Need brains

[Hallowhead]

Howdy,

I've setup my 425xl over a year ago now. The tank has gone through the uglies, and finally have the algae handled. My rocks are 100% encrusted in Coraline, yet corals die or don't extend. I have a toadstool center tank and it has not opened in maybe a year at full extension. I thought it was flow so I've reduced, no luck.

My parameters
Salt 1.026 tested multiple ways
Alk 8.0
Calcium 375
Mag 1200
Phosphate .03
Nitrate 25-50

I have a filter roller, skimmer and uv sterilizer running. Although not current activated carbon reactor too. I am running one mp40 on maybe 30% and a jebao ow25 on the opposite end at the back to generate flow.

I have two kessil 360x running peaking at 70%.

I have ran ICP tests with no standouts, I have checked for stray voltages, nothing of concern.

I am really at a loss.

 

[MadReefer]

Not sure what types of coral you have other the toadstool but two things stand out for me:
1) calcium seems low, Coraline can be consuming it
2) Nitrate seems kind of high IMO

 

[aquaonmymind]

Howdy,

I've setup my 425xl over a year ago now. The tank has gone through the uglies, and finally have the algae handled. My rocks are 100% encrusted in Coraline, yet corals die or don't extend. I have a toadstool center tank and it has not opened in maybe a year at full extension. I thought it was flow so I've reduced, no luck.

My parameters
Salt 1.026 tested multiple ways
Alk 8.0
Calcium 375
Mag 1200
Phosphate .03
Nitrate 25-50

I have a filter roller, skimmer and uv sterilizer running. Although not current activated carbon reactor too. I am running one mp40 on maybe 30% and a jebao ow25 on the opposite end at the back to generate flow.

I have two kessil 360x running peaking at 70%.

I have ran ICP tests with no standouts, I have checked for stray voltages, nothing of concern.

I am really at a loss.

I've noticed a dramatic difference in how much my corals open after I turn my lights down to 30-35 percent. I'm running red sea 90s. I really think there is a misconception about running these powerful LEDs at full horsepower. We are frying our corals unknowingly. Try turning your lights down since it seems all your other parameters check out fine. Good luck friend!

 

[reefsandrotts]

The rollermat will strip nutrients super fast,if you have mostly softies your water might be too clean

 

[ericrodriguez]

Soft coral release toxins when stressed out, if you have sps that could be the problem. The light (%) is not the problem as long as you par is in range.

 

[Boehmtown]

I run my calcium and magnesium way higher

 

[DEL]

What are all the corals you have and which ones don't make it?

 

[Rueric]

Hallowhead,

Have you tried running an ICP test?
Are you doing water changes? If so, how much % and what salt are you using?

 

[ole farny]

i would try turning the light's down to 30 or 35% for a month or more too. not opening sounds like they don't want the light available to me, especially a leather at center. if they open you can work that back up slowly.

it probably won't hurt to run some carbon either, in case the angry leather is throwing some toxins around.

 

[Hallowhead]

What are all the corals you have and which ones don't make it?

Only have a toadstool left

I had gonnies (understandably hard) lps, candy canes, blastos

Lots of simpler stuff less the gonny

 

[Hallowhead]

i would try turning the light's down to 30 or 35% for a month or more too. not opening sounds like they don't want the light available to me, especially a leather at center. if they open you can work that back up slowly.

it probably won't hurt to run some carbon either, in case the angry leather is throwing some toxins around.

He's at the center bottom of the tank in between the two lights so he's getting the outer bands of light not even direct

 

[Rueric]

He's at the center bottom of the tank in between the two lights so he's getting the outer bands of light not even direct

You'd be surprised, light reflects and amplifies on the bottom edges of a tank.. a par meter will show you

 

[ole farny]

He's at the center bottom of the tank in between the two lights so he's getting the outer bands of light not even direct

he's also getting some light from each source, most likely. at any rate, i promise you, less light won't kill him.

 

[ole farny]

Only have a toadstool left

I had gonnies (understandably hard) lps, candy canes, blastos

Lots of simpler stuff less the gonny

also, these are all lower light corals to me.

 

[reefsandrotts]

This might be out there but,
What kind of fish are in the tank?

 

[Hallowhead]

Bristletooth, purple, hippo, damsel, coral beauty, filefish, pintail wrasse

 

[Hallowhead]

also, these are all lower light corals to me.

I used to have it under 100% kessil 160s before upgrading in a frag tank

 

[Boehmtown]

I have all those corals you listed living happily in like 30-50par. So could be light, but I'd probably guess the coral beauty. It probably nips anything that comes out and doesn't do it around you

 

[DEL]

File fish and corals beauty could be culprits.

 

[Hallowhead]

File fish is new.

The coral beauty was never an issue. The corals have regression and then died. It didn't appear to have any nibbling. I will try to lower lights but the I feel like they should adapt to the stronger lights