Corals Dying

Moogled · #1 05-22-2007, 11:09 PM

Sorry, I went out to buy new test kits just in case these older ones wouldn't work.

I did a 30% water change two weeks ago with another 10% the day after. My nitrites were coming up as 0.25.

My current parameters are:

Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: Undetectable

I do regular water changes and feed moderately and try to keep Ammonia as low as possible. I've had this tank for almost a year now, shouldn't ammonia be undetectable unless it was a spike? All my fish are fine and swim around happily. There's no odd behaviour (e.g gills showing) of any sort.

fkshiu · #2 05-22-2007, 11:36 PM

0.25 ppm ammonia is a potentially deadly spike if accurate. Re-test immediately.

Have you lost any fish lately? There may be something rotting away in an unseen corner.

Ca and Alk levels would also be helpful.

Moogled · #3 05-23-2007, 01:00 AM

I haven't lost any fish lately; they're all very healthy.

My Ca levels are around 450 and I don't have any Alk measuring kits.

However, there is some detritus accumulation in one corner of the tank - I didn't think much of it because I usually siphon my tank very clean every time I do a WC.

Der_Iron_Chef · #4 05-23-2007, 01:45 AM

Have you implemented a phosphate reactor or anything lately? Anything that could potentially initiate an algae die-off?

I could test your Alk for you if you lived nearby....or someone else could if they live nearby.

andsoitgoes · #5 05-23-2007, 02:41 AM

You just changed your lights about a month ago, you posted about that, didn't you?

Why not try changing back? Obviously that change is the only major thing youv'e done on your system.

Moogled · #6 05-23-2007, 02:49 AM

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies.

I upgraded to these Tek Lights under the promise of better growth because the bulbs have better PAR. Switching back to the Coralife T5s wouldn't make it better because those are fairly weak lights to begin with.

I'm beginning to think it's a chemistry issue because I have a Gorgonian frag that's been growing steadily with superb polyp extension (the frag is 3 inches long now and the polyps are nearly an inch when extended). Some corals do "good", some flat out die on me.

The other coral that seems to do well is GSP, which has quadrupled its surface area in my tank (started as a frag too).

I've taken a look at some of the chemistry articles provided here on Canreef (like balancing Ca and Alk) and I think that's what I should dwell into to improve coral health, but everything seems so steep and technical.

Where do I start? Should I change the way my setup is run?

andsoitgoes · #7 05-23-2007, 03:54 AM

Not to go backwards, but if the only thing you've changed is your lights and the corals were doing fine before that change, that's the one big thing that strikes me as a concern. How did you acclimate to the light change?

Going from PC to MH offers an increase in PAR, but if you switch from PC to MH without any adjustment, it can result in a wide range of problems. Maybe the SPS are using up more CA to grow faster in the higher provision of light, same with alk/etc. Maybe it's a combo?