Vacation mysteries

[Cari]

Hi all, need some help. July - most corals looking happy. Pics attached.
Went on 7 day vacation 8/18-8/25. When I returned, the Neon Spongode Montipora was looking pretty bad. My initial thought was I had setup an automatic feeder with pellets, not directly above these two, but with the water flow, it had dumped pellets onto them and fish picking them up had caused the damage and stressed the coral.

I normally feed some pellets during the day and frozen food at night. I drop pellets directly in front of pumps, so they blow around a bit and fish chase them, so not many land on corals. I’m not convinced that it wasn’t the pellets that started the issue.

Here are some parameter readings: I consistently take readings mid mornings

8/17. Right before leaving - didn’t want phosphate to creep up with additional pellets so changed out Phosguard
Ph = 7.75
Calc = 467
Alk = 7.9
NO3 = 4.8
PO4 = .11
SG = 1.026
MG = 1350
Temp = 76.4-77

8/27 after returning from vacation. Phosphate was creeping upward, so changed out 3 month old Chemi-Pure Elite. Thought Alk was a little low, so increased the minutes on morning dosage of ESV B Ionic. Went back to previous feeding for fish. Feed Benepets for coral 1-2 times a week.

Ph = 7.75
Calc = 467
Alk = 7.6
NO3 = 2.9
PO4 = .17
SG = 1.026
MG = 1360
Temp = 76.4-77

9/5 Phosphate had continued to creep upward. Did a 20 gallon water change. Last 20 gal water change was 5/28.

Ph = 7.92
Calc = 491
Alk = 8.3
NO3 = 6.4
PO4 = .20
SG = 1.026
MG = 1370
Temp = 76.4-77

9/15

Ph = 7.92
Calc = 437
Alk = 8.2
NO3 = 6.5
PO4 = .17
SG = 1.026
MG = 1595
Temp = 76.4-77

I can’t dip these as they are glued down. Any ideas on what could be going on would be greatly appreciated. Any additional info needed, please let me know.

Thank you and sorry so long!

 

[DJF]

If you haven’t, id stop feeding pellets. Your nitrate could use help- maybe feed more frozen?

 

[Cari]

Thanks, nitrates have been reading below 10 since April. But they were reading lower than they are now, before vacation and everything looked good. I tested this morning and they are at 6.8. Phosphate was .14 so that is headed in the right direction. Alk was 8.6, Calc 487, Mg 1350 and pH 7.86. I just don’t see a parameter sticking out at me that is so horrible to cause this rapid decline.

Just lost a 2 multi head Duncan. This is so discouraging.

Do you think the lower nitrates could be causing this? What do you keep your nitrates at? I don’t feed heavily and there are only 4 fish in the tank - 90 gal.

 

[DJF]

Thanks, nitrates have been reading below 10 since April. But they were reading lower than they are now, before vacation and everything looked good. I tested this morning and they are at 6.8. Phosphate was .14 so that is headed in the right direction. Alk was 8.6, Calc 487, Mg 1350 and pH 7.86. I just don’t see a parameter sticking out at me that is so horrible to cause this rapid decline.

Just lost a 2 multi head Duncan. This is so discouraging.

Do you think the lower nitrates could be causing this? What do you keep your nitrates at? I don’t feed heavily and there are only 4 fish in the tank - 90 gal.

Your nitrates aren’t in a danger zone but are out of balance with your phosphate. I agree that things seem in a zone that shouldn’t cause rtn and may not be the cause. I strive to keep phos around .03-.1 and nitrate I dose below 4ppm and like it around 10. Ca is a touch higher than I like but in the right ballpark. Your advertised ph is on the low end but that fluctuates throughout the day.

 

[Cari]

Thanks so much for the insight. I can see the out of balance between phosphate and nitrate. What can one dose to raise nitrates, should the need arise? I have given a little more frozen food and will certainly test probably daily for a bit.
PH always reads below 8, with Pinpoint, I think the probe needs cleaning and recalibrating again. The Hanna ph checker was reading 8.2 later on.