Steady decline in the tank's acropora health. I've lost about 10 pieces so far and my CB mal colony just started to go up in smoke from the base. TGC orange creamsicle has done a weird brown/gray out thing some of the pieces did just before RTN. The evens tend to happen at night for the most part. I've left the window cracked next to the tank and that has kept the ph up a point around 7.85 which lines up normal for me.
So I'm thinking it's something bacterial or a contamination issue. I told myself I was going to send of a ICP on this rock while cycling but never did, hopefully it didn't get termite shit or had been previously used in a QT ect.
I also pulled my RODI sample from my top off container on the side of the house, that's another thing I've been suspecting. It seems like it started 1) soon after move which isn't much of a surprise but 2) when my neighbors place got tented in escrow.
I've been running carbon passively in a media cup/sock holder. I've got my chaeto reactor going with chaeto, sea lettuce and dragons tongue.
Salinity was a little low jumping between 1.025 and 1.024 but nothing major.
Temp 77.7-79F
Alk: 8.3
Cal: 440
Mag: a little high at a hair under 1500 but never had a issue with that in the past
Po4: .03 hanna
no3: salifert 5-10, i'd call it 7ppm.
TDS is zero but I may change my silica buster and DI stages to be safe. The carbon blocks and chloromine monster are pretty fresh and hopefully good.
Anyone recommend a low range chlorine test kit so I can test that on my own?
I've got algae in the tank and pods. I've noticed some dead snails and I'm not sure if that's partially the sand and landing wrong or scavenging hermits. I have noticed a few dead hermits.
Loses have mostly been tenuis but it seems like others are starting to get affected.
Gone so far:
No name rainbow tenuis
Pink Lemonade
Wild malaysian piece
WWC helios
Pyschoberry
various no namers I've had for some time
CB maleficent is probably gonna go up in smoke. base is bright white so that happened last night.
TCK Supersonic looks piiiiiised
TGC Creamsicle looks next
If my wannabe shazam piece goes up in smoke I'm going to do a witch hazel experiment, in tank treatment I've seen a few people have success with on the moonshiner's group. Maybe that will buy me time until my ICP test results?
I've started running UV, I know that is a point of debate for some. I've got it running at night for now.
LPS and softies are unaffected so far. Carpet anemone and CSB looks fine as well.
Daily I talk myself out of removing the sand. I dont think that's a real culprit but its bugging the hell out of me and I feel keeps a constant haze to the water. I may remove all but one section for the wrasses that's easily accessible, specially if I have a near crash here soon.