SPS Help

timhook22 · #1 12/01/2007, 07:45 PM

I have been trying to work on my sps coral care and I really thought I had been doing a good job because all of the corals I had were coloring up nicely when Ive begun to notice the skeleton receding. It all started with this green slimer(?) you can see on the bottom where the white is showing...

and then 3 days ago I saw my plating montipora and half of it was gone!

then today I saw that my rainbow frag is beginning to develop some white spots where the underlying skeleton is being revealed

next 2 pics)

I had one person tell me it was nudibranchs but at the same time my guess is that it could be water chemistry?

I have a 29gal display with a 29gal display
For flow I have a Koralia 1 and a MJ1200
For lighting I am using a 175w MH Hamilton
Skimmer: AquaC Urchin
I use RO/DI water and keep my salinity at 1.024
Water temperature is 79 degrees
Params:

Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0
pH: 8.0
KH: 3.5 <-----?
Ca: 380

I am dosing a 2 part with B-tonic

I hope someone can help! Thanks - Tim

hockeyismylife · #2 12/01/2007, 08:09 PM

3.5 dkh?

timhook22 · #3 12/01/2007, 09:02 PM

Yes...?

Mark75 · #4 12/01/2007, 11:48 PM

Hey timhook22,
I am also new at this myself but well share my thoughts with you until some more experienced reefers are able to help you. Recession from the bottom up is often caused by low alk. Your alk. should be 8-10 dkh. Your calcium is low, it should be 420-450. Your salinity is low, should be 1.026. You need good , random flow, what you have I would consider less than needed. I have a 30 gallon with 2 Koralia two's and a MJ1200. You also need to test your phosphate levels, sps hate phosphates. I have found stable parameters are very important, more important than having your levels all over the place trying to reach a certain level. It does little good to post what your levels are today when two days ago they were very different. Good luck with your problem, I am sure these guys will have you fixed up, we are blessed with access to some great reefing minds through this site!

aquarius77 · #5 12/02/2007, 02:05 AM

Your alk is way outta wack. SPS corals dont like that at all. Be carefull raising it back up and go very slow, 1 dkh increase max per 24 hours. Watch your ph when using alk additives. Dont add anything if its up on the high range because it will just precip out. I keep my alk above 9 dkh and below 11 for the most part.

jjmcat · #6 12/02/2007, 02:10 AM

3.5 dkh? are you sure its not 3.5 mEg. What test kit are you using?

checkinhawk · #7 12/02/2007, 12:27 PM

lack of flow,one mj1200 and a K1 is not near enough flow for a 29g.get a ecomod kit for the mj,this will add alot of flow for under $20.as for the 3.5,i believe he means meq/L not DKH so his numbers sound ok.