Hard Corals are Dyin, Soft corals are thrivin'

[Gizmo]

As per the title, my bubble kicked off, the clam is slow to respond and my green brain is starting to die off. I've tested my Mg, Calc, Nitrate levels and they are fairly normal. Phosphates were high but I've been treating them with phosban for about a week now. On the other hand, my soft corals are doing REALLY well. No overfeeding has been happening. Nothing new has been added or removed from the tank in months. I'm at a loss. HELP! :(

· Calcium: ~450 ppm
· Alkalinity: ~3.89 meq/L
· Magnesium: 1300 ppm
· Iodine: 0.06 NSW
· Specific Gravity: ~1.025
· Nitrate: 5-10 ppm
· Temperature: ~80° F
· pH: 8.2

[Jaws]

What are you using for lighting and circulation and where are the corals in relation to the light?

[geopod]

not to laugh or anything...But i just went through that as well.But I figured out the flame angel was the culprit.....as all water parameters were good and no traces of copper or iodine....

george

[TheReefGeek]

Soft corals like higher nutrients, and will grow faster with nutrients in the water, which is what hard corals do not want/like. If you have a reefer buddy, try their test kits out on your water to make sure it is not water quality.

Lighting could definately be it as well, if you are not running metal halide that would be a good explanation.

[mr_alberta]

A large quick drop in phosphate levels can also stress corals and cause tissue recession and death.

[Ruth]

Appears like the only thing you have changed is the phosban so I suspect that Harvey is right. No rapid change is readily accepted by corals. I might be tempted to try and cycle the reactor on and off - say on 1 hour off 3 and gradually increase it if possible.

[Gizmo]

I will cycle the reactor, plugged it into a timer.
I'm running 2x250MH 20000k on a 70G.
Using a QuietOne4000 for the return as well as a Sieo 800 for additional flow. My Frogspawn, 2 hammers and candy canes are doing REALLY well though.