Author |
Topic Search Topic Options
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: Corals browning/not opening/reseating etc... Posted: October 31 2013 at 9:41pm |
Seems as though the last couple weeks almost all my coral had started to brown, not open, loss of color or started reseating. Nothing has bleached out, just looks like it needs a facelift. Tank has been up for just over 2 years. Any advice? Thanks guys!!
Salinity: 1.025 Alk: 12.4 Calc: 410 Mag: 1300 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 Ammo: 0 Phos: 0.01
|
|
ReefdUp
Guest
Joined: March 20 2011
Location: South Weber
Status: Offline
Points: 4166
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 31 2013 at 10:11pm |
Which corals? What test kit are you using for phosphate? Most don't measure down to 0.01.
|
www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 31 2013 at 10:29pm |
Mostly SPS. I just have Aquatic Dreams test my water. They use that Hanna phosphate test with the vials.
|
|
badfinger
Guest
Joined: May 18 2009
Location: Murray, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2079
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 31 2013 at 10:35pm |
What lights and how old?
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 01 2013 at 4:03am |
AI Vega's since Febuary. Everything looked great when I switched to LED. Even had some growth.
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 01 2013 at 8:08am |
Are you using AC? Every tank needs to run AC regularly to remove alleopathic/territorial chemicals.
What has been changed in the last month? new salt, new bucket, new AC, new water, new food, etc.?
Feeding? Is there a nipping fish?
Did some foreign object, soap or chemical get into the tank accidentally?
Top-off water problem?
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 01 2013 at 8:12am |
I haven't changed anything for some time except for adding a Media reactor about a month ago. I'm not sure what AC is.
|
|
Mike Savage
Guest
Joined: July 15 2005
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 19173
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 01 2013 at 7:47pm |
AC=Activated Carbon
|
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 01 2013 at 8:01pm |
Oh duh! Yea I do run carbon.
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 7:29am |
Now we are on to something. How was AC run before? Is the media reactor new or used? When the media reactor was filled, was the AC from the same container/bag as before? Was it a different brand? Is some type of Phosphate remover also running in this media reactor? What type? Had P remover been used before and how was it used? Oh and one more thing. Are any coral dieing back or are they just not opening up like they used to? Which coral are affected? Aloha, Mark
Edited by Mark Peterson - November 03 2013 at 7:33am
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 9:25am |
OK, I've always ran AC in a bag in the filter sock. Reactor is used but after a good cleaning, I hooked it up. Always used the same AC. Never changed the brand. All I am using in the reactor is BRS Bio Pellets. I do know that AC was being used in the reactor before I got it. Before the reactor, I would just do drops of Thrive Phosphate Remover when directed.
It seems kinda weird. Some zoas are doing just as good as before, some seem to be struggling. No polyp extension on sps like before and loss of color. I guess I would say they look pissed, not dying.
|
|
ReefdUp
Guest
Joined: March 20 2011
Location: South Weber
Status: Offline
Points: 4166
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 9:45am |
So it's not just limited to SPS? Have you checked for pests?
Also, most hobbyist test kits only measure one type of phosphate (can't remember if it's organic or inorganic...either way)...so you could still have an excess of the other one.
|
www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 9:54am |
What would be the best way to check for pests and a solution? I'm not sure what type of Phosphates I have been getting tested. I know it's the Hanna Phosphate Test that is being used.
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 4:31pm |
So the AC bag is still in the filter floss bag then, right?
Moosetang wrote:
All I am using in the reactor is BRS Bio Pellets. |
Biopellets are serious business. This is a huge change to the tank. Is there anything else?
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 5:05pm |
That was all I had changed.
|
|
Molli
Guest
Joined: June 28 2012
Location: Bountiful, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1109
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 5:46pm |
You made a very drastic change to your system adding the reactor and could be starving your corals. I've done some reading about biopellet reactors because I'm trying to figure out if I want one when I put my cube on line -- from what I understand its a lot safer to take about a month to slowly add the biopellets to the reactor and you need to start heavily feeding your tank daily. Some also say you should add a bacterial additive to your tank when you put these reactors on line.
Edited by Molli - November 03 2013 at 5:47pm
|
|
Moosetang
Guest
Joined: January 27 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 7:12pm |
What would be a good food to feed and bacterial additive to use?
|
|
ReefdUp
Guest
Joined: March 20 2011
Location: South Weber
Status: Offline
Points: 4166
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 8:47pm |
If your corals are browning, then that's not likely from starvation. Starving corals usually turn pastel, then bleach, then recede in extreme cases. Can you post pictures? That would really help....
You'd know if you were testing for both types of phosphate as those test kits are about $200+ the last time I checked. So, basically, you could have an excess of the type you aren't testing for. But, if you're running a biopellet reactor, those numbers should be declining.
There are plenty of good coral dips out there, including CoralRx, Revive, TMPCC, Lugol's, etc. I personally use CoralRx and Bayer Insecticide (found at Home Depot/Lowe's in the insect killer aisle.) Red/Gray/Black bugs will cause your corals to turn brown and not extend polyps. But, red bugs (acroporanus tegastes) only affect Acropora corals. Gray/Black bugs can infect LPS and SPS (probably softies too). AEFW only infect Acropora, and they cause the coral to turn brown then white as they eat the tissue.
|
www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water
|
|
phys
Guest
Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 8:58pm |
How has your dosing regimen been? Your alk is kinda high compared to your calcium. Do you find yourself adding a lot of alk all the time? Hows your temp?
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: November 03 2013 at 9:24pm |
Molli wrote:
...from what I understand its a lot safer to take about a month to slowly add the biopellets to the reactor... | Turn off the reactor and let the tank recover. Study the use of biopellets and when the tank has recovered, if you decide to try again, go slowly, watching the tank carefully as you go. That's my best advice.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|