

[PokeFish]

A few recent changes I made are that I stopped dosing phyto ( I did for a month then my culture died). I swapped an old wave maker for a new one (same model). I moved the bubble to a new spot for a couple days and then moved it back. I also have a gsp colony thats dying I think?? It grew onto a rock and then I moved original encrusting colony into a patch of aiptasia to see who would win and the aiptasia won.

 

[joseph.timbs]

What were your parameters like before it started going down hill? They look fine now, I wouldn’t want my phosphate that high (Brightwell phosphate E is my method of reduction, slowly) but I’ve seen ppl make it work with high phosphate, as long as nitrates aren’t crazy high or 0.. How old is the system and How long did the salinity swing last?

Just to keep it real, it sucks but I’ve had to take down my system when I couldn’t put the attention into it needed, corals are awesome but fowlr systems can be rewarding as well that don’t require as much attention. I’m sure you can fix it but you’re young, you can give it another go again down the road.

 

[PokeFish]

What were your parameters like before it started going down hill? They look fine now, I wouldn’t want my phosphate that high (Brightwell phosphate E is my method of reduction, slowly) but I’ve seen ppl make it work with high phosphate, as long as nitrates aren’t crazy high or 0.. How old is the system and How long did the salinity swing last?

Just to keep it real, it sucks but I’ve had to take down my system when I couldn’t put the attention into it needed, corals are awesome but fowlr systems can be rewarding as well that don’t require as much attention. I’m sure you can fix it but you’re young, you can give it another go again down the road.

Parameters were roughly the same… alk was 7.6 so that rose. The phosphates have been like that since the system has been setup about a year ago!

And yeah I feel you- Ive backed off from species like acros and such now. I just hope my tank can find a balance before i head off to college

 

[joseph.timbs]

A few weeks of 20% Water changes every weekend might be a good place to start, also ICP wouldn’t hurt. ICP can help dial in with your tank and also you never know, could be something weird like metals.