Help save my tank

[EyeReef]

Okay guys, not sure what I can do to save my tank so I need help. For about 2 months now, my sps started to stn. It started with the soli and then eventually the majority of my torts. The tips were dying and polyps extension stopped. Its now spreading to my other sps. i still have a lot of other sps still showing great polyp extensions. My cali tort stned on the tip but then stated stning at the base. The stn portion also has a greenish tint to it. My soli is not completely dead yet, so that shows the stn is very slown.

Tank- 150 with 80 gallon sump/fuge
Lighting 2x250wat de 10k ushio with vho actinics
ASm - G4x
mag 24 return
3x1500seios
Korralin 3004 Calcium reactor
Phosban reactor

My Parameters
Salinity - 1.024
ALK - 9-10dkh
Calcium - 400
mag - 1280
temp -80-82
ph-7.9-8.1
phosphate 0 according to salifert

What I have tried so far:
Changed out my DI membrane, but TDS now currently reading 9.
Changed massive amount of water using scripps NSW. Bringing all parameters up.(Add CA, ALK,MAG)
Changed out the media in my calcium reactor
Changed to fresh Carbon
Cut back the phosban
Kept Asteria stars in check

Possible solutions?
Change back to 14k Phoenix
change all membranes in RO unit

 

[Scissorhand]

Oops... sorry for what you're going through, Mike.

A few of my sps are also STN-ing at the base. I was about to ask you guys what could be the cause as well.

Sorry I'm just a SPS newbie... but hopefully you'll find the root of the problem pronto.

 

[Nick_kun]

check your sump for any metals, coins, etc. I have a feeling a screw or a pennie have fallen down somewhere and it's causing your problem. Also, massive water change is a no no, you should know that by now, it depletes micro fauna and stresses your acros. If you need temporary home, you can house some frags in my tank mike.

- Nick

 

[pookstreet]

Sorry to hear of your problems Mike. I am not sure about the STN at the tips, but STN at the coral bases sometimes have to do with the lack of flow, especially when the colonies get large and the branches restrict flow through certain areas. I know a lot of time we think we have enough flow, but having a certain number of turnover does not mean that there is sufficient flow in some critical areas.

 

[Scissorhand]

Hm... flow. Thanks Kenny. Let me try to fix that and see what happens. I'm just afraid that it's the red bugs because I'm totally unprepared to treat that (no interceptor, etc...).

 

[Mark82]

Sorry to hear about your guys tanks.

 

[EyeReef]

Oops... sorry for what you're going through, Mike.

A few of my sps are also STN-ing at the base. I was about to ask you guys what could be the cause as well.

Sorry I'm just a SPS newbie... but hopefully you'll find the root of the problem pronto.

Yea Im really bummed, everything was growing nice before this happened

check your sump for any metals, coins, etc. I have a feeling a screw or a pennie have fallen down somewhere and it's causing your problem. Also, massive water change is a no no, you should know that by now, it depletes micro fauna and stresses your acros. If you need temporary home, you can house some frags in my tank mike.

- Nick

Interesting Nick. Ill definitely look around for any metal. Is there any test to show that metal is in the tank? Would a poly filter help?
I havent been doing massive water changes in one session. Its been usually 15-30 gallons every 2-3 days or so. I will prob have to take you up on that offer Nick. I really dont want all my torts to die. They definitely still have life in them.

Sorry to hear of your problems Mike. I am not sure about the STN at the tips, but STN at the coral bases sometimes have to do with the lack of flow, especially when the colonies get large and the branches restrict flow through certain areas. I know a lot of time we think we have enough flow, but having a certain number of turnover does not mean that there is sufficient flow in some critical areas.

Ill try moving the Cali Tort somewhere else. Thanks

Sorry to hear about your guys tanks.

Yea, definitely something I dont want anyone to go through.

 

[pirate2876]

ive heard stn is due to lack of flow.it seems to hold true because where ive seen corals end up stning at the bases is because the flow is diverted by the branches.try moving the seios to really push the polyps around.as for the lack of PE i would check for redbugs or aefw.do you have a magnifying glass?if not get one and look really closely at the bases where you see recession.

 

[Scissorhand]

HmMm, I have 2x Tunze 6000 for flow in my 60 right now. I would think that's more than adequate. I've heard from a reefer that you shouldn't point the powerhead directly at the coral because you could blow the flesh off, right?

MikeE, could it be that your tank is lacking flow? My friend's 150 had Seios 1500 and it was a bit weak for his tank because he also threw in a bunch of Maxi 1200 (I know it's ghetto).

 

[EyeReef]

im pretty sure its not flow...I had this setup flourish for a good year...The base recession is only seen in 2 coral frags. The main issue are the tips dying off and lack of polyp extensions. I have different frags dispersed through out the tank also, one receiving more flow then the other and all show the same symptoms.
I just added a grounding probe to the tank.
Will change my bulbs back to phoenix 14k, since one coral is stn at the areas the light is hitting.
Turned of the phosban completely

Looked around for coins, screws etc,...no luck

Im wondering if its my RO DI water. The water is very hard here, and my RO unit is working over time. Im placing an order for more DI resin tonight. Any other suggestions?

 

[Curlsoc]

You might have better luck with the RO/DI parameters if you slow down the flow going into the unit, I believe they are more efficent that way.

 

[EyeReef]

Thanks Susan, I haven't thought of that.

On the shopping list,
polyfilter
new CA and ALK test
DI resin

 

[FragCity]

Sorry to hear about your tank Mike, hope things turn for the better SOON!

 

[EyeReef]

Thanks Harold, thats why Ive been mia at your shop

 

[Josh]

have you always been at 1.024 on your SG?

have you thought about adjusting that at all, my tank did alot better when i bumped mine up to 1.027

maybe your tester is a little off and your really 23 or 22 which i think is not good at all

 

[EyeReef]

have you always been at 1.024 on your SG?

have you thought about adjusting that at all, my tank did alot better when i bumped mine up to 1.027

maybe your tester is a little off and your really 23 or 22 which i think is not good at all

I used a refractometer..and calibrate it routinely..
Ive been pretty much at 1.0224-1.025

 

[Josh]

so is that an SPS thing, keeping it at 24? ive alwasy heard that arround 26 was a good SG for reef tanks

 

[EyeReef]

prob is...but I doubt its the source of my problem..ive keep it at this range for many years with no problem..
Im ready to go fish only

 

[Bebo77]

those levels you posted wont cause RTN... what were they before they got to that level...

what else have you changed.. salt? started adding chemicals?

 

[Raskal311]

Maybe something in this batch of Scrips water?