Why can’t I keep SPS?!

[ASIN28]

Hey all,
For a little back story on my tank I have a 120 Gallon reef which is LPS dominant. Has been up and running for 2+ years now. I am not running a refugium at this time as I took it out due to charging not growing and filling up with algae. My LPS, Torches, Zoas, frogspawns, Xenia, etc are all very happy and thriving.
Now, Why can’t I keep SPS? I have tried SPS multiple times and so far all I end up with is white bleached dead coral. Granted I have concluded that my first attempt at SPS I had a Dino outbreak at the same time which I think may have killed them due to high PO4 and Nirate at that time which was over a year ago. I decided to shoot my shot at SPS again about a month ago. I picked up birdsnest, a green slimer, and another piece that is not named. When first introduced the polyps were out for the first few days and then nothing after that. Green slimer and birdsnest are bleaching and the other piece looks ok other than no polyps coming out. I did have an alk fluctuation due to a dosing error which wasn’t my fault at the time I introduced these pieces but since then everything is under control. I do consistent weekly water changes of about 25%.
Levels are as follows:
Alk: 8.7
Calcium: 420
Mag: 1500
Nitrate: 30
PO4: .02
PH: 8.2
Potassium: 370
The last ICP test I did was over a year ago after my Dino outbreak I am going to do another one.
Lights: Photon v2+ Reefbreeder lights with 12 hour peak schedule.
Flow: Sicce X Stream x2 running at about 50% at the moment each.
What do you guys think may be my problem because I don’t understand!
Thank you!

 

[Quoc Vu]

Key factor for sps is stable Alk. what do you do to deal with Alk? What and how do you dose your tank? Lps success doesnt mean you can keep sps.

 

[ASIN28]

Key factor for sps is stable Alk. what do you do to deal with Alk? What and how do you dose your tank? Lps success doesnt mean you can keep sps.

My alk sits at 8.5. I dose all 2 times a day through a doser. I use the BRS 2 part.

 

[Lavey29]

Probably not enough flow in 120g tank for SPS. What are your par number? Prior dino problems indicate unstable parameters too.

 

[ASIN28]

Probably not enough flow in 120g tank for SPS. What are your par number? Prior dino problems indicate unstable parameters too.

Parameters have been pretty stable for quite a few months, with exception to the alk swing I had recently due to dosing/test error. The Dino outbreak was over a year ago at this point. Should I raise up the flow or should I buy two more or even upgrade to another pump? Par numbers are 350-400 where the SPS is.

 

[Goby Bryant]

Nitrate is a bit high.

 

[Lavey29]

Parameters have been pretty stable for quite a few months, with exception to the alk swing I had recently due to dosing/test error. The Dino outbreak was over a year ago at this point. Should I raise up the flow or should I buy two more or even upgrade to another pump? Par numbers are 350-400 where the SPS is.

I'm not familiar with your powerheads but did check them online and they are fairly low overall GPH and you are running them at 50% in a large tank. Par is good and your current parameters are decent. Do you have coraline growing?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Is this bad?

 

[gbroadbridge]

Your nitrates are high to introduce new coral. They have probably been in lower nitrate water and get shocked when introduced to your tank.

SPS can handle higher Nitrate, but not a big jump overnight.

As your tank has been up for two years, I 'd think that biologically it would be stable, however previous outbreaks of Dino's indicate an unstable tank.

It is vital that Salinity and Alkalinity remain stable (within 0.3 dkh over 24 hours). You can get some wild swings within 24 hours with infrequent dosing.

Concentrate on keeping the Alk stable, that is in my opinion the single most important measurement for SPS health.

 

[ASIN28]

I'm not familiar with your powerheads but did check them online and they are fairly low overall GPH and you are running them at 50% in a large tank. Par is good and your current parameters are decent. Do you have coraline growing?

Yes I do have a lot of Coraline growing actually all over the tank

 

[ScottB]

Is this bad?

That is terrible. I am gonna have to report you to the ASPCA. Or is it the RSPCA? No, wait. The YMCA?
Whatever. Ur in big trouble. Next you'll probably post some pictures of your tortured corals.

 

[Semisonyx]

Not enough PAR or not enough Phosphate would be my guess.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

That is terrible. I am gonna have to report you to the ASPCA. Or is it the RSPCA? No, wait. The YMCA?
Whatever. Ur in big trouble. Next you'll probably post some pictures of your tortured corals.

My corals should be dead right??????

 

[PeterEde]

Dosing twice a day?
I spread my alk dose over 12 doses though 24 hours. I got a doser to avoid the daily swing.
My Calc/Alk has been stable at 420/8.4 for a few weeks now
My one acro I put in a few months ago never opened and only recently died/bleached over night.
My No3 has been high for months. No matter my efforts I can't keep it down.

 

[CoralB]

Stability is king as long as all parameters are in the zone .that being said my opinion your phosphates need to come up a little , your mag is high , your nitrates could come down about 10 -15 ppm , flow is important preferably a pulsating type flow during feeding . Are you feeding them and if so what and how ? I’d also rent or borrow a par meter to make sure the lighting is satisfactory. Proper acclimation to the temp , water quality, and lighting when placing them is important . Besides what I’ve just stated and like others here have stated , its more than likely has to do with instability of parameters and or sudden change in parameters . That’s my opinion , hope it helps !!

 

[Koh23]

Welcome to the club, i know.....

Not a simple birdnest or stylophora frag can survive in my tank.... For a few days, maybe one week everyrhing is great, then it starts - no polyps, turning white at random spots, turning green/brown....

And really no clue what is the problem....

 

[Rick5]

I’m sorry if I missed it. Is this a dry rock set up?

 

[gbroadbridge]

Dosing twice a day?
I spread my alk dose over 12 doses though 24 hours. I got a doser to avoid the daily swing.
My Calc/Alk has been stable at 420/8.4 for a few weeks now
My one acro I put in a few months ago never opened and only recently died/bleached over night.
My No3 has been high for months. No matter my efforts I can't keep it down.

Give it time. There is a reason why SPS don't like newish tanks.

One day your tank will magically start eating Nitrate and Phosphate and you'll struggle to put enough food in to keep them above zero.

When you get there, stock up on Acros

 

[3429810]

One day your tank will magically start eating Nitrate and Phosphate and you'll struggle to put enough food in to keep them above zero.

Maybe I’m wrong here but isn’t it the opposite? The dry rock should be soaking up phosphates until it hit max saturation which would then make the soluble phosphate levels even higher since the amount getting bound drops. Older tanks are also generally higher in nutrients on average.

 

[PeterEde]

Give it time. There is a reason why SPS don't like newish tanks.

One day your tank will magically start eating Nitrate and Phosphate and you'll struggle to put enough food in to keep them above zero.

When you get there, stock up on Acros

Maybe I’m wrong here but isn’t it the opposite? The dry rock should be soaking up phosphates until it hit max saturation which would then make the soluble phosphate levels even higher since the amount getting bound drops. Older tanks are also generally higher in nutrients on average.

I had high PO4 once and used Phosgard and ever since my PO4 has been .1 ish ever since. I have even been dosing Phosphorus to help with NO3 removal via carbon dosing.
My only issue now is NO3 I can't keep down. Even feeding only 2x a day.