SPS struggles

christyf5 · #1 09-21-2009, 01:50 AM

I found that whatever you have the least of (softies/LPS/SPS) will be most affected by the major population. I had a couple of softies in my tank when I was starting to really get into SPS. Both were doing poorly and were relocated to another tank. After that, the softies did fine and the SPS did much better. I found even running carbon that I had problems. However, this was before I discovered the brilliance of running carbon in a reactor.

I would try Myka's suggestion of smaller amounts of carbon changed more often. Overuse of carbon in large amounts can cause problems for SPS as well.

mseepman · #2 09-21-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christyf5

Overuse of carbon in large amounts can cause problems for SPS as well.

Is this because too many of the nutrients that they feed upon are taken out of the water?

Myka · #3 09-21-2009, 02:29 AM

If you're considering TA's Nitrate Destroyer check out Vodka dosing, which is essentially the same idea - provide a carbon source.

I would also up the water changes. I have found that 20% every 2 weeks works better than 10% every week, but that's just my tank. Try playing around with that a bit, and see what you can achieve. People under estimate the Power Of The Water Change!!

I wouldn't be surprised if your softies are affecting the SPS...your leather is quite large. Mixed reefs are much more difficult than dedicated tanks.

fencer · #4 09-21-2009, 03:38 AM

Change your carbon every 30 days and back off your GFO...use it when you need it as for me I use it when my PO4 spikes, very rare for it to do that. If it were the softies the whole corals would be dying and not just the tips. Increasing the water changes should offset the nitrates. What is the temp of the tank?

Ya Dude · #5 09-21-2009, 04:13 AM

I would guess your flow to be insufficient if algae is able to grow on coral tips that readily.

mseepman · #6 09-21-2009, 04:41 AM

Hmm...I will try to adjust my water changes to see if that helps.

I tried doing a little vodka dosing once before but didn't see much of a response by the tank. This scares me a little as many people talk about the long term effects being less than stellar.

As for my flow being insufficient, I can't believe that as I have crazy turnover...maybe even too much!

Drock169 · #7 09-21-2009, 05:19 AM

My 40 has lots of softies, some lps and the SPS are growing very well, theres no carbon running in it, just a really good skimmer, there is detectable nitrates, maybe around 1 or so, so I dont think you low nitrates are an issue. I dont test for PO4 but i'm sure theres some in there. I also doubt your Mg would be the issue. I do a water change maybe once a month.

I just try to keep it simple, Deltec mce-300, maxi-jet mod for flow, and a 250w halide, plus 5 or 6 fish i dont remember.

My question for you is, are all of the Sps being affected or just certain ones? Are they in the direct path of the flow?
As for vodka dosing, I dont recommend it, I experimented on my large tank when it was full of sps and it worked for a good while but I experienced most of the problems that VSV dosers experienced.

Lance · #8 09-21-2009, 05:21 AM

Mark, I've been having the same problems lately. Same scenario as you're having. Coral is doing fine and then starts to accumulate algae on the tips. The weird thing though is that corals right beside it are fine; which leads me to believe that it is not a flow or lighting problem. Very confusing.