Hello all. An alarming number of the corals in my 125 have been on the downhill and/or dies in the last few months. My first losses were my two clams, then almost all of my SPS, a couple of chalices, acans (only two frags, all others are doing just fine), leptastrea, and now even my cyphastrea. Here are the details:
Setup:
Tank: 125 w/ dual overflows
Sump: 29 gallon
Refugium: 45 gallon (and FULL of chaeto)
Lighting: (3) 120W "full spectrum" dimmable LED's
Flow: (2) MP40s
Pump: Jebao DC12000 (running at half speed)
Skimmer: Eshopps S-150 cone skimmer
Dosing: 2 part (baking soda & DFS calcium chloride) dosed via BRS dosing pumps via timers
Rock: 150 lbs, mix of live rock from Florida and dry rock
Sand: ~2" layer of Reefrocks.net sand
Reactor: BRS Single running TLF HydroCarbon 2 via Maxijet 600
Controller: Reef Angel
Parameters:
Temp: 75.5°F
pH: 8.15-8.25 (pH probe connected to Reef Angel)
Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer, calibrated with 35 ppt fluid)
Calcium: 420-450 ppm (Red Sea test kit)
Alkalinity: 8.7-8.9 dKH (Salifert)
Magnesium: 1400 ppm (Red Sea)
Phosphates: 0.0 (Hanna Checker)
Nitrates: 0.75 ppm (Red Sea)
No real changes to the system that I can think of that would cause any issues. I had stopped running carbon a few months ago once I started noticing issues. Soon after, my clam started getting a pinched mantle. I saw no improvements from not running carbon, so I resumed running carbon and have since. I have checked for stray voltage, and only read 0.5V.
Tank is well stocked with fish (two Tangs, Flame Angel (nips at some corals, but not enough to cause damage IMO), Foxface (have never seen it nip at anything), Midas Blenny, and 12 Wrasses). I feed 1-2 times per day, usually either small pellets or nori in the afternoon, and a mix of Fish Goo, mysis, and another frozen food at night. I thaw and rinse out all frozen food. I only feed what the fish eat. Nitrates are elevated, so certainly this could be a concern even still.
Corals that are doing well-great include Pink Birdsnest, Zoas/Palys, Euphyllia (4 different), Candy Cane, Scoly, Favites, Trachyphyllia, 2 Plate Corals, Blastos, Duncans, 'Shrooms, Ricordias, most of my Acans, and probably a few others I'm forgetting. Ones that are currently declining (STN/loss of tissue in LPS) include Monti Cap., War Coral, Montipora spongodes, 2 acan frags, cyphastrea (that I have had for 2 years and has always been a fast grower), Tri-color Acro (was my fastest growing SPS by far). Corals are far enough separated to rule out coral warfare.
Since almost all of my LPS are continuing to do great, I am leaning towards either an Alk issue or elevated Nitrates. Alk is stable as mentioned, though a bit on the low side. I would not think Nitrates of 0.75 ppm would be enough to cause any decline (I would think it would slow growth if anything). I don't think lighting is an issue, as for a while I had very good success growing SPS. I have never been great with doing water changes (usually 10% per month), but since I dose, have a large skimmer, and a very productive refugium, I would not think these would be an issue.
So, I am looking for ideas on what to change, what to test for, or what else I could be missing. Any and all advice is appreciated! TIA
Setup:
Tank: 125 w/ dual overflows
Sump: 29 gallon
Refugium: 45 gallon (and FULL of chaeto)
Lighting: (3) 120W "full spectrum" dimmable LED's
Flow: (2) MP40s
Pump: Jebao DC12000 (running at half speed)
Skimmer: Eshopps S-150 cone skimmer
Dosing: 2 part (baking soda & DFS calcium chloride) dosed via BRS dosing pumps via timers
Rock: 150 lbs, mix of live rock from Florida and dry rock
Sand: ~2" layer of Reefrocks.net sand
Reactor: BRS Single running TLF HydroCarbon 2 via Maxijet 600
Controller: Reef Angel
Parameters:
Temp: 75.5°F
pH: 8.15-8.25 (pH probe connected to Reef Angel)
Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer, calibrated with 35 ppt fluid)
Calcium: 420-450 ppm (Red Sea test kit)
Alkalinity: 8.7-8.9 dKH (Salifert)
Magnesium: 1400 ppm (Red Sea)
Phosphates: 0.0 (Hanna Checker)
Nitrates: 0.75 ppm (Red Sea)
No real changes to the system that I can think of that would cause any issues. I had stopped running carbon a few months ago once I started noticing issues. Soon after, my clam started getting a pinched mantle. I saw no improvements from not running carbon, so I resumed running carbon and have since. I have checked for stray voltage, and only read 0.5V.
Tank is well stocked with fish (two Tangs, Flame Angel (nips at some corals, but not enough to cause damage IMO), Foxface (have never seen it nip at anything), Midas Blenny, and 12 Wrasses). I feed 1-2 times per day, usually either small pellets or nori in the afternoon, and a mix of Fish Goo, mysis, and another frozen food at night. I thaw and rinse out all frozen food. I only feed what the fish eat. Nitrates are elevated, so certainly this could be a concern even still.
Corals that are doing well-great include Pink Birdsnest, Zoas/Palys, Euphyllia (4 different), Candy Cane, Scoly, Favites, Trachyphyllia, 2 Plate Corals, Blastos, Duncans, 'Shrooms, Ricordias, most of my Acans, and probably a few others I'm forgetting. Ones that are currently declining (STN/loss of tissue in LPS) include Monti Cap., War Coral, Montipora spongodes, 2 acan frags, cyphastrea (that I have had for 2 years and has always been a fast grower), Tri-color Acro (was my fastest growing SPS by far). Corals are far enough separated to rule out coral warfare.
Since almost all of my LPS are continuing to do great, I am leaning towards either an Alk issue or elevated Nitrates. Alk is stable as mentioned, though a bit on the low side. I would not think Nitrates of 0.75 ppm would be enough to cause any decline (I would think it would slow growth if anything). I don't think lighting is an issue, as for a while I had very good success growing SPS. I have never been great with doing water changes (usually 10% per month), but since I dose, have a large skimmer, and a very productive refugium, I would not think these would be an issue.
So, I am looking for ideas on what to change, what to test for, or what else I could be missing. Any and all advice is appreciated! TIA