I take it these bacteria or viruses you are suggesting would be SPS specific in some way? Maybe just leaving the tank fallow isn't enough to kill something like this off. Would this be something that ozone may take care of?

Since I already plan to run ozone on my 180g it can't hurt to try it out on this tank. I think that might be my next step. What I'm hearing is that the issue could be one of three things; equipment/food/drygoods/etc. (I'm starting to doubt this though since I'm almost run through everything I can test), chemical contamination (silicone, the glass), or third a biological contaminant.

This (Red Sea Aquazone Plus 200mg/hr) was what we were thinking of buying for the 180g. Do you think it could be controlled enough to use it on this 28g system for a few weeks? If ozone was the solution to the problem I would buy a more appropriately sized ozonier for this system.

I thought you had other tanks running, so I thought it would be easy (and cheap) for you to try changing the rock and sand out.

Corals are sensitive (and SPS are obviously more so) to both high and low readings of Strontium, Iron, Silicates, and Potassium (which I forgot to mention). I don't test for these regularly, and I don't suggest you do either, but it is something that I would check if there is someone or an LFS around that could test your water for you.

I really don't understand why people use silicone that isn't specifically meant for aquariums. What's a few bucks?

I thought of this as well, but figured the more likely culprits should be questioned first. As far as whether there is SPS specific bacteria/virus, I'm no biologist, but I would assume that is quite likely. There are SPS specific parasites after all.

When I've light burned my SPS they just bleached out, but they did it very quickly. Like in a day. Once I covered them with half a dozen layers of screening and slowly acclimated them they took about 4 week to color back up. I never left it unattended though, so I don't know what they would look like if the burn wasn't stopped (by screen or w.h.y.).

I would strongly suggest that you do not put any of the livestock from your nano into your 180g. I wouldn't put the rock or sand in there either. I'd be WAAAAAAAAAY too paranoid to do that. Could you imagine this battle on a 180g tank?

Actually the silicone I used and continue to use is aquarium safe, and actually DESIGNED for use in aquariums... :confused:

If you scroll up you would know that I've already decided to not move over the rock or sand and to seed my new system from other sources. But what would you suggest I do with the fish in my system? I'm holding fish in this tank that cannot and should not stay in the system much longer. :rolleyes:

Could there be an unknown situation within the walls of your home? I'm sure Tony will elaborate more, but I remember reading some of his historical threads on the issues that he has had with SPS after he moved into his new house. If I recall correctly after his move, his long established tank was no longer able to sustain SPS in the new location.

As odd as this may seem you could have issues with the new tank as well?

I know, not much help but just a thought to throw out there. :)

I don't think so, I wouldn't even know what to look for. Ideas?

This is the primary thread I was thinking of http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...ronment&page=4 , page 4 specifically Greg's comments.

It's a long shot but if you are considering the glass as a source of contamination it could be something else in your house (paint, plastic in the microwave etc.), or in proximity to your home. (gas station, cell phone tower etc.)

This would be so very hard to pin down though, but it could be along the lines of animals sensing thunderstorms, or people sensitive to telepathy and so on.

Well we've never painted here, and while we have a microwave, its really just an expensive clock to us. Around us is all houses, no plants or gas stations or anything like that. I just don't even know how to go about testing something like that. Ideas?

I'd probably set-up a small frag tank. Good clean water in a brand new ten gallon tank. If they survive it rules out enviromental issues in or around your house, If they don't survive.. back to square one, but at least you have ruled out one or more possablilities

Do you mean setting up the tank elsewhere, like at someone else's house?

That's a good idea... cheap and cheerful, and excellent diagnostic value. Especially a great idea before there's a lot of water and [more] money in the big boy that they're building.