Why do all my softies die/melt!?!?

[nmertz1]

Hey all,

I have had my system setup for a little over a year now and everything is doing excellent! I have tons of LPS, a few SPS, and a BTA.. I do a 15% water change weekly - every Sunday and I never miss a day..

My question is, I can't keep soft corals except for my GSP.. I have tried Xenia, blue cove, and even my starter anthelia coral is starting to "melt" away.. They start out great but then they wither away. Anyone know what's up?

 

[NanaReefer]

Need more info about your setup. Lights, parameters, filtration. Softies prefer lower light, higher nutrient water.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Softies like some Trates in the water, not high, but they prefer some. You shoulde be able to get away with them in your tank, are you feeding them? If theres no nutrients in the water they will need fed, like the SPS. High lighting is not a liking to them, strong light will work. The ones you've chosen thus far, alot of people have trouble with. Some can get them to acclimate, most can't. Those a toughies to get going.

 

[nmertz1]

I currently have 1 kessil a350w on the tank. It is a 38 gallon nuvo. I have a tunze 9004 skimmer and I run chemi pure elite and purigen. My tank temp is consistent between 75-77 degrees. Salinity is at 1.026. I never test my water, just do frequent water changes and it has worked as (most) everything does very well. Here is a pic of my tank

Before when I was running 2 kessil a150w

 

[myvortex]

need a dirty tank

 

[ritter6788]

I don't know of any corals that like a dirty tank.

You said you don't test. With all those stony corals in your tank your alk can drop low quickly. I'd recommend testing alk at least to find out if that's your problem. Without testing uou can't eliminate those variables when troubleshooting.

 

[mtnrunner]

I tried for years not test, but now that I have finally started to do it weekly, I see how necessary it is. Get you some Hanna Checkers, they make it easier. I check alk and cal weekly. Magnesium monthly.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I don't know of any corals that like a dirty tank.

You said you don't test. With all those stony corals in your tank your alk can drop low quickly. I'd recommend testing alk at least to find out if that's your problem. Without testing uou can't eliminate those variables when troubleshooting.

I guess its not so much dirty tank, but when I had my Trates at 20, my softies were in great shape, when I got them to 0 they went south on me. Got Trates back up and all is well.

 

[larangcon]

I had trouble with softies in the past, once I had my phosphate down, I can finally keep em alive. Test your phosphate level

 

[NanaReefer]

Could be your softies are being starved out what with all the LPS eating up all the nutrients. Softies can't compete. Maybe a little chemical warfare going on too.
I experienced a melting of my zoa's whenever I was using Chemipure Elite. No sooner took it out and things were good again. Go figure right. Maybe cut down on the amount your using.

 

[Ddavis]

What salt are you using for your water changes?
What is your salinity, ph, alk, phosphates, nitrates (basic water parameters)?
What is your substrate?

The parameters of your water need to closely match what Randy H-F published: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

My best guess is that one of your parameters will be out of range (ph or alk).

 

[nmertz1]

What salt are you using for your water changes?
What is your salinity, ph, alk, phosphates, nitrates (basic water parameters)?
What is your substrate?

The parameters of your water need to closely match what Randy H-F published: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

My best guess is that one of your parameters will be out of range (ph or alk).

I will have to test but I don't have a test kit as I just do frequent water changes and everything looks good. I am using Red Sea salt

 

[Ddavis]

Using Red Sea salt is a good start but most likely something is still off. I have seen soft corals melt when the ph is extremely low or the alk (KH) is off so at the very lest you need to test for these.

I also am interested in seeing your nitrate levels because having too much waste in your water is not good either.

For right now you are mostly looking at spending about as much as a good coral for a series of tests. The most inexpensive way is with api's test kit: http://www.amazon.com/API-Reef-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B001D6Z7QW

You can also find other test kits that are easier to read or even digital readouts but the cost goes up.

To correct low alk (KH) I would suggest two part dosing because you will be able to just add the elements needed.