Corals slowly dying.. help

prozerran

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#1
The tank is a red sea reefer nano. 21g main display and 7g sump. It's been up and running for about 8 months. It seems like every time I tried to add new corals to the tank, the corals will do okay for about 1 week then slowly start to die.. I've tried adding easy sps corals like forest fire digi, duncan corals, frog spawns, torch.. the forest fire digi will slowly turn pale and brown. I'm running a Kessil 360x. Mounted above 12" I have 1 nero 3 and a random hydor wave pump. In the sump i just have a nano protein skimmer, with a filter media cup that has filter floss and carbon. I've included a Tritton ICP test here also: https://www.triton-lab.de/en/showroom/icp-oes/107891
Weird how it doesnt show nitrate or alk, but my readings are 41 nitrate and 7.0 dkh, salinity 1.026. The only thing that seems to survive in my tanks are the easy corals like the leather and jb mushrooms.. I've posted some old pictures below.. on the top rock all those sps corals didn't make it, and same with the duncans. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!!
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#2
Looking at your test. Iron sticks Out but it can be misleading. And your no3 is a bit high and your kh is low. Double check your ph while you’re at it. And if your ink bird is really reading 79 temp that can also be an issue.
 

Sakudo4

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#7
the triton test tells you what your levels are and dose accordingly when you open the dose function
 

Dorado

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#10
Do you clean your powerheads and overflow regularly? If not, I don't see very much coralline algae growth for a tank running 8 months. In my experience if your coralline is taking off, your corals will likewise do well. You probably need to get your big three in check (alk, cal, mag), and lower your nitrates.
 

prozerran

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#13
+1 also do you have an ATO?

I only see one clown, why is your nitrates hovering at 40?
Thats actually an old picture when the corals were alive and when I first got them.. I do have more fishes now. 1 clown, 6 chromis, 1 yasha goby, 1 wrasse (kind of overstock for a nano probably)

I should also say i dont do much water changes like i should..
 

prozerran

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#15
Do you clean your powerheads and overflow regularly? If not, I don't see very much coralline algae growth for a tank running 8 months. In my experience if your coralline is taking off, your corals will likewise do well. You probably need to get your big three in check (alk, cal, mag), and lower your nitrates.
The picture is hard to see.. but there are lot of coraline algae growing on the rocks... Thats what i was thinking when i saw a lot of coraline growing on the rocks i thought i was able to maybe try some easy sps, but i guess not..
 
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#16
Let’s work on one thing here at a time. Let start by doing a small water change to get the no3 down and alk up. Test. Wait a a day. Change water again. Same amount. Change your floss or rinse it out. Also with IORC, when spinning up water use a bubble marker to equalize ph and other elements.
 

Tangwich

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#18
"1 clown, 6 chromis, 1 yasha goby, 1 wrasse (kind of overstock for a nano probably)
I should also say i dont do much water changes like i should"

Thats the root cause as to why your corals are suffering. Small tank with high bioload requires a regimented maintenance schedule that includes consistent water changes. Unless you're going to attach something like a hang on fuge or algae scrubber, you're going to have to choose between rehoming some of those fish if you want to continue not doing water changes or start doing large consistent water changes if you want to keep all the inhabitants you have now. Either way, good luck with whatever you choose to do 👍
 

tripinpn01

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#19
I second that it is your high bioload. On top of Tangwich's suggestions, you should be rinsing or replacing your filter media at least a couple times a week with that bioload.
 
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#20
Maybe running some chemi-pure blue might help. I used a aquarclear hob filter from petco and noticed my water cleared up and lowered my nitrates rather quickly. Whenever I see a lack of polyp extension or elevated nitrates/phosphate I do a min 50% water change weekly.

its always better to do small changes and give your reef time
 

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