Why can't I keep LPS

[dakoop]

I need some advice. I can't keep most lps. I kill em all, except hammers and frogspawn. Just came home to a recovering lobo that had completely died.
I run radion lights
Alk 10.5
Cal 410
Mag 1320
Nitrate 14.7
Phosphate .31

My phosphate was at .1 but I have been bringing id down slowly.

 

[tedfisher496]

are you seeing swings in parameters?

for me i see the alk is to high, my LPS likes under 9dkh
i would try to keep calcium closer to 450 and mag closer to 1440

What are you dosing?

 

[dakoop]

No real swings. Dose esv bionic calcium and alkalinity

 

[Lavey29]

What's your light par and flow?

 

[dakoop]

Radions ab+ at about 60%
Haven't measured par
I have one WAV on the side and 2 gyres on the back of my 125 gallon

 

[Lavey29]

Radions ab+ at about 60%
Haven't measured par
I have one WAV on the side and 2 gyres on the back of my 125 gallon

XR30 or 15?

 

[dakoop]

Xr30 x 3

 

[Cell]

How old is the tank?

 

[dakoop]

About 7 years old

 

[JNalley]

If there are no swings, and your nutrients and other parameters are stable, I suspect your lighting is still too high. This is why a PAR meter is essential. I have a single Kessil AP9X over a 36" x 18" x 18" tank, it's rated for SPS Dominant tanks at 36" x 24" x 24" at 185 watts. XR30s are SPS Dominant at 24" x 24" x 30" at 210 watts. I bring this up because I am running mine, which states SPS dominant at a shallower depth than yours, at 25% and you're running yours at 60%. Those LPS are likely getting BLASTED with light. Euphyllia (Hammers, torches, frogspawn) are crazy adaptable to light, they can do just fine in 300 PAR and 100 PAR, but things like Acans, Scoly's, Candy Canes, Blasto's, etc, all prefer 50-150 PAR, and exceeding much beyond that takes an aggressive acclimation.

If I was you, I would try and rent a PAR meter and map your tank, you might be surprised at just how much light your sandbed is getting (even at 25% I am still getting 250 PAR on my sandbed at the outer corners and closer to 350 in the dead center...) You're in the Louis, so you should give SaltyUnderground a call and see if they rent PAR meters. I love that place.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

It would help to know how they die (what they look like as they're dying) and how long they take to die after introducing them.

 

[dakoop]

It would help to know how they die (what they look like as they're dying) and how long they take to die after introducing them.

They kind of melt from the edges in

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Agree with others, your PAR is probably too high. I aim for torches 200-300par, acan lords/micro 50-75par, acan echinata 150-175par, and chalices 75-100par.

 

[dakoop]

Just checked and I was about 150 on the sand. Is that enough to melt lps over time?

 

[Lavey29]

Just checked and I was about 150 on the sand. Is that enough to melt lps over time?

Doubt it, my sand is 125

 

[dakoop]

I lowered to intensity to 55 on the sandbed

 

[JNalley]

I lowered to intensity to 55 on the sandbed

measured with which PAR meter? the 510? or another model?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I need some advice. I can't keep most lps. I kill em all, except hammers and frogspawn. Just came home to a recovering lobo that had completely died.
I run radion lights
Alk 10.5
Cal 410
Mag 1320
Nitrate 14.7
Phosphate .31

My phosphate was at .1 but I have been bringing id down slowly.

Phos is quite high and may pose an issue. You want .05-.1 range.
What is salinity?
Can you post Pics under white light intensity?

 

[dakoop]

Neptune PMK

 

[dakoop]

Here is one that is melting