WMAS Discussion Forum : SPS bleaching issues... http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:36:29 +0000 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:44:27 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=45777 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : i heard about epsom salt but couldnt...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393338&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393338 Author: davser
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 08 2011 at 9:44am

i heard about epsom salt but couldnt find anything usefull  starting a tread on those chemicals would be helpful]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:44:27 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393338&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393338 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : Ahhhh, yes I see and understand...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393335&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393335 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 08 2011 at 9:22am

Ahhhh, yes I see and understand now. Thanks for that.
Yes, some coral may not make it. As you gain more experience and understanding, you can reach a point where death occurs less often. I believe you will be okay. For me, only two questions remain. What are the Alk and Ca levels Question

Something said above caught my attention "I always do [water changes] when something is wrong with corals and I can't figure it out." That's what the WMAS and this MB is all about; to help us figure it out. I learn more every day from all the hobbyists on this MB.

A word of caution not to depend on water changes to put parameters in line. Every living organism in the reef aquarium uses Alk, Ca, Mg, N, P, I, etc. Many need it for their shell or skeleton but every organism needs it to carry on physiological life functions. These things we call parameters are essentially "food" or nutrients for every thing living in the water. Salt mixes do not know what nutrient foods (minerals/elements) are being used up and at what rate. This means that testing is absolutely necessary to know the levels of the major nutrients and adding those foods via supplementation is way easier than water changes. Supplementation is also lower cost than water changes when you know about Baking Soda, Ice Melt and Epsom Salt. I know it seems odd to think of those hard chemical substances as food, but that's what they are. Smile


Edited by Mark Peterson - January 08 2011 at 9:25am]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:22:59 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393335&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393335 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : Very pretty tank. Not sure if...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393294&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393294 Author: P.Kapp
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 07 2011 at 6:43pm

Very pretty tank. Not sure if there is a powerhead somewhere that i cant see, but another one or two would definately help with flow. Also, im not sure if those are some of your sps pieces on the top left of the rock, but that rbta seems to be well within reach to sting them if they are. 
I really like your gorgonia up frontThumbs Up
]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:43:49 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393294&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393294 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : Ok, sorry for the delay, school...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393290&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393290 Author: Haley'sfish
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 07 2011 at 6:13pm

Ok, sorry for the delay, school started this week.... It took about a week to dose about 250 g of Mg, well within the tolerances specified on the bottle. My Mg dropped from 1260 to 1170. Mark- I made the mistake of mixing my Mg and Alk in the same container (about 3 cups of water) and dripped them in my tank over the course of a day. Not smart I now know. It would have been easier to tell whether they fully precipitated if they weren't both white to begin with. It was suggested to me from a reefer to just do slightly larger water changes (approx 15%) every week and see how the parameters turn out. I think at this point that is what I am going to try to do. Is it true that some just don't make it when you transfer them? I appreciate all of your help!



Edited by Haley'sfish - January 07 2011 at 6:13pm]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:13:16 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393290&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393290 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : My opinion: -Corals are fine,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393214&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393214 Author: bur01014
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 07 2011 at 11:59am

My opinion:

-Corals are fine, they color morph slightly as they get use to your lights and system, I definitely don't see any bleaching...
 
-Dumped a whole bottle of mg, in the course of a couple days..wow...be careful, go slowly when messing with levels
 
-Sounds like you need to try a different mg test kit, yours could be bad....
 
-Maybe do several smaller water changes the next week, I always do this when something is wrong with corals and I can't figure it out.....smaller waterchanges daily seems to help me always...
 
-In the mean time, be patient, give those corals a month or two and see how they do, one reason I am not worried is that you have some SPS pics in there....when an SPS dies, boy do they go fast...obviously nothing is seriously wrong because your SPS corals would be done for by now....as in completely white....
 
-Finally, explore other reasons you are not happy with the way your corals look...how are your other corals doing?  Look closely at them....flatworms, bugs, anything on them?  Use a flashlight at night....what is your stock?  Got a fish or something picking at them?  I would search these pathways for the problem, since your corals aren't dieing, they may just be irritated by something, then again, still see nothing wrong
 
 


Edited by bur01014 - January 07 2011 at 12:02pm]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:59:45 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393214&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393214 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : Reading again through this entire...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393207&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393207 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 07 2011 at 9:57am

Reading again through this entire thread, I have to say that it is suffering from a lack of detail.
We have yet to see a full tank picQuestion
We don't know what level the Mg dropped toQuestion
What size of bottle of what Mg supplementQuestion
And frankly, this statement is confusing, "problem may be...dosing Mg and Alk too close to each other...." Is this saying that ALL the Mg in that bottle AND MORE has precipitated out of solution before being utilized by the coralQuestion [Confused unlikely]
And is it also saying that that the Alk also preciptatedQuestion [again unlikely]
What level did the Alk drop toQuestion
Truth is, a Mg level of 1260 ppm isn't low enough to cause a problem anyway, by itself.
In the only pics posted, the coral look fine.
Sorry, but we cannot help solve a problem that we cannot see. There is probably something else going on in this aquarium, but how will we know? Confused
]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:57:31 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393207&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393207 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : My Mg level actually dropped despite...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393180&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393180 Author: Haley'sfish
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 06 2011 at 10:39pm

My Mg level actually dropped despite dosing almost an entire bottle of Mg. Sean at Aquatica told me tonight that some of my problem may be the fact that I have been dosing Mg and Alk too close to each other....]]> Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:39:56 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=393180&title=sps-bleaching-issues#393180 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : Some of the corals are dying,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=392996&title=sps-bleaching-issues#392996 Author: Haley'sfish
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 05 2011 at 2:34pm

Some of the corals are dying, no doubt. Some are fine, and some are half dying. I'll post a pic tonight when I get home. I agree, I do need to get new bulbs. I will also go get the Mg tested again today. ]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:34:29 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=392996&title=sps-bleaching-issues#392996 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : They don&#039;t look too bad....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=392991&title=sps-bleaching-issues#392991 Author: Luckedout
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 05 2011 at 2:25pm

They don't look too bad. All corals morph a little with new lights.

Bulbs over a year old usually need to be replaced.
]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:25:03 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=392991&title=sps-bleaching-issues#392991 <![CDATA[SPS bleaching issues... : Im with bur01014 on this and Mark....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=392990&title=sps-bleaching-issues#392990 Author: Jeremyw
Subject: 45777
Posted: January 05 2011 at 2:16pm

Im with bur01014 on this and Mark. I dont see anything wrong. its only been 3 weeks. Is there color just not as vibrant as when you saw them from where they came from? If they arent dying then I wouldnt worry about it yet. But do test Mg that is a great helper! ]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:16:56 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45777&PID=392990&title=sps-bleaching-issues#392990