What is wrong with my SPS?

shikhyung · 11/10/2008, 09:39 AM

So my reading seems OK, then what would kill my SPS, one that people say it's easy and grows like weed.
Cal=430
Alk= 3.3~3.4 meq/l.
Mag=1320~1335
pH=8.1`8.2 lights on/off
P04= .03 or may be not detecable. I do have little cyano in my sum where I grow chaeto, ....

Thanks,

nu2reefva · 11/10/2008, 09:48 AM

alk is way low and ph is a tad low but i cant tell without some pics.

deep6er · 11/10/2008, 10:36 AM

Need pics and more info

todd03blown · 11/10/2008, 11:12 AM

what they said....

scaryperson27 · 11/10/2008, 11:35 AM

Alk looks great. 9.5 dkh is where you want it. I've seen some really beautiful tanks with a ph of 8.0-8.2. The main thing to look at there is the consistency of the Ph.

I would say that you need to look at other things for any problems. Consistency is the key that makes most any tank succeed.
Check to make sure that everything is clean,

-such at filter sponges

-the overflow, pumps are running great

-nothing such at Nitrates, Nitrites, or Ammonia can be detected

-the bulbs are of good age

-the sand bed is well siphoned

-how often you are doing water changes

ect.

I would just use process of elimination and post everything you can justify as eliminated, in this thread.

shikhyung · 11/10/2008, 02:31 PM

Alk is 3.3 meq/l ~= to 9.5 dkh...My reading are stable, months after months
Amonia=0, nitrite=0, but nitrate is somewhat 15-20ppm
Weekly chores : water change 10%(110 gallons) , relplace fitler sock, top off with lime water 1tsp/gallons ( I have cal reactor). barely siphon the sand bed, because the engineer golby been doing the job..2x250 (500watts) DE-HQI are less than a year, frequently change at 12 months. Pics??? I'll try to shoot tonight, but what to shoot, it 's gradually turned white...
(110 gallons, mag 12 return, 2x mj 1200 mod sureflow, and 1 mj900 mod for tank circulation).

scaryperson27 · 11/10/2008, 06:17 PM

This is how I view your situation.

sounds like you are turning anything that be turned into nitrates, into nitrates. Talk a little more about your filtration, as to what you have. Or while you're already taking pics, maybe it wouldn't hurt to snap a shot of the filtration.

I would siphon the bed regardless of whether the engineer goby is turning the sand over a lot or not. Everything that's in the sand is there because it sinks. When he stirs the sand, which is usually only the top part, whatever he missed, goes sinks right back down. Trust me, I've watched this happen.

Often times most SPS tanks do great without a sand bed therefore, if you have one, you should keep it clean.

scaryperson27 · 11/10/2008, 06:19 PM

Also, try submerging your filter sock. It'll act as a wetdry if you don't.

-How much are you feeding, and how do you feed?

-What kind of skimmer do you have?

-Are you feeding the corals?

shikhyung · 11/10/2008, 10:21 PM

OK. I will try to siphon the sand bed.
Feeding 1/day with Home made food,(shrimp,clamp, phyto, nori, dt/oyster eggs). No feeding corrals.
Pics are not really good, poor camara.
system 40gallons sum, with refugium on the left, filter sock half sumerged , and skimer ASM-2 mod recirculated. chiller set temp at 79, so swing from 78~80.

and here is the dead coral....

11/10/2008, 09:39 AM	#1
shikhyung Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ca Posts: 1,310	What is wrong with my SPS? So my reading seems OK, then what would kill my SPS, one that people say it's easy and grows like weed. Cal=430 Alk= 3.3~3.4 meq/l. Mag=1320~1335 pH=8.1`8.2 lights on/off P04= .03 or may be not detecable. I do have little cyano in my sum where I grow chaeto, .... Thanks,

11/10/2008, 09:48 AM	#2
nu2reefva Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 427	alk is way low and ph is a tad low but i cant tell without some pics. __________________ "Dont you just love the smell of Acro in the Morning!" Current Tank Info: 120, ATB 840, LMIII 2-Part baby, 250 watt 20k radiums on new Ice Cap, Lumenbright III, VHO actinics, Nano Wavebox, Dart Closed Loop with OM 4 Way, Eheim Return, 100Lbs of Marshal Rock, 150Lbs of Sand

11/10/2008, 10:36 AM	#3
deep6er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: B.C Posts: 691	Need pics and more info

11/10/2008, 11:12 AM	#4
todd03blown Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canton, Ga Posts: 162	what they said....

11/10/2008, 11:35 AM	#5
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	Alk looks great. 9.5 dkh is where you want it. I've seen some really beautiful tanks with a ph of 8.0-8.2. The main thing to look at there is the consistency of the Ph. I would say that you need to look at other things for any problems. Consistency is the key that makes most any tank succeed. Check to make sure that everything is clean, -such at filter sponges -the overflow, pumps are running great -nothing such at Nitrates, Nitrites, or Ammonia can be detected -the bulbs are of good age -the sand bed is well siphoned -how often you are doing water changes ect. I would just use process of elimination and post everything you can justify as eliminated, in this thread.

11/10/2008, 02:31 PM	#6
shikhyung Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ca Posts: 1,310	Alk is 3.3 meq/l ~= to 9.5 dkh...My reading are stable, months after months Amonia=0, nitrite=0, but nitrate is somewhat 15-20ppm Weekly chores : water change 10%(110 gallons) , relplace fitler sock, top off with lime water 1tsp/gallons ( I have cal reactor). barely siphon the sand bed, because the engineer golby been doing the job..2x250 (500watts) DE-HQI are less than a year, frequently change at 12 months. Pics??? I'll try to shoot tonight, but what to shoot, it 's gradually turned white... (110 gallons, mag 12 return, 2x mj 1200 mod sureflow, and 1 mj900 mod for tank circulation).

11/10/2008, 06:17 PM	#7
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	This is how I view your situation. sounds like you are turning anything that be turned into nitrates, into nitrates. Talk a little more about your filtration, as to what you have. Or while you're already taking pics, maybe it wouldn't hurt to snap a shot of the filtration. I would siphon the bed regardless of whether the engineer goby is turning the sand over a lot or not. Everything that's in the sand is there because it sinks. When he stirs the sand, which is usually only the top part, whatever he missed, goes sinks right back down. Trust me, I've watched this happen. Often times most SPS tanks do great without a sand bed therefore, if you have one, you should keep it clean.

11/10/2008, 06:19 PM	#8
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	Also, try submerging your filter sock. It'll act as a wetdry if you don't. -How much are you feeding, and how do you feed? -What kind of skimmer do you have? -Are you feeding the corals?

11/10/2008, 10:21 PM	#9
shikhyung Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ca Posts: 1,310	OK. I will try to siphon the sand bed. Feeding 1/day with Home made food,(shrimp,clamp, phyto, nori, dt/oyster eggs). No feeding corrals. Pics are not really good, poor camara. system 40gallons sum, with refugium on the left, filter sock half sumerged , and skimer ASM-2 mod recirculated. chiller set temp at 79, so swing from 78~80. and here is the dead coral....