Recent Problems (w/ pics)

Lately my tank has seemed like it is crashing.  My LPS and SPS do not look very good at all.  I have been keeping a close eye on all of my levels and everything is always pretty perfect.  PH is 8.3, alk 11dkh, calcium hovers around 400, temp 78, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia all at zero, and salinity is at 1.022.  I have been checking every few days with the same results even from other test kits.  All of these levels are normal for my tank and is usually what it sits at.  Within the last couple of weeks my galaxia, birdsnest, maze brain, fungia have all started to slowly go downhill.  softies look fine.  And I have not done anything new to it or added anything.  I am just lost on what to try next.  Any ideas on what to do before I try selling whats left of them?

Edited by Aquaristnewbie - July 08 2010 at 9:42pm

Could it have been a heat spike? this time of year is worst time for heat.

you have carbon running to remove any toxin produce by corals?

AC? do we need use DC? on aquariums i never notice that

oops now whos the newbie lol i tought it meant Alternate Current

Interesting that the Caulestrea right next to the Galaxia appears unaffected. All but one of the Euphyllia are doing just fine too. I'm going to take a closer look at that full tank pic to see if I notice anything. There is a lot of reflection.... algae on the glass...can you clean the glass and take another pic in the darkened room?

Asterina Stars are no big deal. I wouldn't worry about them unless you see them eating coral. I once had some that I would find in the dawn eating the bottom stalk of a Pom Pom Xenia. I've had many others that only ate detritus and algae. They sometimes go in to clean up where something is dieing.

The bag of AC is packed pretty tight. It could be packed looser and do a better job. Where does that bag sit? And for how long? I see a lot of crud on it which clogged the mesh, restricting flow in and out.

Ok, here is what has come to my mind thus far. Something is irritating more sensitive coral individuals. I'm seeing some possibilities.

- not enough free flow through the AC so it's not removing all it should be?
- some organism on the sand?
- something in the water changes or top-off?

Has the lighting changed lately?
How about a change of salt mix?
Has anything been accidentally dropped into the tank or the containers used for RO or Saltwater? (Once found a small problem at a home where the RO water had been contaminated with fabric softener from recently dried clothing that had fallen off the Dryer into the RO water)


Edited by Mark Peterson - July 09 2010 at 8:01am

I would also raise your salinity like was mentioned above 1.025 is the ideal level for corals.

After water change last night, replacing all filter media, and raising saliniity to 1.023 my fungia seems to be doing a bit better this morning.  I am going to slowly add some salt to top off water to raise to 1.025 this week and another water change on friday.  Hopefully things are improving all around so I dont lose the colonies.  Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions everyone.  It was driving me nuts.  I will keep you updated.