Facing issues keeping coral!

[Don’tFearTheReefer]

I’ll start with a thanks in advance for any feedback!
Going to be entirely honest so please don’t flame my mistakes too much haha!

Setup;
425xl Reefer G2 / Twin Hydra 64’s / RSK 600 skimmer,

Current Parameters;
Ammonia - no measurable - API kits
Nitrite - no measurable - API kits
Nitrate - below 5.0 ppm - API kits
pH - 8.2 - API kits
dKh - 8.0 - Salifert kit
Phosphate - 0-0.25 - API kit
Calcium - 460 - API kit
Magnesium - 1280 - Salifert Kit
Temp - 25C/78F (thermostat/probe/glass thermometer)

The David Saxby signature series AI setup on the Hydras, just now changed to Dimitri’s setup as it’s a much more similar tank size and David’s may have too much penetration (though lots of people rave about his setup!)

I had a huge phosphate problem a few weeks ago that went hidden through laziness in testing and happenstance that my stocklist is more or less unbothered by the phosphates.
Having addressed that issue with water changes & rowaphos over the course of a couple of weeks.

Following that i purchased an anemone that’s doing brilliantly actually and as i understand it they’re not particularly fond of high phosphates either, further suggesting that issue resolved or close to it.
Where i’m bumping into problems is sps frags in particular, bleached in 2 days almost guaranteed
I’m probably 6 frags deep into that hole atm and i’m lost for ideas, given my parameters etc. As i mentioned i’ve now changed the light settings on the off chance its too powerful and i’ll just have to see how that works out over the next week or two but any ideas i’m all ears!

Feels like i’m looking for the boogie man at this point!

Final note;
- Looking to get an icp-ms done in an effort to identify anything i can’t test for
- renting a par meter with a friend soon to be certain on lighting

 

[KrisReef]

How old is the tank?

API for phosphorus provides almost useless information. I like my ULR Hanna Checker for phos because it gives me a much finer scale and is easier to read the output vs trying to decipher a chemical shade in a test vial.

And similar comment for the light schedule measurement, a PAR or PUR reading is easier to evaluate.

FLAMES< AND MORE FLAMES< Going through the fire is the way to purify metals but I don't think they provide much useful comments for improvements. I hope my comments were useful and not just perceived as flames?

Flaming locks approved,

 

[Don’tFearTheReefer]

How old is the tank?

API for phosphorus provides almost useless information. I like my ULR Hanna Checker for phos because it gives me a much finer scale and is easier to read the output vs trying to decipher a chemical shade in a test vial.

And similar comment for the light schedule measurement, a PAR or PUR reading is easier to evaluate.

FLAMES< AND MORE FLAMES< Going through the fire is the way to purify metals but I don't think they provide much useful comments for improvements. I hope my comments were useful and not just perceived as flames?

Flaming locks approved,

Hey Kris! Appreciate the response, yeah man as i say i know the api kits more or less useless haha however the change in my routine and the measurable drop, trend says they should be more than low enough now..

Tank is around a year or more now

It was the lighting! i’ve switched my Hydras to Dimitri Tumanov’s settings from the same AI showcase range and i’ve seen immediate response & improvement in the tank. Picked up another sps frag and so far so good!

A mate and i are going to rent a PAR meter as i said so i’ll be able to fine tune it at then - and i can stop chasing the boogie man!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You can't judge phosphate based on API. I keep my phosphate at .1ish, but the API test goes from zero to .25. It doesn't work, you need something that can measure in between zero and .25.

Its good you will rent a par meter and not play the guessing game. As a metal hallide user I find that led lights people are so concerned to turn up the lights. Your sand is so white after one year, that makes me think not enough light on the sandbed. Light is the most important consideration for corals, better to know exactly.

There is nothing about flow listed in your post, flow is the second most important consideration.

in the third pic, it looks like a montipora? It is in the bottom corner, the lowest light and lowest flow area of the tank, but it needs high light and high flow.