Please Tell Me It Gets Better.....

[Rusty_L_Shackleford]

Have you done an ICP - 8 Months is still pretty young for your tank. I struggled to keep things alive in my tank for close to the first year.

One thing that helped me was filling my sump with live Rock to add more beneficial bacteria. But that could just be anecdotal.

Ive been reefing for over 20 years and more live rock is better is a hill im willing to die on. Also, ime tanks don't really start hitting their stride until they're 12-18 months in. I mean for the first 6 or 8 months i just let the uglies run wild and don't even worry about it. My clownfish/nem tank is here right now. And honestly, so what? Hair algae and a bit of cyano may not look pretty, but it isn't like the clownfish care. It'll stabilize and burn itself out as the tank matures.

 

[reeferpdx415]

Could be the Tang also - both my Blue Tangs have taken a liking to meaty corals and hammers/torches.

The Raja Rampage is probably not getting enough light, they seem to love high light.

Didn't even consider it could be the tang. I've had the coral beauty since day one and never had an issue. The Tang is new and timing wise that could make a ton of sense. I had a Gem and he never touched them. I like corals more than I like the tang so might have to switch. I can try being more regular with the algae and see what happens.

 

[reeferpdx415]

I don’t have experience with coral beauties. I know they eat coral but I’m not sure what corals. .i once had a file fish and it ate my acans. .7 phos is high but I’m not sure it would cause this unless you’re using gfo to lower it. how’s your. Nitrate level?

Nitrates hover between 15-25

 

[JonoH]

Didn't even consider it could be the tang. I've had the coral beauty since day one and never had an issue. The Tang is new and timing wise that could make a ton of sense. I had a Gem and he never touched them. I like corals more than I like the tang so might have to switch. I can try being more regular with the algae and see what happens.

Best bet is to set up a camera, thats how I caught my Blue's doing it!

You could even buy a cheap Trachy and bait them with it to see...

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are you using Tap water from faucet for anything or RODI water exclusively?

Only RODI water from LFS. They leave 2x 5g jugs each week

What lighting do you have?
2x AI Primes. Though switching to 2x AI Hydra Edge 44s tomorrow

What test kits are you using>
I use Hannah. Only thing that has been high is phos at .7

Are you adding any chemicals to your tank? Just Alk, Calcium and Mag when they’re low. Just bought a Neptune Trident and will be installing that soon to monitor and adding a Dos to stabilize in real time.

I encourage you to test the LFS water to assure its within norms as we occasionally see water out of specs the LFS is even unaware of.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Set up your phone to video your tank, and walk away for 30 min.

Come back and review and see if you catch it in the act.

I have a couple reef safe with caution fish now, but I also bought an auto feeder and feed 3x a day, and that seems to have curbed aggression.

Hmmm… very familiar words

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

2 AI Primes over an 80 gallon tank is a large part of why corals are dying IMO. That is like 2 candles over that size tank, these lights are made for 15-20 gallon tanks. The light change should help. But sounds like you've left total control of the tank to the LFS, what are they saying about your 8 months of frustration? They are doing the work so they have a role in that.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

2 AI Primes over an 80 gallon tank is a large part of why corals are dying IMO. That is like 2 candles over that size tank, these lights are made for 15-20 gallon tanks. The light change should help. But sounds like you've left total control of the tank to the LFS, what are they saying about your 8 months of frustration? They are doing the work so they have a role in that.

Yes I didn’t catch this part, but I have an ai prime in a 20g sump and it’s hardly enough at 100%.

 

[Pntbll687]

The lights are weak for the tank, but that doesn't cause coral recession like you have. I would lean toward a bacterial infection of some kind with the epics you posted.

I had brown jelly run through a tank when I added two hammers from another system, had all pieces for years, but something about putting them in a new system caused the brown jelly.

DIP, DIP, DIP, DIP DIP! Euphyllia should be dipped in a cipro treatment, and chalices in a hydrogen peroxide and iodine dip.

You're LFS seems to be stringing you along about causes for the issues, and slow playing what needs to be done. They're willing to let colonies melt away, because they'll sell you another one.

 

[spicymikey]

Ok. Just need someone to walk me off the ledge and tell me it gets better. I'm 8months in to my new mixed reef tank and I just can't get my tank to be happy. Every day there is something dying in the tank. Mostly corals but fish too. My trachy was the happiest in the tank. Left for 3 days, came back and it was basically dead. All of the sudden my Euphylia are melting. My Raja chalice was super happy and now it receding like crazy and won't stop. I have my LFS doing weekly maintenance which include a 15-20% water change each week. My parameters seem to be in a relatively good range. I have corals that are usually hard to keep thriving and corals that are usually bullet proof dying left and right. Just don't know what to do. Bummer is instead of walking in each day to enjoy my little piece of ocean I walk in each day stressed about what I'm going to find dying. Ugh!!

To be honest, no it doesn't necessarily get easier. I have been an aquarist for most of my life and my latest reef aquarium is 400 gallons and is about 6 years old. My methods and procedures are perfected and lighting, water flow , filtration, water quality is as as good as it gets. I will do quarterly ICP tests to check for problems. I haven't made a significant mistake or had an accident in a couple years. Yet, this week cyanobacteria started getting out of control on the back wall so I had to do a chemiclean treatment. Aiptasia is a never-ending battle, and in spite of having about a dozen peppermint shrimp in the tank, I am always killing that back. But this week a good size one got wedged next to my beautiful 8 in diameter blastamosa colony. Before I noticed it it stung and killed about eight heads. Vermatid snails are another constant struggle that damaged coils if you don't keep an eye out for them. I have a big 16-in diameter Raja Rampage and the center area is dying. Most likely because of a flow problem related to how it shape is changing as it grows. Sucks because I was just about to trade it in for a smaller one again. About 2 months ago I had a big Hydnophora that got an infection on one of its tips and it started burning like a forest fire through the colony. I had to frag it and restart with a small surviving piece and it's doing well so far.

This is all from a guy who knows what he's doing and has a mature 6 year old mixed Reef aquarium. I say all this because I want you to realize that your expectations are probably too high. If you just want an aquarium to look at and provide nothing but joy and Zen then being a reef aquarist is not the right thing to do. The general success in spite of the struggle and challenges is where the joy mainly comes from with a mixed reef Aquarium.

 

[Wrassefan78]

As other reefers have eluded to, no I doesn’t get any easier. I still maintain my stance that the people that get the most enjoyment out of their tanks have someone else taking care of it lol.

 

[reeferpdx415]

The lights are weak for the tank, but that doesn't cause coral recession like you have. I would lean toward a bacterial infection of some kind with the epics you posted.

I had brown jelly run through a tank when I added two hammers from another system, had all pieces for years, but something about putting them in a new system caused the brown jelly.

DIP, DIP, DIP, DIP DIP! Euphyllia should be dipped in a cipro treatment, and chalices in a hydrogen peroxide and iodine dip.

You're LFS seems to be stringing you along about causes for the issues, and slow playing what needs to be done. They're willing to let colonies melt away, because they'll sell you another one.

I all fairness to my LFS they have actually been incredible partners in this. They have not charged me for a single replacement fish or coral that has died since they set the tank up. They answer on the weekends, send someone out immediately when a fish is on life support and take corals back to the shop to save them when they can. I probably moved faster than I should have but they have been great to work with.

 

[reeferpdx415]

Ok. Just need someone to walk me off the ledge and tell me it gets better. I'm 8months in to my new mixed reef tank and I just can't get my tank to be happy. Every day there is something dying in the tank. Mostly corals but fish too. My trachy was the happiest in the tank. Left for 3 days, came back and it was basically dead. All of the sudden my Euphylia are melting. My Raja chalice was super happy and now it receding like crazy and won't stop. I have my LFS doing weekly maintenance which include a 15-20% water change each week. My parameters seem to be in a relatively good range. I have corals that are usually hard to keep thriving and corals that are usually bullet proof dying left and right. Just don't know what to do. Bummer is instead of walking in each day to enjoy my little piece of ocean I walk in each day stressed about what I'm going to find dying. Ugh!!

To be honest, no it doesn't necessarily get easier. I have been an aquarist for most of my life and my latest reef aquarium is 400 gallons and is about 6 years old. My methods and procedures are perfected and lighting, water flow , filtration, water quality is as as good as it gets. I will do quarterly ICP tests to check for problems. I haven't made a significant mistake or had an accident in a couple years. Yet, this week cyanobacteria started getting out of control on the back wall so I had to do a chemiclean treatment. Aiptasia is a never-ending battle, and in spite of having about a dozen peppermint shrimp in the tank, I am always killing that back. But this week a good size one got wedged next to my beautiful 8 in diameter blastamosa colony. Before I noticed it it stung and killed about eight heads. Vermatid snails are another constant struggle that damaged coils if you don't keep an eye out for them. I have a big 16-in diameter Raja Rampage and the center area is dying. Most likely because of a flow problem related to how it shape is changing as it grows. Sucks because I was just about to trade it in for a smaller one again. About 2 months ago I had a big Hydnophora that got an infection on one of its tips and it started burning like a forest fire through the colony. I had to frag it and restart with a small surviving piece and it's doing well so far.

This is all from a guy who knows what he's doing and has a mature 6 year old mixed Reef aquarium. I say all this because I want you to realize that your expectations are probably too high. If you just want an aquarium to look at and provide nothing but joy and Zen then being a reef aquarist is not the right thing to do. The general success in spite of the struggle and challenges is where the joy mainly comes from with a mixed reef Aquarium.

Totally hear. I’m not trying to become a full time reef aquarist. But I would like to be able to have a mixed reef system that brings joy in to my home for myself and my family. I am a diver and the ocean is one of my happy places. I understand that this was never meant to be easy. I’m just hoping that one day it will find its groove and stabilize.

 

[spicymikey]

Totally hear. I’m not trying to become a full time reef aquarist. But I would like to be able to have a mixed reef system that brings joy in to my home for myself and my family. I am a diver and the ocean is one of my happy places. I understand that this was never meant to be easy. I’m just hoping that one day it will find its groove and stabilize.

I get it. And it does get easier after about the first year. But it never gets 'easy'. Partially because you get your methods and procedures nailed down, and secondly because the tank matures and stabilizes. The biggest problem I find with people is they get into this with the mindset that it's a hobby. And it really is not a "hobby". A hobby is something you can put aside when you get busy. Keeping a reef is not like stamp collecting lol. Think of it like committing to owning a dog. We wouldn't call owning and raising a dog a hobby. So that's where I think a lot of folks get in trouble. They underestimate the cost but more importantly the time commitment. I'm glad you have your lfs helping you out with this in the beginning for sure. Have fun and enjoy

 

[Pntbll687]

The lights are weak for the tank, but that doesn't cause coral recession like you have. I would lean toward a bacterial infection of some kind with the epics you posted.

I had brown jelly run through a tank when I added two hammers from another system, had all pieces for years, but something about putting them in a new system caused the brown jelly.

DIP, DIP, DIP, DIP DIP! Euphyllia should be dipped in a cipro treatment, and chalices in a hydrogen peroxide and iodine dip.

You're LFS seems to be stringing you along about causes for the issues, and slow playing what needs to be done. They're willing to let colonies melt away, because they'll sell you another one.

I all fairness to my LFS they have actually been incredible partners in this. They have not charged me for a single replacement fish or coral that has died since they set the tank up. They answer on the weekends, send someone out immediately when a fish is on life support and take corals back to the shop to save them when they can. I probably moved faster than I should have but they have been great to work with.

You have a pretty good lfs if that’s what they’re doing for you.

I do some minor service accounts on the side, and I provide a 24hr guarantee on all livestock, that’s it. Been burned too many times to offer anything more.

 

[reeferpdx415]

Ok. Just need someone to walk me off the ledge and tell me it gets better. I'm 8months in to my new mixed reef tank and I just can't get my tank to be happy. Every day there is something dying in the tank. Mostly corals but fish too. My trachy was the happiest in the tank. Left for 3 days, came back and it was basically dead. All of the sudden my Euphylia are melting. My Raja chalice was super happy and now it receding like crazy and won't stop. I have my LFS doing weekly maintenance which include a 15-20% water change each week. My parameters seem to be in a relatively good range. I have corals that are usually hard to keep thriving and corals that are usually bullet proof dying left and right. Just don't know what to do. Bummer is instead of walking in each day to enjoy my little piece of ocean I walk in each day stressed about what I'm going to find dying. Ugh!!

To be honest, no it doesn't necessarily get easier. I have been an aquarist for most of my life and my latest reef aquarium is 400 gallons and is about 6 years old. My methods and procedures are perfected and lighting, water flow , filtration, water quality is as as good as it gets. I will do quarterly ICP tests to check for problems. I haven't made a significant mistake or had an accident in a couple years. Yet, this week cyanobacteria started getting out of control on the back wall so I had to do a chemiclean treatment. Aiptasia is a never-ending battle, and in spite of having about a dozen peppermint shrimp in the tank, I am always killing that back. But this week a good size one got wedged next to my beautiful 8 in diameter blastamosa colony. Before I noticed it it stung and killed about eight heads. Vermatid snails are another constant struggle that damaged coils if you don't keep an eye out for them. I have a big 16-in diameter Raja Rampage and the center area is dying. Most likely because of a flow problem related to how it shape is changing as it grows. Sucks because I was just about to trade it in for a smaller one again. About 2 months ago I had a big Hydnophora that got an infection on one of its tips and it started burning like a forest fire through the colony. I had to frag it and restart with a small surviving piece and it's doing well so far.

This is all from a guy who knows what he's doing and has a mature 6 year old mixed Reef aquarium. I say all this because I want you to realize that your expectations are probably too high. If you just want an aquarium to look at and provide nothing but joy and Zen then being a reef aquarist is not the right thing to do. The general success in spite of the struggle and challenges is where the joy mainly comes from with a mixed reef Aquarium.

Finally got my Trident installed. Can someone explain the difference between pH and Alk and what they should be at respectively? Here’s where they’re at now.

 

[spicymikey]

Finally got my Trident installed. Can someone explain the difference between pH and Alk and what they should be at respectively? Here’s where they’re at now.

PH and alkalinity affect each other but they are in no way directly related. A quick search on the internet and you will find that your pH should be ideally around 8.1 to 8.3. Your pH is way way too high and, if that's a true reading, explains a lot of your struggles. Personally I don't think that number is real because everything would be completely dead at that level already.

Honestly, answering your question about the relationship of these two measurements in a concise little summary seems hard to do. You might want to take a step back and start reading more fundamentals about the chemistry of the water in a reef aquarium. But here is a screenshot of the "Grok" AI attempt at a summary answer when I asked it that question. But again, if you don't have the fundamental understanding of water chemistry including the "potential of Hydrogen" (pH) ions and their interaction with other molecules in the water, etc, then this may or may not be enough to help you answer your question. Hope this is in some way helpful.