Chemestry problem in Tampa

candamo · 07/27/2014, 12:03 PM

Hi everybody! The last couple of weeks I've experienced a very slow deterioration of some of my small zoas, large colonies are doing good (but they also don;t look as good as before), but a couple of the small ones have died and want to find the root of the problem before it becomes a really big issue. I haven't changed anything in the system so I'm assuming its just stuff growing that is now demanding more resources? Right now I'm not supplementing anything so want to ask for recommendation on what to add. I did purchase a two part Ocean's blend but unsure how to dose or if it is the real cause of my recent issues. Any advice it's greatly appreciated.

Tank Parameters tested with Red Sea:
Mg 1440
Ca 400
Kh 12.9
Nitrate 0
Phosphates 0.25
PH between 7.8 and 8
Salinity: 1.025

Tank Details: 50g established over 4 years, 2in crushed coral bed, about of 1/4 of tank it's large live rock, good amount of Coralline in them. 7g sump with bio balls+Eshopps 100 skimmer, 4g HOB refugium with 2.5in sand bed, small rock and lots of Chaeto. Flow 2x MJ 1200, 2 Hydor Koralia 1400, and 1x MJ400 pumps from one end of the aquarium to refugium and drain comes back in other side of tank. PC Lighting

Bioload: 6 fish and lots of coral, however most are small

Maintenance: 12.5g water change every 3 weeks, RODI water 0 TDS, mixed with instant ocean. I'm not dosing anything extra at the moment. I feed twice a week mysis shrimp and seaweed

ChadRaay86 · 07/27/2014, 12:13 PM

Your alk looks high at 12.9, I'd look at that first if your zoas are melting.

Rawrsean · 07/27/2014, 12:22 PM

Consider testing your iodine as well. Signs of melting from an iodine deficiency include browning and shrinking before dissolving completely. All softies and LPS rely heavily on iodine, and depending on the salt you use, you may not have enough of it. Definitely agree that your alk is considerably high, and your calcium could use a bit of a boost, but that's not going to affect your zoas.

As far as oceans blend goes, I've had much success with it. It's a great system, but with an alk that high, stay away from part two until it comes down. Go with part one. It should have some iodine (check on the bottle and find out which has iodine, I can't remember) in it and it'll help with your calcium.

robthorn · 07/27/2014, 12:41 PM

.25 phosphates should be closer to .025.

Did you treat the corals before you introduced them to the tank? Could be a pest as well. I guess I should say did you treat all your corals before they entered your tank because if it were a pest it could enter from a new rock or coral of many kinds.

I would call John at Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff or Pierre at Coral Corral. Being in a retail environment they see a lot more issues than most of us.

candamo · 07/27/2014, 02:13 PM

I haven't introduced anything new the last 6 months or so. My phosphates I don't seen to be able to drop further due to might crushed coral bed.

The zoas slowly retracted towards the middle, leaving a white close zoa but never opened again, and slowly shrinked to nothing

Rawrsean · 07/27/2014, 02:46 PM

Iodine takes a while to be used. I implore you to test your iodine

aguila88psi · 07/27/2014, 03:17 PM

Dose chemiclean, yes the red slime remover, normal dosage and follow the instructions, that is all, good luck.

rogergolf66 · 07/27/2014, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aguila88psi

Dose chemiclean, yes the red slime remover, normal dosage and follow the instructions, that is all, good luck.

I have heard u say before. What do u think it does to help the zoas? Any article to read along with it?

aguila88psi · 07/27/2014, 05:30 PM

Bacterial, algal or fungal issue, don't know what it does or how it works, just have to try it out

07/27/2014, 12:03 PM	#1
candamo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Tampa Posts: 30	Chemestry problem in Tampa Hi everybody! The last couple of weeks I've experienced a very slow deterioration of some of my small zoas, large colonies are doing good (but they also don;t look as good as before), but a couple of the small ones have died and want to find the root of the problem before it becomes a really big issue. I haven't changed anything in the system so I'm assuming its just stuff growing that is now demanding more resources? Right now I'm not supplementing anything so want to ask for recommendation on what to add. I did purchase a two part Ocean's blend but unsure how to dose or if it is the real cause of my recent issues. Any advice it's greatly appreciated. Tank Parameters tested with Red Sea: Mg 1440 Ca 400 Kh 12.9 Nitrate 0 Phosphates 0.25 PH between 7.8 and 8 Salinity: 1.025 Tank Details: 50g established over 4 years, 2in crushed coral bed, about of 1/4 of tank it's large live rock, good amount of Coralline in them. 7g sump with bio balls+Eshopps 100 skimmer, 4g HOB refugium with 2.5in sand bed, small rock and lots of Chaeto. Flow 2x MJ 1200, 2 Hydor Koralia 1400, and 1x MJ400 pumps from one end of the aquarium to refugium and drain comes back in other side of tank. PC Lighting Bioload: 6 fish and lots of coral, however most are small Maintenance: 12.5g water change every 3 weeks, RODI water 0 TDS, mixed with instant ocean. I'm not dosing anything extra at the moment. I feed twice a week mysis shrimp and seaweed

07/27/2014, 12:13 PM	#2
ChadRaay86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oldsmar, FL Posts: 1,560	Your alk looks high at 12.9, I'd look at that first if your zoas are melting. __________________ This tank has been without an Aiptasia event for (1) days Current Tank: 300DD, Radion G3 Pro, Octopus Diablo DC-250, 2x MP-60, 2x MP-40, Full Apex, Korallin C4002 calcium reactor

07/27/2014, 12:22 PM	#3
Rawrsean Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 40	Chemestry problem in Tampa Consider testing your iodine as well. Signs of melting from an iodine deficiency include browning and shrinking before dissolving completely. All softies and LPS rely heavily on iodine, and depending on the salt you use, you may not have enough of it. Definitely agree that your alk is considerably high, and your calcium could use a bit of a boost, but that's not going to affect your zoas. As far as oceans blend goes, I've had much success with it. It's a great system, but with an alk that high, stay away from part two until it comes down. Go with part one. It should have some iodine (check on the bottle and find out which has iodine, I can't remember) in it and it'll help with your calcium.

07/27/2014, 03:17 PM	#7
aguila88psi Zoa Addict Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,756	Dose chemiclean, yes the red slime remover, normal dosage and follow the instructions, that is all, good luck. __________________ Pedro R. Current Tank Info: work in progress

07/27/2014, 05:30 PM	#9
aguila88psi Zoa Addict Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,756	Bacterial, algal or fungal issue, don't know what it does or how it works, just have to try it out __________________ Pedro R. Current Tank Info: work in progress

07/27/2014, 12:41 PM	#4
robthorn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: largo florida Posts: 5,089	.25 phosphates should be closer to .025. Did you treat the corals before you introduced them to the tank? Could be a pest as well. I guess I should say did you treat all your corals before they entered your tank because if it were a pest it could enter from a new rock or coral of many kinds. I would call John at Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff or Pierre at Coral Corral. Being in a retail environment they see a lot more issues than most of us.

07/27/2014, 02:13 PM	#5
candamo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Tampa Posts: 30	I haven't introduced anything new the last 6 months or so. My phosphates I don't seen to be able to drop further due to might crushed coral bed. The zoas slowly retracted towards the middle, leaving a white close zoa but never opened again, and slowly shrinked to nothing

07/27/2014, 02:46 PM	#6
Rawrsean Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 40	Iodine takes a while to be used. I implore you to test your iodine