Ok so background information, I have a 60 gallon frag tank with 40 gallon sump. I have been battling low nitrates and phosphate for months. Both test are zero. And I have been doasing for both For Christmas I got a skimmer and decided to put it on the tank not thinking about it. Over the next week or 2 the corals started to look horible bad color and polyps out. I stoped the skimmer a took it out due to thinking that it was taking out the dissolved organic solids that the corals were thriving on. At the same time I removed the skimmer, I also got 3 new fish given to me, and the next big thing that happened at the same time is I spilled 2 part doasing in my tank jumping the ALK from 10 to 12.5, it has been stable at 10 for months. Now to the present time about 2 weeks later and the corals still look bad and the tissue is now receding. I have continued to doas nitrates and phosphate, now my nitrates are readable on a test kit at 2.5 a phosphate still 0. I know I messed up at several point. I have also noticed a slight haze in the tank I believe is a bacterial bloom. I don’t really know what to do now, I really just need some guidance. This is the first day I have seen tissue receding on the candy canes. Ask any questions and for clarification on anything I just really need guidance. Also a note Greene cyano bacteria showed up when k had the skimmer on. Now that it is off it has mostly gone away. This all started when I put the skimmer in. I also started doasing trace elements at that time. Just trying to give all information so someone might notice or think of something. The montipora digita is supposed to be green and the one in the back is supposed to be red
Big problems and I don’t know what to do
- Thread starter Gahamilton
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Should I maybe just back to exactly what was working fine before instead of trying to fix the mistakes and get to non zero numbers
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Looking at your tank photos I can definitely tell you have nitrate and phosphate in the system from algae growing. It’s just being used up by algae and everything else, it’s not showing up on the test kit.
I don’t think your skimmer was the cause. Unless, you can tell us if it was skimming really well?!? Was it pulling out stuff? And how often? Maybe the skimmer was dirty and maybe had some effect you though it was skimmer doing?
Also adding 3 extra fishes, you will want that skimmer back online. Least allow the skimmer to run without the collection cup for aeration.
Also, I would lower your alk down to more natural sea level. Around 7-8. Having alk of 10 while having unstable tank is only asking for more trouble. Doing so gradually.
I don’t think your skimmer was the cause. Unless, you can tell us if it was skimming really well?!? Was it pulling out stuff? And how often? Maybe the skimmer was dirty and maybe had some effect you though it was skimmer doing?
Also adding 3 extra fishes, you will want that skimmer back online. Least allow the skimmer to run without the collection cup for aeration.
Also, I would lower your alk down to more natural sea level. Around 7-8. Having alk of 10 while having unstable tank is only asking for more trouble. Doing so gradually.
The reason I think the skimmer was the issue was because everything was fine before I put the skimmer on then things got worse then I made the mistake with the alk. I am just not really sure what to do now. Do I just revert everything back to before I had the skimmer or do I try to fix the problems and possibly cause more stress. I just don’t know what I need to do that won’t kill off all my corals
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Not sure how old the tank is but If you are not using any activated carbon? I suggest you do for sometime to pull out all the organics and inorganic in the water column. You have alots of stuff in there and carbon will clean up a lot of toxins etc,
I just added some
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You will want to slowly remove the organics. So small amount of carbon changed out often instead large quantity. It could have negative effect if you do use large amount at once.
What is your water change schedule? How long has the tank been running? What intensity are the LED lights set at. What levels are CA/ALK/MG salinity/temp/etc.
Most coral issues are a combination of nutrients, light, flow, and stability (bacteria / core elements (CA/ALK/MG), nutrients) and thus sometimes hard to pin point….
Not knowing too much more.. you can probably be safe with a good cleaning / agae removal / maybe siphon thin layer of sand / 25-35% water change.. and try to get to a stable point with key elements
Most coral issues are a combination of nutrients, light, flow, and stability (bacteria / core elements (CA/ALK/MG), nutrients) and thus sometimes hard to pin point….
Not knowing too much more.. you can probably be safe with a good cleaning / agae removal / maybe siphon thin layer of sand / 25-35% water change.. and try to get to a stable point with key elements
Water change every other week 10%, alk 11.6 now, calcum 440 mag 1280. Nitrate 2.5 phosphate is 0 silinity is 1.025 temp is 77 tank is 13 months old. I don’t know the intensity of light the lights are very old over 10 years old. Nitrate and phosphate have always been 0ppm but this is the first time I have ever gotten above 0 test. All of The test are from today. I just don’t know what could be so wrong that is is killing the corals. I have had high all before like up to 14 but it has been stable for the past 5 months at 10 untill I spilled the bottle in the tank. I understand the conditions are not good and that has something to do with it but things have been much worse in the past so not sure as to why it is killing off the coral now. I have a large sump with macro alge in it and none of it is growing at all not sure if the lack of trough is any beneficial information.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to do a water change till Sunday, I have a 24hour shift starting at 7am and don’t have any extra water made so I can do it now. Hopefully everything will be ok
All levels seem appropriate. Could be “old tank syndrome” (where the tank is not as fresh and replenished). Significant hair algae indicates bad algae is outcompeting the zooxanthella (“algae”) of your corals and your macro in sump. I would try and get most of the hair algae out. Do a 25% water change to try and replenish micro-elements..(you should be fine to wait).
Do you feed your corals (amino acids, reef energy, etc.)? Your soft corals / LPS look “ok” but your SPS can benefit from an extra boost.
Lights should be okay although old. You can try and reduce intensity to slow down that hair algae.
Then let the tank settle in on levels without dosing and see what level starts to go down.. if CA/MG are going down significantly then you know your LPS / SPS are trying to grow..
Do you feed your corals (amino acids, reef energy, etc.)? Your soft corals / LPS look “ok” but your SPS can benefit from an extra boost.
Lights should be okay although old. You can try and reduce intensity to slow down that hair algae.
Then let the tank settle in on levels without dosing and see what level starts to go down.. if CA/MG are going down significantly then you know your LPS / SPS are trying to grow..
Thanks for all the information I will do that and keep you updated. I really appreciate the advice. I do feed the coral AB+ and brine shrimp. It is weird the alge in the tank it is less of a stringy hair alge and more of a turf is the best way to explain it. Looks really good in the flowing water that is why i usually leave it in some areas on purpose but i will attempt to take most of it out when i get the chance to do the water change
You’re welcome! Hang in there… this hobby requires patience…and things take time to recoup and Identify what’s out of balance..
75% of your corals look healthy (and most of those corals are hardy and can make it though this). Try the cleaning / blow out detritus from rocks / syphon top layer of sand bed / algae removal / WC and see how things look after few days. I would hold off on dosing nitrate / phosphates (your fish load should be helping with that). Maybe even take out some macro from sump and see if you can get nitrates / phosphates to register after a few weeks with just letting the tank be.
75% of your corals look healthy (and most of those corals are hardy and can make it though this). Try the cleaning / blow out detritus from rocks / syphon top layer of sand bed / algae removal / WC and see how things look after few days. I would hold off on dosing nitrate / phosphates (your fish load should be helping with that). Maybe even take out some macro from sump and see if you can get nitrates / phosphates to register after a few weeks with just letting the tank be.
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