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Soft coral health declining!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by foxface, Jul 11, 2012.

  1. Jul 11, 2012 #1
    foxface

    foxface Inactive User

    49
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Hey guys here is a bit of history of my tank which my help in aiding any
    advice to my concerns. Currently I have a 135rr tank with a 40g
    sump/fuge.

    2x250 w MH Radiums and two 80w actinics for lighting. A reef octopus
    skimmer and fuge containing cheato. This particular tank has been setup
    up for over a year and a half. The problem i am seeing is that all my
    soft corals have not been producing and have lost alot of their vibrance
    they had in my tank prior. I will explain my previous tank in detail
    where soft corals thrived and went crazy with growth. Currently I have
    several large colonies of GSP and they all look drab and have actually
    seen significant tissue diminishing. I added two toadstool leathers
    approximately 4 months ago and have only shown signs of polyp extention
    the first few days after bringing them home. Kenya tree looking ok but
    not growing or producing at all. Xenia allmost eradicated when
    previously in other tank there was a explosion of growth. Now when it
    comes to my lps they are all doing well and prospering. Bubble tips
    looking amazing. Things seemed to go south for my softies about 4 months
    into it. Now my previous tank was a 75rr with 6x39w nova extreme
    fixture overhead. Coralife super skimmer which I could never get dialed
    in so I might as well say I had no skimmer. Running a fuge also with
    cheato. Run carbon and gfo 24/7. Feedings are every other day once a day
    and alternating with flake/brine/cyclopeze and nori for my tang. Tank
    inhabitants are the same for both tanks except for the green coris wrasse
    i added about 6 months back. So in my previous tank i had a explosion
    of softies and in my new tank they are not doing well at all. I did
    switch to RC in new tank a few months in after using regular IO. My reef
    octopus does a great job in my new tank where allmost no skimming was done in prior (could be something) Salinity runs 1.024.

    Temp 78

    I have a new test kits coming in the next few days so I will post them
    then for my others have run dry. Just seems strange and just curious if
    anyone wants to give this a try even though my params arent posted yet.

    3 Percs

    1 yellow tang

    pseudochromis

    bicolor wrasse
     
  2. Jul 11, 2012 #2
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    6,044
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Ratings:
    +738 / 5 / -0
    how often do you do water changes? It just might be too clean. Softies usually prefer a little "dirtier" water. It could be something entirely different too LOL. You just really never know until you make a change and see some results.
     
  3. Jul 11, 2012 #3
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0
    I went from T5s to MH and my xenia stopped growing and even declined. Also, the "dirty" water thing could be the culprit here especially if your SPS is thriving.
     
  4. Jul 11, 2012 #4
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0
    Where are you located?
     
  5. Jul 11, 2012 #5
    foxface

    foxface Inactive User

    49
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I do 25 gallons per month. I live in Sioux City, Ia
     
  6. Jul 11, 2012 #6
    PatrickWest

    PatrickWest

    203
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    i would have to say the same thing as everyone else. i have a mixed reef and it seems that when my sps and lps are doing well my leathers do not and vise versa.
     
  7. Jul 12, 2012 #7
    danmgray Sioux City, IA

    danmgray Well-Known ReefKeeper

    307
    Sioux City, IA
    Ratings:
    +26 / 0 / -0
    What are you using for water? If you want, I can test you water and give you a second opinion. I have Salifert kits for pH, Ca, Ka, Mg. Red Sea Pro for Nitrate. A few other misc kits.
     
  8. Jul 13, 2012 #8
    foxface

    foxface Inactive User

    49
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Where u located Dan? Let me know. Always nice to meet other reefers!
     
  9. Jul 13, 2012 #9
    jstngates Toledo Iowa

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,787
    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0
    Im having the same issues! 4 months ago I switched to leds, ro water and upgraded to an octopus skimmer rated for 180 tank. I only have a 90 with a small sump. My setup is 3 and a half years old. It was at its best with t5s and a bad skimmer. My nitrates are at 0. I still target feed and my acans and zoas are at nothing. I have almost lost all my red monti cap which was the size of a basketball. Everything checks out ok, ph, alk, nitrates, nitrites, calcium you name it its ok. Is ro and weekly 10 gallon water changes really that good?
     
  10. Jul 14, 2012 #10
    moneypit

    moneypit Inactive User

    167
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Agree with ya on this, it's trying to find that right balance. Try making changes and see what happens, keep a log of of what everything is now(fall back purposes) and start making changes until you find that balance.
     
  11. Jul 14, 2012 #11
    danmgray Sioux City, IA

    danmgray Well-Known ReefKeeper

    307
    Sioux City, IA
    Ratings:
    +26 / 0 / -0
    I'm on the north side of town, about a mile away from Mike's Saloon. True, it is nice to meet other reefers--I am thankful that GIRS is such an active and outgoing community. I wish more people in the northwest corner of the state were active...it would be good to have some events close by. I hope to see you around sometime.
     
  12. Jul 14, 2012 #12
    jstngates Toledo Iowa

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,787
    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0
    Im gonna do a once a month water change, also I did a freshwater iodine dip to see if there are nudis on my zoas.
     

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