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10/17/2017, 06:27 AM | #1 |
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SPS and I don't get along
I have been trying to keep SPS for a couple of years now and for some reason just can't keep it alive. My parameters have been stable for a long time. I'm able to keep softies, clam, Anemone without a problem. My parameters are PH 8.1, Alk 8-9, Cal 400, Mag 1400, Nitrate 0. I use red sea coral pro salt Last Jan I updated my lighting to Radion pro's from reef breeders and still can't keep SPS. I'm starting to wonder if my well water has something in it that is causing the problem. I use an rodi system the results in o tds at the output but still wonder if I'm missing something. My powerheads are two Maxspec 230's flow seems good. My tank size is 150gal with a 40gal sump. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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10/17/2017, 06:32 AM | #2 |
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Could be chemical warfare from the softies potentially... you mention alk of 8-9... how often does that fluctuate? If that's over a month that'd be fine, if it's over 24 hours would be too much of a swing for most SPS to deal with. Also, nitrates are on the low side, if it's truly zero then I would think softies in particular would be struggling... I'm guessing it's either a dodgy test or they're being used as they're produced. You might want to try upping nitrates a little. Also, what's your po4 reading? If this is on the high side, nems and softies will be fine but it can interfere with calcification...
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10/17/2017, 07:56 AM | #3 | |
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At this time I don't know what my Po4 is. I use to have a hanna checker but it always read zero even though I had algae so I got rid of it. I use to run GFO in a reactor but stopped a couple of months ago thinking that it could be the culprit but that didn't seem to change anything either. That is why I'm starting to think that it is something to do with my well water. |
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10/17/2017, 08:00 AM | #4 | |
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Do you still have algae or not? What nutrient export are you using? Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk |
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10/17/2017, 08:17 AM | #5 | |
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10/17/2017, 08:43 AM | #6 | |
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What's your lighting schedule and intensity? Also, what SPS have you tried? Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk |
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10/17/2017, 10:53 AM | #7 |
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10/17/2017, 11:32 AM | #8 |
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10/17/2017, 01:48 PM | #9 |
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How do your SPS end up dying? RTN, STN, bleaching ?? How they die will tell a lot on what might be happening.
I would strongly suggest changing up salt brands. Sometimes certain salts just have something off in them even if you measure everything something might be off. I would suggest trying Tropic Marin Pro and do some large 10-20% water changes a few days apart until you have done approximately 100% in WC. Everytime I see issues in my tank a decent WC always seems to help.
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10/17/2017, 03:25 PM | #10 | |
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Also, flow... what sort of turnover are you achieving? You'll need good, random flow with around 50x tank volume per hour... don't forget most manufacturers overstate maximum flow rates. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk |
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10/17/2017, 03:53 PM | #11 |
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If you have many fish and feed them well, I doubt low nutrients are your problem even if their showing up as .....0....
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10/18/2017, 08:14 PM | #12 |
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If you are driving your N and P toward zero with GFO, Organic Carbon or Lanthanum Chloride, then stop. If they are there naturally, then you are OK - be assured that you have some. If you were/are driving them too low, this is usually a dull-color thing and not death.
Do you tinker with your lights? If you run your well water through RO/DI and the DI is not exhausted, then you are probably OK. Get a Triton or other ICP test if you want to be sure. |
10/19/2017, 06:08 PM | #13 | |
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10/19/2017, 06:11 PM | #14 |
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10/19/2017, 06:15 PM | #15 | |
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10/23/2017, 06:45 AM | #16 |
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How does your sps die? It may help point us in the right direction
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10/23/2017, 06:47 AM | #17 |
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How old is you tank?
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10/23/2017, 07:36 PM | #18 | |
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T was too much light so I lowered it in the tank. It never seemed to get any better and eventually jus t had algae all over it. |
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10/23/2017, 07:39 PM | #19 |
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10/23/2017, 08:46 PM | #20 |
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What substrate are you using?
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10/23/2017, 08:47 PM | #21 |
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Again what is your phos?
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Awais Current Tank Info: 240DT SPS DOMINANT |
10/23/2017, 09:41 PM | #22 |
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Get a Hanna alk checked and check twice a day. Make sure your alk is rock solid and you should be fine. Almost all issues with keeping sps revolve around alk swings. I expect to keep my alk stable to the tenth and if I get more than two to three tenths swing in 24hrs then I know something is off. Much more than that and things will start to suffer, once you start seeing a full point swing you'll start to lose stuff.
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10/25/2017, 07:49 PM | #23 |
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10/25/2017, 07:50 PM | #24 |
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10/25/2017, 07:51 PM | #25 | |
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Thanks |
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