SPS turning White/Brown - Need Help

[crezguy]

Starting yesterday one of my SPS's frag started turning White. Not sure what is going on. Below are my Parameters

Changes I did recently
Changed my Red Sea 90 and 50 whites to 50% for a week and now back to 10% based on this turning White

My blues are 100% always

Placement of the SPS was even lower than the current spot. Not sure if that is causing due to light intensity

Salinity - 1.026
Calcium - 471
KH - 9.5 (Increased from 8.9 to 9.5)
PH - 7.8
Temp - 80
Phosphates - 0.25
Mag - 1350
Ammonia, Nitrite - 0 and Nitrate - 5

 

[Spare time]

Your phosphates are a bit high which would explain them turning brown. Are you using the API test by any chance?

 

[crezguy]

My phosphates were at .45 and now reduced to 0.25 after adding GFO reactors and still on target to less than 0.1. SPS was doing good when phosphates were at .45. All these are happening in the recent 2 days after I changed the placement of SPS.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

My phosphates were at .45 and now reduced to 0.25 after adding GFO reactors and still on target to less than 0.1. SPS was doing good when phosphates were at .45. All these are happening in the recent 2 days after I changed the placement of SPS.

When did you add the gfo to lower po4?

 

[crezguy]

When did you add the gfo to lower po4?

It's been a week now

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

It's been a week now

Mystery solved

 

[crezguy]

Mystery solved

Adding GFO is causing this? Should I turn it off? But there are other SPS like birdnest and Stylo doing good.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Adding GFO is causing this? Should I turn it off? But there are other SPS like birdnest and Stylo doing good.

Were they doing good before you added gfo? And yes, if you added gfo a week ago and now your sps are stressed, then thats what caused it.

 

[SR Reefing]

Maybe PO4 lowered too fast.

GFO should add small amount at first and test daily.

 

[crezguy]

Is it possible for them to come back or turned white are dead areas?

 

[SR Reefing]

Brown coral yes, white at the very tip yes.

Totally white or 50% white. Probably GG.

 

[Spare time]

Is it possible for them to come back or turned white are dead areas?

Yes! They will eventually regain their normal color if the tank is doing ok and they can regrow over their dead skeleton just like if it was a rock.

 

[crezguy]

I am still losing them. Day by day white grows. Overnight it turns more white.

Don't know what I am doing wrong.

Recent changes - Added GFO ( Been 2 weeks now to reduce phosphates).
Adding Brightwell Razor to eradicate detritus (5 Ml daily)
Recent water change 20%. Matched salinity
Removed from lower spot(basically on the sand bed)and moved a bit higher( this is when it started to decolorized)
Moved again back to same position now.

Note : Stylo, Birds of Paradise all looking good still. No issues.

Parameters today
Calcium - 458
Alkalanity - 8.6
Phosphate - 0.09
Mag - 1350
Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite - 0
PH - 7.8
Temp - 80

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

The gfo is causing it

 

[crezguy]

The gfo is causing it

Thanks for the response. Should I stop running the GFO reactors?
Or how do I overcome this

 

[coralbeauties]

Once they have started tissue loss it is hard to turn them around. I agree with chaswood , I have never had good luck with gfo. I’ve used lanthanum with great results in the past and will in the future. Cheap and effective!
Jeff

 

[EW_Fish]

Frag the good tissue. But the GFO caused the rapid drop in the p04 which stressed the monti out. High light and low nutrients dont mix well either

 

[crezguy]

I did try initially Bio-pellets. It didn't do any good.
Then tried Phosguard, didn't get to drop beyond 0.45. At last after using GFO it reduced. If this is going to hurt SPS, what product can I use.

Mine is a mixed reef with high in LPS and Softies. Only have a Stylo and Birds of Paradise in SPS.

Should I try Rowaphos or lanthanum

 

[crezguy]

Frag the good tissue. But the GFO caused the rapid drop in the p04 which stressed the monti out. High light and low nutrients dont mix well either

Yes I agree GFO caused a rapid drop from .45 to 0.09 in about 2 weeks

 

[EW_Fish]

Yes I agree GFO caused a rapid drop from .45 to 0.09 in about 2 weeks

You can use GFO Just have to start out with really small amounts. Bio-pellets take time to establish. GFO isnt bad but rapid drop in p04 is. At least this mistake didnt wipe out the whole system.