SPS Browning and Bleaching

prcardinal91

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Ok so here is my situation. I have a 75 gallon mixed reef with black box lighting mounted about 18 inches from the water surface 75%blue and 25% white power. 30 gallon sump, reef octo 150 skimmer, 2 filter socks, chemipure (treats 50 gal bag size). The tank has been running for over 3 years. It was neglected for a while, then I overhauled it early December 2020 and have been upkeeping it since. 15 gallon water changes every Sunday. red sea blue bucket salt at 1.025-1.026

My problem is that many of my sps corals are bleaching while others are browning at the same time. All lps looks pretty good. Zoas look good. Blasto growing new heads and everything else is opened up other than my candycane corals, which look like the tissue is receding. I have 2 tunze 6095 pumps at 25% ish pulsing randomly on either side and a sicce 530 gph in the back. 70 lbs of live rock. eheim 900 gph return pump. Refugium (split with a t so it does not receive full return pump power) with chaeto algae and some other macro algae (seems to be gowing slowly and definately not dying/melting). The tank PAR is as follows:

Number indicate par levels in the 75g top to bottom etc. Photo period 12:30pm - 9:20 pm
75% Blue 25% White
230200200230
190200200145
112100100148
Rack - 80Rack - 85
Rack - 70
112135135100


Here are my parameters most recently:

Date3/26/21
Nitrate20
Nitrite0
Ammonia0
PH8.2
Phosphate0.04
Calcium450
Alkalinity8.2
Magnesium1440
Iron.15
Potassium400
Iodine.06
Temp79
Salinity1.026

When I put a new birdnest or acro in they look amazing. Stay colored up for a few days, all polyped out, and have even noticed some growth. Then they start to retract and either turn brown or wash out to the point where they are completely white, but polyps are still visible (they also still fluoresce under black lights). Once this happens they stay at this stage. I have one monti cap that looks like it has regained some red color, however. My parameters have been stable from what I can see. I test very often, at least twice a week. At times I was testing all parameters every day. Little to no fluctuation. Reef energy 20 ml AB+ everyday with the skimmer off for 1 hr.

I have no idea what could possibly be causing this. Advice and help welcome. I can include pictures if it helps. All test kits are red sea. Have used multiple test kits to ensure accuracy.

Resized_20210228_121116.jpeg Resized_20210308_123943.jpeg Resized_20210318_213842.jpeg Resized_20210321_202832.jpeg Resized_20210323_203524.jpeg
 
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prcardinal91

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2 clowns relatively small currently, a starry blenny, 2 azure damsels, a 6 line, and 2 cardinals.

Blood cleaner shrimp, pistol shrimp, roughly 15 hermits and 20 snails (mix of astrea, trocus, nassarius, and bumblebee).
 

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What all are you dosing? Any vibrant or carbon dosing? NoPox?
Your corals look/sound starved
How much are you feeding your fish?
 

RyanHoan

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You seem to be doing everything right. I hope someone can help you.

What's your flow like?
 
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prcardinal91

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No carbon dosing or vibrant. No nopox. I was actually dosing stump remover to get nitrates up a while back, but have stopped that about 2 months ago. I usually feed two times a day. 3 times a day on the weekends when I am home more.

Pe Mysis and calanus mixed with coral fenzy and reef chili. Spot feed what I can. I am not shy with food, or at least I think.
 

terraincognita

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wait.

These are your par levels?

You're getting 80 par on the rack?

Number indicate par levels in the 75g top to bottom etc. Photo period 12:30pm - 9:20 pm
75% Blue 25% White
230200200230
190200200145
112100100148
Rack - 80Rack - 85
Rack - 70
112135135100

Can you draw in on paint your par numbers in your tank?

Like this?

IMG_2447.jpg
 
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prcardinal91

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They only stay on the rack for a few days to get acclimated to the parameters then they go on the rocks.
 
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prcardinal91

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Would bleaching be a result of light too low? I feel like some of the montis will get blasted if i turn my lights up
 
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prcardinal91

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Heres what I can put out with the black boxes - PAR 100%
1000 - Right below the water100010001000
550 - top of rocks550550550
410450450380
360280300360
Rack - 250
Rack - 250
300340340300
 
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prcardinal91

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Par levels drawn on at current light levels
 

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I missed the par levels details. Give them atleast 250 par for at 7-9 hours

I never “rack/low par acclimate my sps. They get a 12 hour interceptor bath then dip and are placed in 250-500 par immediately. Never lost one coral unless they were not healthy to begin with
 
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