I used to, in Canada, have a 375 gal. marine tank with fish and some LPS and soft corals, about 20 plus years ago. I had some success keeping fish and corals, but quit the hobby 12 years ago because of my constant business traveling. I travel regularly between Canada and the Philippines.
About 8 months ago I decided to set up a reef tank, in my home in the Philippines, after reading about new methods and equipments that make reefkeeping easier. After lots of reading and research online, I started a 90 gal reef tank with a 35 gal sump, with about 80 lbs. of wet live rocks. The live rocks were cured for about a month before adding them into the tank. It was cycled with a few fish and it went through the different types of algae blooms. 4 months ago I added a few soft and LPS corals and since they were doing okay, I added a few SPS corals. The corals were doing okay for about a month, with some polyp extensions and growth on the SPS corals.
About 2 months the corals started dying one by one, starting with the SPS until they were all dead. From what I have read, they died because my tank is still too young and the chemical levels were very erratic. Alkalinity would change from 6 to 11 dKH, Ca from 350 to 450 ppm and Mg from 1300 to 1500 ppm, because the various solutions were added manually. The Nitrate level also went up to about 30 ppm.
About a month ago I added more corals, and started using dosing pumps for the 3 chemicals and also dose with vodka/vinegar solution ( carbon dosing ) to lower the nitrate level. I also did four 20% water change ( btw I use 100% natural seawater ) in a span of 2 weeks.
Now the levels are more constant with alkalinity at 9.5 dKH, Ca at 440 ppm, Mg at 1400 ppm, pH at 8.4, Specific gravity at 1.0265 g/cc and nitrate at about 10 ppm. But the corals are still not doing well. The few SPS I added had no polyp extension and died within a week. The soft corals and the LPS are still alive but have very little extensions.
By the way I use reverse osmosis water and kalwasser solution for an auto top off.
What am doing wrong and what am I missing?
About 8 months ago I decided to set up a reef tank, in my home in the Philippines, after reading about new methods and equipments that make reefkeeping easier. After lots of reading and research online, I started a 90 gal reef tank with a 35 gal sump, with about 80 lbs. of wet live rocks. The live rocks were cured for about a month before adding them into the tank. It was cycled with a few fish and it went through the different types of algae blooms. 4 months ago I added a few soft and LPS corals and since they were doing okay, I added a few SPS corals. The corals were doing okay for about a month, with some polyp extensions and growth on the SPS corals.
About 2 months the corals started dying one by one, starting with the SPS until they were all dead. From what I have read, they died because my tank is still too young and the chemical levels were very erratic. Alkalinity would change from 6 to 11 dKH, Ca from 350 to 450 ppm and Mg from 1300 to 1500 ppm, because the various solutions were added manually. The Nitrate level also went up to about 30 ppm.
About a month ago I added more corals, and started using dosing pumps for the 3 chemicals and also dose with vodka/vinegar solution ( carbon dosing ) to lower the nitrate level. I also did four 20% water change ( btw I use 100% natural seawater ) in a span of 2 weeks.
Now the levels are more constant with alkalinity at 9.5 dKH, Ca at 440 ppm, Mg at 1400 ppm, pH at 8.4, Specific gravity at 1.0265 g/cc and nitrate at about 10 ppm. But the corals are still not doing well. The few SPS I added had no polyp extension and died within a week. The soft corals and the LPS are still alive but have very little extensions.
By the way I use reverse osmosis water and kalwasser solution for an auto top off.
What am doing wrong and what am I missing?
