Flreefer
Aquarium Advice Addict
OK everyone, I need some input on an ongoing problem...
I've been steadily seeing the degradation of my LPS corals. Over the course of about 6-8 months, I watched a huge Hydnophora deteriorate. There is now about 5% of the original coral left. Now I am seeing the same thing take place on my Wall Hammer, Torch, and the start of it on my Pagoda. It seems that the tissue surrounding the top of the stony part, is slowly receding. All the poyps are still out, until the recession gets to them.
I've had all of these corals approximately 7 years, with little issue. The Hydnophora was its own seperate issue for a long time, and now just recently is becoming apparent on the others.
Nothing has changed in my routine, as far as maintanence. Weekly pwc's of 15 g, on an approximate 180g total volume. Only 4 fish, has been that way for 1 1/2 years. Livestock has been together for 8+ years, in this tank (180), for 1 3/4 years. SPS are doing great, 4 varieties of Monti, Acro Valida, growing well. This is a mixed reef, with 2 very large Leathers and many smaller Leather frags, plus mushrooms, and Zoos. Some mushrooms do very well, Ricordia and Zoos live, but don't really thrive.
I run a undersized skimmer , have a decent sized refugium, run phosphate pads (because I don't have a reactor....yet,plenty of live rock, and have 780w of T5 lighting. I dose BRS 2-part daily to keep my Ca at 420, Alk at 10. Mag is at 1380, Salinity at 1.0245, Ammo, Nitrite=0, Nitrate at <5. Tests are all Red Sea Pro, except Phosphate which is API, and shows 0. Temp is 81.
I do use vending machine water, but have done so for the entire 8+ years, I realize this is a variable into the mix, but it hasn't caused any problems in the past. The machine is serviced at least every 2 weeks.
My 3 trains of thought are 1-tank is too clean for LPS (only having 4 fish, and doing weekly pwc's. 2-too much light for the LPS (they are all approx. 6-8 inches under the water), slowly killing them off. And 3-chemical warfare from the Leathers.
Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated, as this is really bringing me down... It's killing me to see these corals die off, they were the largest I've ever seen, at any LFS, in the past 8 years. None have even come close...
I also feed this tank every 4 days, a mix of live Phyto, frozen rotifers, frozen coral food, and PE Mysis.
And as of now, have not run carbon in the past 2 years. I am looking into a GFO/Carbon reactor now...
I've been steadily seeing the degradation of my LPS corals. Over the course of about 6-8 months, I watched a huge Hydnophora deteriorate. There is now about 5% of the original coral left. Now I am seeing the same thing take place on my Wall Hammer, Torch, and the start of it on my Pagoda. It seems that the tissue surrounding the top of the stony part, is slowly receding. All the poyps are still out, until the recession gets to them.
I've had all of these corals approximately 7 years, with little issue. The Hydnophora was its own seperate issue for a long time, and now just recently is becoming apparent on the others.
Nothing has changed in my routine, as far as maintanence. Weekly pwc's of 15 g, on an approximate 180g total volume. Only 4 fish, has been that way for 1 1/2 years. Livestock has been together for 8+ years, in this tank (180), for 1 3/4 years. SPS are doing great, 4 varieties of Monti, Acro Valida, growing well. This is a mixed reef, with 2 very large Leathers and many smaller Leather frags, plus mushrooms, and Zoos. Some mushrooms do very well, Ricordia and Zoos live, but don't really thrive.
I run a undersized skimmer , have a decent sized refugium, run phosphate pads (because I don't have a reactor....yet,plenty of live rock, and have 780w of T5 lighting. I dose BRS 2-part daily to keep my Ca at 420, Alk at 10. Mag is at 1380, Salinity at 1.0245, Ammo, Nitrite=0, Nitrate at <5. Tests are all Red Sea Pro, except Phosphate which is API, and shows 0. Temp is 81.
I do use vending machine water, but have done so for the entire 8+ years, I realize this is a variable into the mix, but it hasn't caused any problems in the past. The machine is serviced at least every 2 weeks.
My 3 trains of thought are 1-tank is too clean for LPS (only having 4 fish, and doing weekly pwc's. 2-too much light for the LPS (they are all approx. 6-8 inches under the water), slowly killing them off. And 3-chemical warfare from the Leathers.
Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated, as this is really bringing me down... It's killing me to see these corals die off, they were the largest I've ever seen, at any LFS, in the past 8 years. None have even come close...
I also feed this tank every 4 days, a mix of live Phyto, frozen rotifers, frozen coral food, and PE Mysis.
And as of now, have not run carbon in the past 2 years. I am looking into a GFO/Carbon reactor now...