STN with no reason

[Zbutcher]

Hey everyone,

My tank has been up for almost a year.

Its 180g 6'x3'x12" tall. Basically a large coral flat lol.

I have been waiting for it to be "ready for coral" but any time I try an a hardy SPS. It usually STNs after a month.

I have honestly been so confused and I genuinely have no idea why. So I decided to try LPS. I have a Duncan head doing great and a dispastrea doing good. But my Hollywood stunner completely bleached and died via STN.

I'm confused as all hell whats going on.

I use ONLY RODI water with 0 TDS. I use kalkwasser for PH buffer and calcium and alk.

Alk hovers from 9-9.3
Calcium is 400-450
Magnesium is 1300-1350.

I am so confused I got an ICP test. And I am posting the results for you guys here. There are a couple things that are a slight low or high but nothing crazy. Or am I just ignorant. Please let me know. All advice is appreciated. Thank you.

https://www.triton-lab.de/en/showroom/icp-oes/156168

 

[Lanny]

I'm gonna be crazy and say the fact that your "home kit testable" trace elements like iron is absolutely 0 that may be something. Iron is extremely important for photosynthesis. I would consider looking into trace elements for sure. Just my observation

I can't say for sure that's the issue, but I have seen an improvement once I started monitoring Iron potassium and iodine and added them do my dosing while changing no other variables.

Do you have say algae issues? I see you didn't post any of your organics.

 

[Zbutcher]

I'm gonna be crazy and say the fact that your "home kit testable" trace elements like iron is absolutely 0 that may be something. Iron is extremely important for photosynthesis. I would consider looking into trace elements for sure. Just my observation

I can't say for sure that's the issue, but I have seen an improvement once I started monitoring Iron potassium and iodine and added them do my dosing while changing no other variables.

Do you have say algae issues? I see you didn't post any of your organics.

Oh sorry. No I don't have any algae issues.

Infact only coralline in the flat it's kind of odd lol. But I run algae scrubber.

I checked my nitrates and phosphates a couple weeks ago and my nitrates were 43
And phosohates were .19 but according to ICP which is most recent, my phosphates are .046

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not see any huge concerns in the ICP, but you may fine iodine dosing useful (I did not), and a trace element supplement (iron, manganese, etc.) might be useful.

 

[Zbutcher]

I do not see any huge concerns in the ICP, but you may fine iodine dosing useful (I did not), and a trace element supplement (iron, manganese, etc.) might be useful.

Hey Randy,

Really appreciate the input man thank you!

I am curious though, do you think STN without much reason is a bit extreme for what could be maybe a trace element thing? I would be shocked if adding trace elements all of a sudden stopped any coral death

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey Randy,

Really appreciate the input man thank you!

I am curious though, do you think STN without much reason is a bit extreme for what could be maybe a trace element thing? I would be shocked if adding trace elements all of a sudden stopped any coral death

Depends on how low. Corals absolutely require elements such as iron.