I am experiencing what feels like a tank crash in slow motion.
My SPS are all slowly receding/dying. Some LPS that have been bulletproof are also dying or are very grumpy. The tank is about 7 months old now, though originally I had quite a bit of beginner SPS that was either growing great (stylo), or at least encrusting and surviving (some acros, milles). I lost a few SPS but chalked it up to tank maturity - but this time it is different, this is the first time some pretty standard LPS are also now dying off, and the SPS that *were* thriving for many months are suddenly on their way out as well. Everything is STN from the tips or receding slowly at the base.
The stats:
Really haven't made any changes or messed with the tank in a while. RODI water is testing at 0 TDS and 0 Chloramines.
My theories, all pretty flimsy at this point:
I'm stumped! By all accounts, the tank was doing great and all indicators (corraline, pods, fish) are also great. But the corals are all very much on the decline, albeit a very slow one.
My SPS are all slowly receding/dying. Some LPS that have been bulletproof are also dying or are very grumpy. The tank is about 7 months old now, though originally I had quite a bit of beginner SPS that was either growing great (stylo), or at least encrusting and surviving (some acros, milles). I lost a few SPS but chalked it up to tank maturity - but this time it is different, this is the first time some pretty standard LPS are also now dying off, and the SPS that *were* thriving for many months are suddenly on their way out as well. Everything is STN from the tips or receding slowly at the base.
The stats:
- Alk has been steady for months at 8.1-8.3 with an Alkatronic and automated Triton core7 dosing.
- Corraline is growing incredibly well, all over the place.
- Pod population is healthy - mandarin is fat and wrasses stay busy. See pods on glass and in sump regularly.
- No3 and PO4 are stable at 7-8 and .12-.14, respectively.
- Recent ICP tests are pretty normal other than very high iron (I dosed this too agressively to try and save my Chaeto, I think).
- No issues with algae, cyano, or dinos. Sand is beautiful and white, tank looks great. Fish are all doing super well, Tang Gang keeps things clean.
- Inverts are good (multiple shrimp, urchin, 2x anemone)
Really haven't made any changes or messed with the tank in a while. RODI water is testing at 0 TDS and 0 Chloramines.
My theories, all pretty flimsy at this point:
- Something in my RODI. I thought it was Chloramines but those seem to test zero. Water changes haven't helped anything, but I can't say they are hurting. I have mostly ruled this out, at this point.
- The elevated Iron. RHF seems to think Iron isn't that harmful but perhaps mine is simply way too high? Triton ICP had it at 37ug/l. This was before all the water changes, it is probably much lower now - coral still declining.
- Overskimming? The deltec 1000i is overrated for my tank, maybe it's pulling too much good stuff out? Coupled with the very efficient Clarisea, maybe there's just not enough of something in the water.
- Allelopathy? I have quite a few Zoas, a toadstool...they are doing well. I am running GAC. ???
I'm stumped! By all accounts, the tank was doing great and all indicators (corraline, pods, fish) are also great. But the corals are all very much on the decline, albeit a very slow one.