Sps problems

[jmp21677]

I've been trying to figure out what my issues are with sps. I have no problem with lps or zoas but can't keep sps more than 4-6 weeks. Color fades and they fade away.

Tank 2.5 years old
50 gallon cube
3xmp10qd
Xr 30 pro g4
4 t5 24"
Nyos skimmer
Dolsing brs 3 part (2ml twice per day)

Alk - 8.4
Calc - 440
Mag - 1550
Po4 .05
No3 - 5

I had a icp test done about 8 weeks ago and everything was in good shape. I have a second one coming this week and will submit another round but I'm not expecting anything dramatic. I've also checked for pests and have yet to find anything. I'm not sure what else to do?

 

[Ron Reefman]

#reef squad

Your numbers look OK.

What PAR are your lights running at during peak hours? And for how long?
What sps corals have you been trying?
What lps corals do you have that are doing well?

An off the wall idea, but what is your pH?

 

[Sosuke]

#reef squad

Your numbers look OK.

What PAR are your lights running at during peak hours? And for how long?
What sps corals have you been trying?
What lps corals do you have that are doing well?

An off the wall idea, but what is your pH?

+1

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Are you dosing amino acids, carbohydrates, or trace elements?

 

[HB AL]

#reef squad

Your numbers look OK.

What PAR are your lights running at during peak hours? And for how long?
What sps corals have you been trying?
What lps corals do you have that are doing well?

An off the wall idea, but what is your pH?

+2 especially what lights.

 

[X-37B]

What issues are you having?
Pics would help.

 

[jmp21677]

Par is 400 at the top down to 175-200 at the bottom. I've been adding the new redsea ab+ for about a month. Ph is showing 8.1 on apex.

 

[Sosuke]

Do you light acclimate them to the tank? Could be bleaching from too much light

 

[jmp21677]

I'll get pics. Polyp extension goes to hell and then slow fade. Blastos, torch hammer doing great. Chalices no luck. Two clams doing great too

 

[jmp21677]

Do you light acclimate them to the tank? Could be bleaching from too much light

I do acclimate. Had a ssc frag in the sand for 3 days slowly moved up... dead in 2 weeks

 

[jmp21677]

+1

Been trying different sps. Montis,digi and mili recently. Lights run on ab+ from 1030-8pm. T5 run from 12-530

 

[blasterman]

I'll get pics. Polyp extension goes to hell and then slow fade. Blastos, torch hammer doing great. Chalices no luck. Two clams doing great too

If LPS / softies are doing great and you don't have nuisance algae problems (tank sounds mature) then the issue is flat out competition and/or biological warfare. Once LPS get established in a smaller tank, or some of the more aggressive paly varities (zoas typically aren't nearly as combative as some palythoas) you are going to have a heck of a time introducing SPS.

If you have a 500gallon tank you can get away with basketball size euphyllia and table acros via shear water displacement. Start getting 50 gal and smaller established LPS and palys dont want SPS growing over them an shading out the sun.

Clams don't care about biological warfare but are sensitive about other params, which kind of tells you what the problem is.

Try some pocillopora or blue digipora. Both in my experience can compete on better terms than acropora. Blue Stag / Blue slimer is also pretty tolerant of biological competition. Millipora isn't.

 

[jmp21677]

If LPS / softies are doing great and you don't have nuisance algae problems (tank sounds mature) then the issue is flat out competition and/or biological warfare. Once LPS get established in a smaller tank, or some of the more aggressive paly varities (zoas typically aren't nearly as combative as some palythoas) you are going to have a heck of a time introducing SPS.

If you have a 500gallon tank you can get away with basketball size euphyllia and table acros via shear water displacement. Start getting 50 gal and smaller established LPS and palys dont want SPS growing over them an shading out the sun.

Clams don't care about biological warfare but are sensitive about other params, which kind of tells you what the problem is.

Try some pocillopora or blue digipora. Both in my experience can compete on better terms than acropora. Blue Stag / Blue slimer is also pretty tolerant of biological competition. Millipora isn't.

Really appreciate the response. I did have some blue digi and it didn't last long either. I'm happy to get rid of most zoas in the tank. They arent my favorite. If it's keeping me from keeping sps it's an easy choice.

 

[jmp21677]

Here is a good pic of bubble gum digi. This is what they all seem to do

 

[MikeO5422]

The ICP results match your own tests for alk nitrates and phosphates? What test kits you have for those?

I don't necessarily think that par is your issue but 3 days acclimation is not really sufficient from something housed in 200 par to 400 par in my limited* experience with that. Depends on where it came from though.

 

[jmp21677]

Blastos looking good