sps rtning in a day

[cdy121]

so every time I add a new acro they rtn out within the a day or two I dip my corals right away im currently running ai prime 16hd with the sps AB+ the tank has been running for 1 year now but i have no luck with any sps all my levels are stable the salt I use is the red sea pro salt i test all my levels and dose when needed
alk is at 10.5
calcium is at 440
mag is at 1280
I also dose reef roids, fuel, and the red sea color system
can somebody please help me I just keep loosing corals and its very unsatisfying

 

[Nigel35]

What kind of lighting do you have? Is the flow correct for the specific coral?

 

[Lawpoke87]

Did you start with all dead rock?

 

[Coronus]

My opinion is first alk is too high. Some people may keep it that high but most don’t. You need high nutrients to keep that high alk. Drop alk down to 7.5-7.7 range. Keep it their and it must be stable daily.
When you add SPS In 10.5 DKH thats been in what most people keep alk at 7-8 DKH tanks you shock that coral and it probably rtns. Natural sea water is 7. Stay in that range.
What is no3 and po4 test result? Need this info. I would suggest changing salt mixes as I believe that salt has high alk?
Raise mag to at least 1350, 1380-1400 is better.
All I keep is SPS. Been that way for many years....to me, sounds like alk is the main issue.

 

[Homewrecker]

What are your nutrients like?
Alk is pretty high up there and most vendors dont run anything nearly that high, its a bit of a shock to incoming corals as is but if your nutrients are relatively low its even harder on the coral

 

[cdy121]

What kind of lighting do you have? Is the flow correct for the specific coral?

I have the ai primes and I also have a Jebao wavemaker

 

[cdy121]

Did you start with all dead rock?

Some of it was transferred from my old tank which was boiled so yes some of it was dead but I did buy 20+lbs of live rock

 

[cdy121]

What are your nutrients like?
Alk is pretty high up there and most vendors dont run anything nearly that high, its a bit of a shock to incoming corals as is but if your nutrients are relatively low its even harder on the coral

My nutrients are pretty low I am using gfo in my media reactor mabey I should stop using gfo?
But I also feed a lot

 

[cdy121]

My opinion is first alk is too high. Some people may keep it that high but most don’t. You need high nutrients to keep that high alk. Drop alk down to 7.5-7.7 range. Keep it their and it must be stable daily.
When you add SPS In 10.5 DKH thats been in what most people keep alk at 7-8 DKH tanks you shock that coral and it probably rtns. Natural sea water is 7. Stay in that range.
What is no3 and po4 test result? Need this info. I would suggest changing salt mixes as I believe that salt has high alk?
Raise mag to at least 1350, 1380-1400 is better.
All I keep is SPS. Been that way for many years....to me, sounds like alk is the main issue.

Okay thank you very much, my nutrients are very low phosphates are 0.5, I’m going to have to check my nitrates tomorrow but I do use gfo in my reactor maybe I should not use gfo?
Also what salt would you recommend I know most salts are the same companies just add more of one thing or another,I’m thinking reef crystals would be the way to go

 

[S.Pepper]

I have the ai primes and I also have a Jebao wavemaker

I'm also using ai primes with the David Saxby schedule. Truthfully, I don't have much experience with sps, but i bought a milko stylo from JF several weeks ago and it has been blooming--it's looking awesome. I am also using Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt that has my alk around 7.2. I'm also dosing with TM All-For-Reef. Who knows, everything could crash soon, but as of now, and the months preceding, it's all going well.

As others have said, I think your alk is way too high. But what do i know? I am a big believer in TM and its products. I believe my lack of knowledge and experience have been supplemented with superior products from TM. GL, i hope u get this figured out.

 

[dadnjesse]

The Red Sea pro salt runs a high alkalinty 11.5-12.5

 

[Rick5]

Also what salt would you recommend

It depends on what you're trying to achieve in terms of your alkalinity and depending on whether you're willing to alter your freshly-made salt water. If you want a low alkalinity salt, I like Tropic Marin Pro Reef. Reef Crystals will provide a much higher alkalinity (at least historically). Instant Ocean salt is widely used, but the alkalinity runs on the higher side (although you can drop it) and, if I recall correctly, the magnesium is depressed.

I like to use a salt that closely matches the alkalinity I want my tank at (and I'm among the minority who doesn't want to mess with altering the parameters of freshly-made water). I like a lower alkalinity (NSW levels) around 7-ish, so I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef (although I did previously use Red Sea Blue Bucket and wasn't a fan). You'll also want to match your alkalinity and nutrient levels accordingly (which is the general widespread sentiment these days - although some people disagree on that point).

Edit: If you post your water parameters and tank volume in a single post, you're going to get better responses/feedback. Also, what test kits are you using? Are they old or expired? I'd start with SG, Nitrate, Phosphate, Alkalinity and water volume. Info about your husbandry, dosing, etc. won't hurt either.

 

[rq786]

phosphates are 0.5 or 0.05

 

[cdy121]

phosphates are 0.5 or 0.05

0.5

 

[jda]

P of .5 is death to a lot of SPS and especially when dropped in all at once.

How about a full spread of equipment and parameters with testing source? ...maybe even some photos.

 

[Coronus]

Okay thank you very much, my nutrients are very low phosphates are 0.5, I’m going to have to check my nitrates tomorrow but I do use gfo in my reactor maybe I should not use gfo?
Also what salt would you recommend I know most salts are the same companies just add more of one thing or another,I’m thinking reef crystals would be the way to go

.50 is a bit high for my taste. You want to be around .01-.03. I just started using Seachem Vibrant sea salt and like it so far. Alk is around 7.5 DKH. I haven’t used Reef Crystals in over 15 years. But I believe it’s good.Did you test no3 yet?

 

[cdy121]

.50 is a bit high for my taste. You want to be around .01-.03. I just started using Seachem Vibrant sea salt and like it so far. Alk is around 7.5 DKH. I haven’t used Reef Crystals in over 15 years. But I believe it’s good.Did you test no3 yet?

Yes I did test no3 and I retested po4 my no3 where at 0 and my po4 came out at 0.05 I’m pretty sure I just got the numbers mixed up I also retested my alk after I put the reef crystals in and it went down to 9.6dkh

 

[LOVEROCK]

My opinion is first alk is too high. Some people may keep it that high but most don’t. You need high nutrients to keep that high alk. Drop alk down to 7.5-7.7 range. Keep it their and it must be stable daily.
When you add SPS In 10.5 DKH thats been in what most people keep alk at 7-8 DKH tanks you shock that coral and it probably rtns. Natural sea water is 7. Stay in that range.
What is no3 and po4 test result? Need this info. I would suggest changing salt mixes as I believe that salt has high alk?
Raise mag to at least 1350, 1380-1400 is better.
All I keep is SPS. Been that way for many years....to me, sounds like alk is the main issue.

what nutrient levels for nitrate and phopshate around 7.5 to 7.7 alk do you suggest ?

 

[Coronus]

No3 is hard to suggest but I personally like .05-1ppm. Lots of people run higher this is just what I like. Po4 .01-.03 is what I like. I currently run all systems at this but closer to .01. I truly believe you should fix the high alk and stabilize the tank for several weeks before adding any new coral. I would also stop dosing Red Sea colors. You don’t need it. JMO. Once alk drops color will come. Just make sure alk and all others Params are stable. No fluctuations or spikes.

 

[cdy121]

No3 is hard to suggest but I personally like .05-1ppm. Lots of people run higher this is just what I like. Po4 .01-.03 is what I like. I currently run all systems at this but closer to .01.

So should I keep running gfo in my reactor? Or run carbon in it?