My sps frags are dying..

[Kaludar]

Hi guys,

as title states I have some new sps frags on a drag rack about half way up my glass with some zoanthids frags which are doing great. The sps has started to recede from the tips and there is minimal if any polyp extension. I’m going to post my parameters first then some photos of the frags:

salinity: 1.026
Phosphate: .01 ppm
Nitrate: 1.5 ppm
Lighting: Two AI hydra 26, 13hr photo period, image posted below, I am in acclimation mode so the percentages posted below are at peak lighting but all of those values are reduced by 20% so im around 70ish percent peak

please help me with this, everything else in my tank seems to be okay, what am I doinn wrong?

 

[Gdesquire]

How old is your tank?

 

[Kaludar]

How old is your tank?

8mo

 

[Ron Reefman]

How long have you had these sps frags?
Do you have any older sps corals in the tank? How are they doing?

 

[fishguy242]

alk little low imo

 

[Kaludar]

How long have you had these sps frags?
Do you have any older sps corals in the tank? How are they doing?

About 2 weeks, the smallest one started to die very quickly I think it’s a lost cause. No other sps in tank, I have scolys, blastos, zoanthids a hammer, torch and an a acan. I will say the colors on the zoanthids look pretty dull as well, is it possible nothing on that rack is getting enough light?

 

[Ron Reefman]

About 2 weeks, the smallest one started to die very quickly I think it’s a lost cause. No other sps in tank, I have scolys, blastos, zoanthids a hammer, torch and an a acan. I will say the colors on the zoanthids look pretty dull as well, is it possible nothing on that rack is getting enough light?

That's a possibility but it's impossible to tell without more info.
What light? If led what power settings? How deep is the rack in the water? It looks like some of them are really in the shade? How about a full tank photo.

 

[Kaludar]

That's a possibility but it's impossible to tell without more info.
What light? If led what power settings? How deep is the rack in the water? It looks like some of them are really in the shade? How about a full tank photo.

Two AI hydra 26, peaking at 74 percent. I’m using the following lighting schedule but I’m on 20% acclimation mode so the peak values below are all reduced by 20%. Full tank shot and rack measurements incoming.

 

[Kaludar]

Rack is 10inches below the rim of the glass and about 20in below the lighting fixtures.

my acan looks like it’s receding some too but the scolys and my torch look good.

pics:

 

[Ron Reefman]

Lighting looks OK to me. Let's see if we can get you some more help: #reefsquad

 

[SuncrestReef]

You might consider sending in a water sample for ICP testing. It can tell you if there are any elements in the water, including harmful metals, that don't appear on standard tests. Here's an example of my latest test results from ICP-Analysis.com:

 

[Mrussell]

0.01 phosphate will cause issues for SPS. If you are running GFO take it off line and let that number come up. I would start there.

 

[Kaludar]

0.01 phosphate will cause issues for SPS. If you are running GFO take it off line and let that number come up. I would start there.

I’m not running gfo but I am dosing 5ml of nopox per 24hr

 

[IslandLifeReef]

That tank looks pretty white, no or very little coraline algae. Once a tank is stable enough for SPS, you will usually see coraline algae growth. I would reduce the amount of NoPoX you are using to allow nutrients to increase.

 

[JCOLE]

That tank looks pretty white, no or very little coraline algae. Once a tank is stable enough for SPS, you will usually see coraline algae growth. I would reduce the amount of NoPoX you are using to allow nutrients to increase.

+1 on this and low on nutrients as well. Have you had any parameter or temp swings recently? Also, did you start with dry rock and have you ever dosed any bacteria? If so, then I would pick up some microbacter7, dr Tim's, or biospira ASAP. We are finding that the lack of biomes, bacteria, etc. Is a big reason why tanks are suffering lately.

 

[Billldg]

I’m not running gfo but I am dosing 5ml of nopox per 24hr

Are you trying to run a ULN tank? If not then I would stop using the NoPox and allow the nutrients to get up a little higher. That could be the reason the acan isn't fully out. LPS like a little higher nutrients. Browing out on SPS can be several things, but one is to low of light. When did you last calibrate the Trident? Cal is high at 555, I would lower it to 420-440. I agree with @IslandLifeReef , I don't see any coraline algae. That is a great indicator to whether or not your tank is ready for SPS as it's structure is made from calcium carbonate like SPS corals.

 

[Kaludar]

The trident is very new, as to the nopox I have been dosing for about 5 months. I do have a couple of very small patches of coraline on my rock but not much.

I think my problem is that I’ve been so afraid of algae that I am feeding light and using too much nopox like you guys mentioned.

I started with dry rock and dr Tim’s, after the cycle my nitrates were at 60ppm and I freaked out and have been dosing nopox since. Should I just completely stop the nopox at this point or ramp it down?

what should I target for nitrate phosphate? And do my frags looks like they are beyond hope at this point?

thank you so much for the help guys, this has been a struggle to learn every time I feel like I’m getting a handle on something my tank reminds me I have a lot to learn .

 

[IslandLifeReef]

The trident is very new, as to the nopox I have been dosing for about 5 months. I do have a couple of very small patches of coraline on my rock but not much.

I think my problem is that I’ve been so afraid of algae that I am feeding light and using too much nopox like you guys mentioned.

I started with dry rock and dr Tim’s, after the cycle my nitrates were at 60ppm and I freaked out and have been dosing nopox since. Should I just completely stop the nopox at this point or ramp it down?

what should I target for nitrate phosphate? And do my frags looks like they are beyond hope at this point?

thank you so much for the help guys, this has been a struggle to learn every time I feel like I’m getting a handle on something my tank reminds me I have a lot to learn .

Having used NoPoX before and weened my tank off of it, I would reduce the use gradually vs a sudden stop.

Targets - NO3 <20 ppm and PO4 < .2. Some might give different numbers, both higher and lower, but as long as your corals look good, don't chase specific numbers.

P.S. I hope you charged your phone

 

[Kaludar]

Having used NoPoX before and weened my tank off of it, I would reduce the use gradually vs a sudden stop.

Targets - NO3 <20 ppm and PO4 < .2. Some might give different numbers, both higher and lower, but as long as your corals look good, don't chase specific numbers.

P.S. I hope you charged your phone

phone is charged now lol, do you think 1ml per day reduction is too aggressive? I really want to save these frags but I guess it’s not worth doing something extreme that could hurt the corals I have that are doing well.

 

[Daddy-o]

At 5ml per day what are the drawbacks to just stopping NoPox? I carbon dose (a LOT) and have just stopped with no issue.
Cheers! Mark