why can't i keep corals

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phillips

Guest
ok i will try to explain my tank it is a 125 gallon tank with about 80 pounds of live rock, crushed coral substrate. i have a yellow tang a royal groma a small lion fish a maroon perc, an urchin,a serpent star, about 30 different hemit crabs and a few snails. i forgot the name of the only coral i have left but it looks just like a tree and it blossoms drown everyday. i have a e.t.s.s. protien skimmer with a mag 7 running it and a mag 7 running to the tank. i have an ice cap 440 ballast and two 6 foot bulbs one 50/50 one atinic. i test ph 8.4 ammonia 0 nitrate 0 and nitrite 0 and salinity witch runs at 1.022 to1.023 my water is really clear and my fish do great i just have a hard time with corals and the algea
 
elvictre

elvictre

Member
First your SG is too low. For a reef tank you should have it at 1.025. Second for a reef of that size you need more flow IMO. Also what do you do for Calcium? Do you use Kalk for top offs or do you have a Calcium reactor? Do you use RO water? Do you test for phosphates?
Vic
 
piscian

piscian

Member
You need more LR. You should have at least one pound per gallon. I would also get rid of the CC and get LS. And for that size tank, you probably need more light.
 
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phillips

Guest
i do also have to large power heads on a wave maker. i have a ro/di filter on a float that keeps the water topped of at all times. i do not have a cal tester and have not checked phosphates
 
rujelus22

rujelus22

Member
how long does it take for them to die is it right away or slowly? are you feeding them anything? and I would get you salinity up a bit and has your ph always been 8.4
 
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phillips

Guest
they die slowly i have fed dt's and lugols solution 5 drops a week phytoplex and strontiun and molybdenumabout twice a week
 
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oreo12

Guest
do you do water changes? do you use ro water? Have you ever added any suplemnts for the corals what type of corals have you tried.
 
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phillips

Guest
i have tried galazia mushrooms annenimies i have this tree looking thing now two clamms
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by phillips
i have tried galazia mushrooms annenimies i have this tree looking thing now two clamms
How old are the bulbs and the total wattage is 440? How deep is your tank? I think it is flow and too little lighting. Assuming all paramters are good and your CA is ~400.
IMO, I would not add any chemicals you do not test for. You just never know if it is maxed or not. They can live ok with out them, but can die with too much of them. Regular water changes ~10-15%/month will help add some minerals that get depleted.
Good Luck
 
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phillips

Guest
18 inches deep and the bulbs are about 8 months old but the coral problem has been going on for a while. i just wonder if i am giving enough food
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by phillips
18 inches deep and the bulbs are about 8 months old but the coral problem has been going on for a while. i just wonder if i am giving enough food

I target feed (baster) with DTs, Cyclopeese and oyster eggs about every 4 days. When I first got into this crack addiction, I barely fed at all and with strong lighting, all did well. IMO, a good test is to see if you can buy a little bit of xynia, it seems that when my xynia acts funny, my water parameters are off. It should grow like a weed. As far as lighting, 440 on 125 is not going to grow many corals that need medium to high lighting. Attached is my 20 g and new 92G.

 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by phillips
it is two 6 ft vho's which are 110 watt bulbs

I thought you had 440 watts. 220 will grow only mushrooms.
Mc
 
jbillens

jbillens

Member
your lights are deff. not enough to be keeping clams. Usually on this board it is reccomended to have MH lighting for clams. i dont remember exactly what the wattage/gallon should be but i think it is something around 6-7 watts per gallon for these light lovers.(dont quote me on this....try a search on here for it) I would agree with grumpy you need more light and flow.
also i would get some more live rock. keep it at 1 lb per gallon at the minimum
cc - crushed coral
ls - live sand
good luck
josh
 
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phillips

Guest
you guys have been a big help i think i am just going to down size on the tank i know i will have to basically start over but i don't want to lose anything
 
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