RFA & coral issues, algae, at a loss

[ForumlyGuestUser]

My rock nems haven’t been looking great for the last month or so.

I thought it may be too much light, so in lowered the intensity a couple of weeks ago but they still look like this.

I downloaded the PPFD Meter app, and put a piece of paper as a diffuser to measure the light (selected 6500k LED) but it was ready super low (around 45 par) at the bottom of the tank so now I’m worried that I lowered it too much.

I have been doing weekly 10-15% water changes for the last 3 or so months because algae has also been an issue during this time but neither the water changes nor the lower of the light has helped with that either.

I have been keeping tanks for 10+ years and I am honestly at a loss for what the issue is.

The tank is close to a window which is definitely contributing to the light but I’ve had tanks get similar amounts of natural light before with no issues.

I only have the unreliable Red Sea test kits on hand, but I am going to my LFS tomorrow and hope they can test my water.

In the meantime, any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

It’s a 12 gallon frag style tank. Livestock is a neon goby, yasha goby and Pygmy white spotted filefish. With an assortment of crabs shrimp and snails. I’m running a protein skimmer, filter floss, and have bio blocks in the back chamber. I have LPS that haven’t been doing well during this time as well.

 

[Baby Ray]

This is my thread, I accidentally posted as a guest

This is the spectrum and intensity that I have been running the last several weeks. I decreased the white light because of the light that it was receiving from the windows

 

[Baby Ray]

The nems are browning some and the polyps haven’t been extending as much which is what made me think it was a lighting issue but the par reading (not that I can say it’s accurate) has me second guessing that.

The tank has also been without a powerhead for some time and I’ve been back and forth with AI/Bulk reef supply about getting it replaced. I should be getting a new one soon but this lack of flow could also be a factor.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would turn the lights back up, I don't think playing with lighting is ever a good idea. Taking pictures during the daylight would be best so that we can really see what they look like, its hard to judge at night.

How is the crab with the rfa's? I once had a crab that loved the rfa's too much and they didn't like and I had to remove the crab.

 

[Baby Ray]

I would turn the lights back up, I don't think playing with lighting is ever a good idea. Taking pictures during the daylight would be best so that we can really see what they look like, its hard to judge at night.

How is the crab with the rfa's? I once had a crab that loved the rfa's too much and they didn't like and I had to remove the crab.

I’ll take a picture soon to share, I turned the lights back up some.

The crabs are fine with the anemones. Something about the water parameters, light or flow seems to be affecting the RFAs much more

 

[Baby Ray]

I got some tests done at my LFS and the one number that stood out was my salinity was sitting at 1.022 and I am pretty sure on why this happened too.

Hopefully raising it slowly will resolve things