Hello All,
Sorry for the long post – I wanted to give as much background info as possible.
I am struggling keep my various SPS frags alive and have tried everything I can think of to get them back on track. They were thriving prevously with good growth, polpy extension etc. Now they have pretty much all browned out and a few have bleached as well.
The change started at about half way through a 10-week fallow period that I was ridding my tank of ich - this began mid September. The fallow period ridded the tank of ich, but even with fish back in I haven’t been able to change the course of my SPS. Even my GSP doesn’t look as good as it did and they typically thrive in most conditions. The only thing that seems to be thriving is the coralline algae on the back.
I have attached pictures of the tank, all equipment, and logs back to end of September (could go back as far as anyone needs to see) below if anyone has any ideas. - Don’t mind the regal tang, he is fine, just in shock because I had to change the Radions so I could take a picture on my phone and it not be overly blue.
At this point I am guessing trace elements such as strontium, iodine, potassium, iron, and other trace elements are not at proper levels causing my issues, but I am just guessing.
Since core parameters all have been stable and in a good range below are some ideas I thought to be causing the decline:
1) Chloramine in water – started using 2x carbon blocks with specific chloramine block. Also started dosing prime in top up water and water change RO/DI.
2) Lack of Nutrients – In the fallow period I fed the tank consistently everyday (with frozen bloodworms, mysis, brine, etc.) or every other day. Also, used reef roids every other day. Zero detectable phosphates, nitrates and no algae issue. Pod population took off.
3) Lack of trace elements – Did several large water changes which only seemed to make things worse or have no effect on decline.
4) Foreign objects in tank – Could not find anything that would result in the issues experienced. No metals, foreign plastics, etc. Took apart MP40’s to check the magnet, cleaned skimmer pump. Only thing not opened and checked was the return pump (Mag drive).
5) Dead zones in PVC piping that would allow some water to go toxic when not in use – reworked plumbing so reactors or other equipment would not be branched off but instead be directly off main run. I always previously flushed water out of pipes before turning on any equipment if they were on any runs like this.
6) Chaeto being too efficient at removing nutrients – removed 80% of chaeto from refugium. Reduced lighting hours of Refugium.
7) Homemade DIY dosing ingredients toxic in some way – Stopped dosing, saw no change for a few days and levels dropped - Switched Alk, calcium, and magnesium to ESV.
8) Radions too intense – lowered from 80% to 70%, then later on 70% to 60%.
Logs:
Sep 30 t0 Oct 29 - https://imgur.com/srHK0dq
Oct 28 to Nov 15 - https://imgur.com/HGwauvC
Nov 15 to Dec 9 - https://imgur.com/tcJV0EC
Dec 2 to Dec 30 - https://imgur.com/yZ4GKN4
Equipment:
https://imgur.com/FqiOKay
https://imgur.com/QDwpe0K
https://imgur.com/ePdPOqD
Tank:
Dec 30 2018 - https://imgur.com/xNyEzvx
Oct 28 2018 - https://imgur.com/QoqhFtl
Any ideas, suggestions or help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Sorry for the long post – I wanted to give as much background info as possible.
I am struggling keep my various SPS frags alive and have tried everything I can think of to get them back on track. They were thriving prevously with good growth, polpy extension etc. Now they have pretty much all browned out and a few have bleached as well.
The change started at about half way through a 10-week fallow period that I was ridding my tank of ich - this began mid September. The fallow period ridded the tank of ich, but even with fish back in I haven’t been able to change the course of my SPS. Even my GSP doesn’t look as good as it did and they typically thrive in most conditions. The only thing that seems to be thriving is the coralline algae on the back.
I have attached pictures of the tank, all equipment, and logs back to end of September (could go back as far as anyone needs to see) below if anyone has any ideas. - Don’t mind the regal tang, he is fine, just in shock because I had to change the Radions so I could take a picture on my phone and it not be overly blue.
At this point I am guessing trace elements such as strontium, iodine, potassium, iron, and other trace elements are not at proper levels causing my issues, but I am just guessing.
Since core parameters all have been stable and in a good range below are some ideas I thought to be causing the decline:
1) Chloramine in water – started using 2x carbon blocks with specific chloramine block. Also started dosing prime in top up water and water change RO/DI.
2) Lack of Nutrients – In the fallow period I fed the tank consistently everyday (with frozen bloodworms, mysis, brine, etc.) or every other day. Also, used reef roids every other day. Zero detectable phosphates, nitrates and no algae issue. Pod population took off.
3) Lack of trace elements – Did several large water changes which only seemed to make things worse or have no effect on decline.
4) Foreign objects in tank – Could not find anything that would result in the issues experienced. No metals, foreign plastics, etc. Took apart MP40’s to check the magnet, cleaned skimmer pump. Only thing not opened and checked was the return pump (Mag drive).
5) Dead zones in PVC piping that would allow some water to go toxic when not in use – reworked plumbing so reactors or other equipment would not be branched off but instead be directly off main run. I always previously flushed water out of pipes before turning on any equipment if they were on any runs like this.
6) Chaeto being too efficient at removing nutrients – removed 80% of chaeto from refugium. Reduced lighting hours of Refugium.
7) Homemade DIY dosing ingredients toxic in some way – Stopped dosing, saw no change for a few days and levels dropped - Switched Alk, calcium, and magnesium to ESV.
8) Radions too intense – lowered from 80% to 70%, then later on 70% to 60%.
Logs:
Sep 30 t0 Oct 29 - https://imgur.com/srHK0dq
Oct 28 to Nov 15 - https://imgur.com/HGwauvC
Nov 15 to Dec 9 - https://imgur.com/tcJV0EC
Dec 2 to Dec 30 - https://imgur.com/yZ4GKN4
Equipment:
https://imgur.com/FqiOKay
https://imgur.com/QDwpe0K
https://imgur.com/ePdPOqD
Tank:
Dec 30 2018 - https://imgur.com/xNyEzvx
Oct 28 2018 - https://imgur.com/QoqhFtl
Any ideas, suggestions or help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Last edited:
