Issues with LPS

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
My duncans are alright. But two weeks ago, my candy canes, blastos, and euphyllia started receding. In addition a specific candy cane of mine has been melting. The symptoms haven't gotten worse but they've not improved much. SPS and zoas have been doing exceedingly well lately.

A few of my leathers also got halfway to the point of death but recovered. I don't know if this was related.

I'll attach some photos.

The only thing that has recently changed is my flow. I have two jebao wavemakers (rw-15, pulsing 90-3400gph) in my 125 gallon.
salinity 1.026 (refractometer)
temp 80
no3 undetectable (API)
po4 0.25 (API)
alk 9 (API)
Ca 400 (API)

 

SkyShark

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#3
Double check salinity (you may need to calibrate your refractometer). I had a similar issue and it was a high salinity culprit. Good luck!
 

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
Salinity is good. Refractometer hasn't needed recalibration since I bought it (I validate against 35ppt solution). Swing arm hydrometer agrees as well.
Will get out the voltmeter today..
 

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
Nutrients has been something I've noted. At least I'd like to get the no3-po4 balanced, and I feel like adding no3 is better than stripping po4. Water changes aren't helping the balance.

Heat crossed my mind too. Around two weeks ago I brought a second heater online. Temp bumped from 76 to 80. The sharp temp shift may have shocked the lps. Temp verifieed by Mercury thermometer.

I could test Mg but my only mg kit is red Sea. They've got a bad rep for that measurement plus the reagent is expired. New salifert test is in the mail
 
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SynDen

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#8
Ya they dont care for 80 degree water ime, they prefer it slightly cooler, 78 or less. Stray voltage would be the other likely suspect
 

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
I made two adjustments. One, I dumped alot of food in three days straight, one week ago. Been feeding a bit more daily too. Phosphate and nitrate hadn't budged, but everything in the tank is looking better. I'm more than willing to let my two algae patches grow if it pleases the tank.
FYI, for anyone interested, I don't skim, just the occasional carbon and gfo in a blue moon.
Two, I moved some lps away from flow and the others just adjusted. I had no idea increasing flow by a small amount would create such a dire looking scene.
 

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#10
The candy cane does continue to drop heads, but now ~1/week. They end up surviving on the rocks below. I think maybe they just want insane light and any half-lit heads bail quickly.
 

SynDen

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#11
YA its amazing how even the smallest adjustments can have the biggest impact with corals
 
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