My theory on slowly dying corals - your theory please!

lazarus

lazarus

Member
My tank is 16 months old.
Details:
115 g FOWLR and soft corals and refugium
PC lighting (8 x 90W bulbs - half are actinic)
81-82 F average temp
All parameters normal - including Calcium
4 powerheads (good strong flow)
Low bioload
I have not lost any fish in several months however my corals have died slowly. This includes anenome, frogspawn, ricordea, gorgonian (red and yellow) and GSP. The anenome was very well fed - I did so manually. The others I dont feed as I assume the refugium is providing nutrients.
I have some feather dusters that do fine and also a mushroom polyp.
I was running the lights about 8 hrs per day. I am now increasing to 10 hrs in hopes that some of the ones that are dying will reverse their fortunes.
Any other theories or ideas? Thanks in advance.
 
natemd

natemd

Member
Originally Posted by LAZARUS
My tank is 16 months old.
Details:
115 g FOWLR and soft corals and refugium
PC lighting (8 x 90W bulbs - half are actinic)
81-82 F average temp
All parameters normal - including Calcium
4 powerheads (good strong flow)
Low bioload
I have not lost any fish in several months however my corals have died slowly. This includes anenome, frogspawn, ricordea, gorgonian (red and yellow) and GSP. The anenome was very well fed - I did so manually. The others I dont feed as I assume the refugium is providing nutrients.
I have some feather dusters that do fine and also a mushroom polyp.
I was running the lights about 8 hrs per day. I am now increasing to 10 hrs in hopes that some of the ones that are dying will reverse their fortunes.
Any other theories or ideas? Thanks in advance.
The Yellow gorgonian needs to be fed a lot since it doesn't use light for food. They typically are hard to keep more than a couple months. The anenome could have been too little light since they are usually difficult to keep under pc lights. I'm not too sure on the other ones, I can't kill gsp even if I try.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
81-82 for temp i feel is high. u run mine at 74-76. when u say all parameters r normal, what r ur measurements? what water r u using? do u run carbon occasionally? there r so may variables in this hobby. the parameters u feel r normal might not be at all.
 
yosemite sam

yosemite sam

Active Member
There are lots of possibilities. As nate pointed out, the gorgonias need to be fed. What are your actual water parameters, especially specific gravity? How old are your bulbs? What sorts of powerheads do you have?
 
tinmanny

tinmanny

Member
what are your phosphates and alk you could have one item off enough to throw the corals in to a downward turn
Good luck
Manny
 
reef diver

reef diver

Active Member
What is the light spectrum you are using, also, what is the light color (kelvin rating) of your bulbs, they may be photosynthetically inactive. Also the amount of light you have is fine for an anemone, at least in my experience. Temp is a little high too, I keep mine at 80 or so.
 
petjunkie

petjunkie

Active Member
Have you changed your bulbs at all? How deep is the tank, how far is the light from the corals? PC lighting doesn't penetrate very far, the gorgonian needed to be fed constantly to keep alive, most people can't keep these, anemone could have been lighting or water quality since it's a fowlr, what fish are in the tank? Maybe something is picking at them, gsp should survive anything. What does the coral look like when it's dying? Bleaching, falling apart, recession, etc? Give more info including specific paramters, fine doesn't say much, what's your salinity at? I run mine at 35ppt.
 
mscarpena

mscarpena

Member
I find it very interesting that you call it a FOWLR. What is your nitrate, phostphate, alk, cal, mag, levels at. I agree temp is a little bit too high 76-78. Are you using RO water?? Also what are your tank dimensions if I am correct 115 gallon tank are very tall. If corals are low in tank they may not be getting enough light. Also how is your tank set uo 4 powerheads might be too much flow, espicially dirested right at some of those corals. How many fish do you have in your tank maybe over stocked. Also post size of fish and what type. Also are you running a protein skimmer?? Good luck
 
lazarus

lazarus

Member
mscarpena said:
I find it very interesting that you call it a FOWLR.
My understanding from other users is that FOWLR described also soft corals. In any event....lots of questions I must now research.
The tank does have a protein skimmer and dimensions are more like a bathtub...in other words not that tall and seemingly good light penetration.
Bulbs are original and about 16 months old. my water comes direct from Scripps here in San Diego...they allow us aquariasts to take it for free from their tanks. I change 20% of water every two weeks and top off with tap water as most people do here.
I say parameters are normal since they always fall within whatever the kit recommends...i am not as scientific as y'all. maybe i need to be!
as for the gorgonians, i had no clue but have learned alot since then. this site was not specific about its feeding requirements.
i will look into your other questions...i may be back shortly!
Click to expand...
 
t316

t316

Active Member
my water comes direct from Scripps here in San Diego...they allow us aquariasts to take it for free from their tanks. I change 20% of water every two weeks
I don't know who "Scripps" is...but I wouldn't get my water from anyone's TANK
or do you mean their RO tanks?
 
yosemite sam

yosemite sam

Active Member
Originally Posted by LAZARUS
Bulbs are original and about 16 months old.
PC bulbs should be replaced every 6-8 months, (1 year tops). This is certainly one of your problems.
 
lazarus

lazarus

Member
i did not know that about the bulbs! i will replace them immediately!
Scripps is an oceanographic institute with a large public aquarium display. they purify their own ocean water for use in their aquariums and allow us to tap into the equipment that processes it. one of the advantages of living by the coast....
 
lazarus

lazarus

Member
oh man...i am such an idiot...i was just checking the bulbs to see if they were PC or T5 (they are T5) and guess what i found...two of the acnitics are burned out...they are positioned every other bulb and with 8 bulbs total it was easy to miss. since they were not the bright lights i never noticed it when the tank was lit. so...this may explain why i lost some corals and not the fish!!
do you think i should replace all the bulbs or just the duds?
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by mscarpena
I find it very interesting that you call it a FOWLR. What is your nitrate, phostphate, alk, cal, mag, levels at. I agree temp is a little bit too high 76-78. Are you using RO water?? Also what are your tank dimensions if I am correct 115 gallon tank are very tall. If corals are low in tank they may not be getting enough light. Also how is your tank set uo 4 powerheads might be too much flow, espicially dirested right at some of those corals. How many fish do you have in your tank maybe over stocked. Also post size of fish and what type. Also are you running a protein skimmer?? Good luck
I doubt it is temp. In the summer, I run all 5 reefs at ~82. then back to 78-80 in the winter. As long as the temp is constant with in 1-2 degrees. I vote for lighting with the spent bulbs.
Mc
 
lazarus

lazarus

Member
your tank looks terrific!
can you recommend some good corals (good = relatively low cost, easy to maintain, bright colors) for someone like me and my tank? i would like some colors other than burnt green and yellow...
i think once i replace these bulbs i will be back in business!
thanks!
 
T

tiberius

Guest
Originally Posted by LAZARUS
I change 20% of water every two weeks and top off with tap water as most people do here.
Just wondering what you treat your tap water with before you add it in your tank. Some cities mail a water quality report in your monthly bill. You can see if there is a lot of copper in your water. I have recently switched to using water from the machines which is R/O water.
I keep my tank at 82 degrees and in the winter it goes down to 80.
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by LAZARUS
your tank looks terrific!
can you recommend some good corals (good = relatively low cost, easy to maintain, bright colors) for someone like me and my tank? i would like some colors other than burnt green and yellow...
i think once i replace these bulbs i will be back in business!
thanks!
Inexpensive things are:
red and purple mushrooms
Silver xynia
Next up:
Colorful zoas
frogspawn
hammer
candy cane
Then
Montipora
Brains
Ricordias
Tube anenomes
Acan
Acropora
I buy lots of frags and let them grow. That way you know what does well in your system and don't lose a lot of money when something dies. I would much rather spend $100 on 10 frags than $100 on two large pieces.
Mc
P.S. Ditch the tap water, it will be your downfall!
 
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