sps thrive while lps and softies slowly die?

kware · 03/31/2009, 10:43 PM

Why would my 2 staghorm monties, my orange plate coral and a crocea clam thrive and grow while my frogspawn , torch and zoanthids barely hold on for dear life.

EleganceMan · 03/31/2009, 11:15 PM

11 years exp. so i wont start with the typical questions....lighting, parameters, and such....
but whats your water flow like?

kware · 03/31/2009, 11:27 PM

The 11 year thing is a typo it's more like 2 years exp. Thanks though I know what you mean. I've went from alot of flow with a koralia 4 and a maxijet 1200 with the mod on a wave maker, plus my 2 returns on a sqwd. Now I just use the koralia. Ca is 400 ppm, mg around 1000 ppm ph 7.9 to 8.2, nitrate and ammonia 0. Metal Halides are 250 watts on for 7 hrs a day.

melev · 03/31/2009, 11:30 PM

Perhaps you don't have enough food in the system to support those lawn gnomes. SPS need little food (pristine water), while LPS and Zoas like dirtier water.

Your Magnesium is 300ppm too low.

kware · 03/31/2009, 11:39 PM

Sorry again for the typo, Mg is 1300. I forgot to mention my chaeto pretty much quit growing. My skimmer takes out alot of gunk , should I skim a little less and maybe feed a little more?

P.S. Marc I want a tank like yours . Your website is amazing,I use it like a reef encyclopedia.

melev · 03/31/2009, 11:44 PM

You need to type a bit more slowly (update your profile please, so others can help you), I'm thinking. 1300ppm is fine for all the corals in your tank.

Check your salinity. If you have a refractometer, be sure it is calibrated correctly, with salinity solution (not RO/DI water).

Cheatomorpha not growing... could be a lack of nutrients if the salinity is still dead on.

kware · 03/31/2009, 11:50 PM

I've never thought about calibrating with salinity solution. I've always just used RO/DI. This could be bad will calibrating with RO\DI throw off my salinity alot?

kware · 04/01/2009, 12:03 AM

Should I order some salinity solution tomorrow?

melev · 04/01/2009, 12:11 AM

Yes. You can order it from MarineDepot.com for sure. Salifert makes a 35ppt solution, for example.

Randy Holmes-Farley wrote an article on this topic, which explains it nicely. I linked it in the recent Letter From The Editor from March 09:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-03/editor/index.php

kware · 04/01/2009, 12:19 AM

Thanks Marc!
I've had this battle for a few months now and it's been very frustrating. I've even thought of selling the whole system. Even my zoas are dying off. I really hope my salinity is way off. That would be an easy fix.

melev · 04/01/2009, 12:21 AM

Zoas used to be simple, but for some reason they are getting a bit more difficult. I think we are getting better at water quality, to their demise.

Be sure to seek out advice from some of our experts in the Zoanthids forum.

kware · 04/01/2009, 12:27 AM

I've worked real hard to get good water quality. I have a 5-6 '' dsb, cheato and a good Euro-Reef skimmer. Is it too much? I just can't believe my water is too clean. Should I throw a dead salmon
in there?

melev · 04/01/2009, 12:31 AM

No, just keep trying to figure out what will thrive in your tank, and enjoy it. I've had trouble with Blue Torts and Green Slimers for years, and yet everyone around me can grow them like no tomorrow.

So I enjoyed other corals that did well and quit trying so hard to keep everything I could purchase. And yes, I have a twig of each in my tank, and they've been with me for over a year. But growth is minimal at best. Everything else is doing great.

I still have some zoanthids, but not like I did three years ago when I had lots of PO4 and NO3 in the tank. Among other things.

kware · 04/01/2009, 12:39 AM

I love it when I see things growing . My montis and my clam I see growth in every day. I have some xenia that multiply like crazy. If I don't run carbon and phosban though I'm scared my frogspawn will die off entirely. This is a frustrating hobby.
Thanks again Marc.

melev · 04/01/2009, 12:47 AM

Have you attempted to target feed your LPS corals? They do have mouths. Turn off the pumps, squirt some meaty foods at their polyps and give them a little time to ingest before you restart those pumps.

Be SURE to set a timer so you don't forget to turn the flow back on.

kware · 04/01/2009, 11:27 AM

I have been target feeding them mysis and they do look better since I started

VaderWS6 · 04/01/2009, 11:49 AM

-

kware · 04/01/2009, 12:13 PM

Just tested my tank water
Ca 420, Mg 1287, dkH 8. No3 0

03/31/2009, 10:43 PM	#1
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	sps thrive while lps and softies slowly die? Why would my 2 staghorm monties, my orange plate coral and a crocea clam thrive and grow while my frogspawn , torch and zoanthids barely hold on for dear life.

03/31/2009, 11:15 PM	#2
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	11 years exp. so i wont start with the typical questions....lighting, parameters, and such.... but whats your water flow like? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/01/2009, 11:49 AM	#17
VaderWS6 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,644	- __________________ 2001 black T/A WS6~M6 ASC#6979 331rwhp/348rwtq Mods: !CAGS, Pro 5.0, TSP lid, BGRA, Raptor shift light, Strange 4.10 gears, Strano springs, SLP Bilstein shocks, GMMG exhaust Current Tank Info: Main reef:75 gallon w/ 2 250watt Radium 20k run on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast w/Lumenbright mini reflectors. 4 110watt VHO actinics for dawn/dusk,Geo kalkreactor,Litermeter 3,Xtreme 160 skimmer,2 Vortech mp40w's

03/31/2009, 11:27 PM	#3
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	The 11 year thing is a typo it's more like 2 years exp. Thanks though I know what you mean. I've went from alot of flow with a koralia 4 and a maxijet 1200 with the mod on a wave maker, plus my 2 returns on a sqwd. Now I just use the koralia. Ca is 400 ppm, mg around 1000 ppm ph 7.9 to 8.2, nitrate and ammonia 0. Metal Halides are 250 watts on for 7 hrs a day.

03/31/2009, 11:30 PM	#4
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Perhaps you don't have enough food in the system to support those lawn gnomes. SPS need little food (pristine water), while LPS and Zoas like dirtier water. Your Magnesium is 300ppm too low.

03/31/2009, 11:39 PM	#5
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	Sorry again for the typo, Mg is 1300. I forgot to mention my chaeto pretty much quit growing. My skimmer takes out alot of gunk , should I skim a little less and maybe feed a little more? P.S. Marc I want a tank like yours . Your website is amazing,I use it like a reef encyclopedia.

03/31/2009, 11:44 PM	#6
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	You need to type a bit more slowly (update your profile please, so others can help you), I'm thinking. 1300ppm is fine for all the corals in your tank. Check your salinity. If you have a refractometer, be sure it is calibrated correctly, with salinity solution (not RO/DI water). Cheatomorpha not growing... could be a lack of nutrients if the salinity is still dead on.

03/31/2009, 11:50 PM	#7
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	I've never thought about calibrating with salinity solution. I've always just used RO/DI. This could be bad will calibrating with RO\DI throw off my salinity alot?

04/01/2009, 12:03 AM	#8
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	Should I order some salinity solution tomorrow?

04/01/2009, 12:11 AM	#9
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Yes. You can order it from MarineDepot.com for sure. Salifert makes a 35ppt solution, for example. Randy Holmes-Farley wrote an article on this topic, which explains it nicely. I linked it in the recent Letter From The Editor from March 09: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-03/editor/index.php

04/01/2009, 12:19 AM	#10
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	Thanks Marc! I've had this battle for a few months now and it's been very frustrating. I've even thought of selling the whole system. Even my zoas are dying off. I really hope my salinity is way off. That would be an easy fix.

04/01/2009, 12:21 AM	#11
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Zoas used to be simple, but for some reason they are getting a bit more difficult. I think we are getting better at water quality, to their demise. Be sure to seek out advice from some of our experts in the Zoanthids forum.

04/01/2009, 12:27 AM	#12
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	I've worked real hard to get good water quality. I have a 5-6 '' dsb, cheato and a good Euro-Reef skimmer. Is it too much? I just can't believe my water is too clean. Should I throw a dead salmon in there?

04/01/2009, 12:31 AM	#13
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	No, just keep trying to figure out what will thrive in your tank, and enjoy it. I've had trouble with Blue Torts and Green Slimers for years, and yet everyone around me can grow them like no tomorrow. So I enjoyed other corals that did well and quit trying so hard to keep everything I could purchase. And yes, I have a twig of each in my tank, and they've been with me for over a year. But growth is minimal at best. Everything else is doing great. I still have some zoanthids, but not like I did three years ago when I had lots of PO4 and NO3 in the tank. Among other things.

04/01/2009, 12:39 AM	#14
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	I love it when I see things growing . My montis and my clam I see growth in every day. I have some xenia that multiply like crazy. If I don't run carbon and phosban though I'm scared my frogspawn will die off entirely. This is a frustrating hobby. Thanks again Marc.

04/01/2009, 12:47 AM	#15
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Have you attempted to target feed your LPS corals? They do have mouths. Turn off the pumps, squirt some meaty foods at their polyps and give them a little time to ingest before you restart those pumps. Be SURE to set a timer so you don't forget to turn the flow back on.

04/01/2009, 11:27 AM	#16
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	I have been target feeding them mysis and they do look better since I started

04/01/2009, 12:13 PM	#18
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	Just tested my tank water Ca 420, Mg 1287, dkH 8. No3 0