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06/03/2019, 09:11 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cary, IL
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SPS die-off two years in a row
Guys,
I've had significant STN (SPS tip first die-off) events in my 375g two years in a row during April/early May. I live in Chicago and it happened just as the weather started to warm up. Are there seasonal issues that happen that cause this problem. PH issue? My KH really didn't have any significant swings. My Monti's went first then acros. I lost over 75% of my corals. Any suggestions?
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New 375G 84"x42"x27", ~100g sump/refugium, 4 x EcoTech Radion XR30G4 Pro + T5, Reef Dynamics XRC1000.5 skimmer, GEO 181 Calc Reactor Current Tank Info: 375G 84"x42"x27" SPS/Fish |
06/03/2019, 10:07 AM | #2 |
Recovering Detritophobe
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Cary, NC
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Sometimes municipal water supplies will run yearly spikes of chloramine, chlorine, or some other chemical to clean out the lines, maybe your town does this in the spring...
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If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles |
06/03/2019, 12:14 PM | #3 |
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Location: Cary, IL
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Those should be blocked by RO/DI though, correct?
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New 375G 84"x42"x27", ~100g sump/refugium, 4 x EcoTech Radion XR30G4 Pro + T5, Reef Dynamics XRC1000.5 skimmer, GEO 181 Calc Reactor Current Tank Info: 375G 84"x42"x27" SPS/Fish |
06/03/2019, 01:03 PM | #4 |
Recovering Detritophobe
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 7,443
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Not necessarily... if your city usually uses standard chlorine and spikes with chloramine, and you don’t have a catalytic carbon block in your unit for chloramine removal.
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If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles |
06/03/2019, 02:00 PM | #5 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 408
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I have a 7 stage system water filter
5 micron, 1 micro pre filter 5 micron, 1 micron carbon block RO DI 1, DI 1
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New 375G 84"x42"x27", ~100g sump/refugium, 4 x EcoTech Radion XR30G4 Pro + T5, Reef Dynamics XRC1000.5 skimmer, GEO 181 Calc Reactor Current Tank Info: 375G 84"x42"x27" SPS/Fish |
06/03/2019, 03:04 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Shorewood, IL
Posts: 483
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Have you checked with any other local reefers in Chicago that may come across the same issue.
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I used to think the movie Groundhog's Day was funny until I got a real job... :( Current Tank Info: 55g - 65lbs LR - 60lbs LS |
06/05/2019, 08:21 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Beverly Hills MI
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Any pesticides sprayed in the building, or spring cleaning events? Paint fumes?
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125 set up since 2000. Fish, GHA and Cyano. Reef'n since 91. Current Tank Info: 125 gal, sps, clams, and softies |
06/06/2019, 11:52 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calabasas, CA
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Iv'e experienced similar issues in the past. Once I determined that my tap water was the culprit -- high chloramine and byproducts -- I beefed up my R/O Di by adding an extra large catalytic carbon bock. I replace it and my RO membranes whenever I notice my montis and SPS losing color. For me that is about one a year to 18 months. I replace the other cartridges (prefilter, two standard carbon blocks and 3 DI cartridges) every six months or so.
There could be many causes, but if your tank is otherwise stable, my guess is the water.
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Current tank: 340g AGE peninsula |
06/18/2019, 02:51 AM | #9 |
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06/18/2019, 07:11 AM | #10 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 408
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Why would Chloromines only be an issue 1x a year? I will ask around here is chicago.
Here are the specs for the 5 micron and 1 micron BRS carbon blocks that I use: 1 micron: Compatible with all BRS systems as well as all competitor systems which use a standard 10” filter. Specifically formulated for superior Chloramine reduction 1 µm (micron) Nominal Filtration* Chlorine 35,000 @ 1 GPM** Chloramines 3,500 @ 0.5 GPM*** High chemical adsorption 30% more carbon than standard blocks**** *Nominal Micron rating for all above - 1 micron **2ppm free chlorine >90% reduction ***3ppm monochloramine >85% reduction ****Manufacturer's internal test data 5 micron Chlorine 15,000 @ 1 GPM** High chemical adsorption* 30% more carbon than standard blocks*** VOC Reduction Exceptionally low pressure drop
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New 375G 84"x42"x27", ~100g sump/refugium, 4 x EcoTech Radion XR30G4 Pro + T5, Reef Dynamics XRC1000.5 skimmer, GEO 181 Calc Reactor Current Tank Info: 375G 84"x42"x27" SPS/Fish |
06/19/2019, 08:39 AM | #11 |
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Location: Calabasas, CA
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Chloramines eat through carbon blocks very quickly. The BRS blocks are fine, but must be changed regularly -- every three months or so depending on how much water you filter. With your large system, I would add a large carbon block in addition to the small ones and change the large one every year and the small ones every 6 months. That's what I did to solve my SPS issues.
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Current tank: 340g AGE peninsula |
06/19/2019, 09:30 AM | #12 | |
Recovering Detritophobe
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 7,443
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Quote:
Some (many?) municipalities run annual spikes of different chemicals at different levels than their standard regime to sanitize/flush the system. I know my town does this every spring. There are plenty of other things it could be but I just brought it up because it’s something annual that is often overlooked. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles |
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06/19/2019, 09:49 AM | #13 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 408
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Thanks guys, I'll get a big one and add to my system.
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New 375G 84"x42"x27", ~100g sump/refugium, 4 x EcoTech Radion XR30G4 Pro + T5, Reef Dynamics XRC1000.5 skimmer, GEO 181 Calc Reactor Current Tank Info: 375G 84"x42"x27" SPS/Fish |
06/19/2019, 12:24 PM | #14 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 408
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Spoke with my village public works today, they don't add chloramines but do add chlorine that does bread down into some of the chloramine components. They also flush the hydrants 2 x per year (in April) when they also double the chlorine they add to the water. This might be the culprit if the chlorine overwhelms the filters that that month, it certainly lines up as far as timing is concerned.
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New 375G 84"x42"x27", ~100g sump/refugium, 4 x EcoTech Radion XR30G4 Pro + T5, Reef Dynamics XRC1000.5 skimmer, GEO 181 Calc Reactor Current Tank Info: 375G 84"x42"x27" SPS/Fish |
06/23/2019, 06:22 PM | #15 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 53
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SPS die-off two years in a row
Most years during the transition of weather I notice my sps look unhappy for a bit.
It may be as in cooler weather my temp Stays within 1 degree and during warm it fluctuates 3 degrees...maybe. Could be the pollen also. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
06/24/2019, 02:07 PM | #16 |
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Location: Fremont, CA
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I had a similar issue twice and one of them was definitely tha RO system gone bad.
I wonder if it would help to add a carbon block after the RO and DI units to eliminate whatever chloramine may have slipped through.
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Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +... |
06/25/2019, 04:06 PM | #17 |
A bit fishy
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 416
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Ive seen this in several big systems in several municipalities. The chlorine/chloramine dose at the town level coinciding with significant SPS loss. It is a real bummer.
Hopefully with a few more specific purpose carbon blocks you can get in front of it. |
06/25/2019, 06:37 PM | #18 |
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Location: Redwood City
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My water company doses heavy with chloramine. As an "insurance policy" I have been adding Alpha for reefs water conditioner to all my R/O (both for top-off and for salt mixing). It says it removes chlorine, chloramine and converts amonia. I have been adding .3ml per 5 gallons for over a year. I dont suppose there is a downside? For less than $20 a 12oz. bottle treats 5,800 gallons.
Cheers? Mark
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2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater |
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