SPS problems

[Oceanic]

Originally Posted by bullit67

So I am having a problem keeping my SPS alive. I have done all my water test and everyting is OK not perfect but no real problems. I am realy scratching my head on this one. Any ideas would be good I know there are lots of variables that affect corals so \i will list some of the perticulars.

water quality
PH=8.3
Po4=0.01-0.05
No2=0.1-0.2
No3=5.0
NH=0
KH=6-7.5
MG=1000-1100
Ca=400
potasium=325

the system gets 9 hours of PC light 4x96 watt and 6 hours of MH light and PC 3x250 watt
skimming wet getting about 6 cups aday
running the full Zeo system
Using H2O salt

No3- a little elevated
KH should not go below 7 DKH and not above 8
MG should be 1350- 1600
CA should be 420 -480
Potassium should be 380-400

STOP H2o salt, use Instant Ocean or Reefer Best if you think it is worth the extra coin (I don't think it is)

TDS on top off water and new water should be ZERO to max 5 TDS

[Myka]

Calcium and alkalinity are related in a reef, and a balance is very important just like calcium and magnesium have to be at proper ratios to each other for optimum health and absorption. Average NSW values for calcium and alkalinity are 410 ppm and 7 dKH respectively (as per Randy Holmes-Farley).

Balanced calcium and alkalinity levels (as per The Reef Aquarium - Volume III by Julian Sprung and Charles Delbeek):
350 ppm to 1.4 dKH
375 ppm to 2.1 dKH
400 ppm to 5.6 dKH
425 ppm to 9.1 dKH
450 ppm to 12.6 dKH
475 ppm to 16.1 dKH

Magnesium also plays an important role in calcium and alkalinity uptake, and should be kept at 1350-1400.

Even though your levels are a bit off (not by much), I doubt this is the cause of your corals' demise. I would work on getting the NO3 to "zero", and confirm with a second test kit (at the LFS maybe?) that your NO2 is elevated. NO2 should not be measurable in a reef tank. Even though NO2 at that level (and also much, much higher) is not damaging in a saltwater aquarium (unlike freshwater aquariums where NO2 is very toxic) it is a sign that something is amiss in the tank, and also a tell tale sign that NH3 was recently present at a level that exceeds the nitrifying bacteria's capabilities.

How long has the tank been set up? Could you post a full tank photo?

[Ya Dude]

how were your corals doing before Zeo system

[Snappy]

Your Alk & Mag are a little low in my opinion. Can't say this killed your corals as I find when I have problems with corals it is usually a combination of things as I reflect back on what happened. I would try to think of anything you have changed in the past few weeks and if they could have had any kind of impact.

[Drock169]

zeo spur can kill your corals if overdosed.

[bullit67]

yes i realize the water isant perfect. I am running the Ca reactor for longer times now it is running both Ca and MG pellets so this should help that. I am a member on the Zeo site and they were very help full in getting started with the zeo system. I havent heard of any problems with H20cean salt and zeo I was told it is a good altenative to reefer best. The system has been running in this form since May it was upgraded from a 265 too a 300 all the same rock plus a few new rocks and a new sand bed. I dont know what has brought my Alk down.

[bullit67]

I am using zeo spur2 dosing once a week

[Navarchus]

Who long it takes the corals to perish?

Do you feed them regularly?

[Stones]

Originally Posted by bullit67

I am running the Ca reactor for longer times now it is running both Ca and MG pellets so this should help that.

I found that running the zeomag in my calcium reactor (2 full bags for a 90 gallon tank) didn't do very much to keep my Mg levels elevated. The only way that I was able to keep my Mg levels up was to manually dose once a week or so to keep them above 1350 ppm.

Originally Posted by bullit67

I am a member on the Zeo site and they were very help full in getting started with the zeo system. I havent heard of any problems with H20cean salt and zeo I was told it is a good altenative to reefer best.

I am also a member on that forum and do not recall anyone running into problems specifically related to H2O brand salt. I've read many posts that said it was an excellent alternative to Reefers Best salt as H2O salt has elevated levels of trace elements and Potassium. I'm not too sure why some people are suggesting that it could be the source of your problems as I haven't come across any information stating that you can't run zeo with H2O brand salt.

[dawen]

Originally Posted by Stones

I found that running the zeomag in my calcium reactor (2 full bags for a 90 gallon tank) didn't do very much to keep my Mg levels elevated. The only way that I was able to keep my Mg levels up was to manually dose once a week or so to keep them above 1350 ppm.



I am also a member on that forum and do not recall anyone running into problems specifically related to H2O brand salt. I've read many posts that said it was an excellent alternative to Reefers Best salt as H2O salt has elevated levels of trace elements and Potassium. I'm not too sure why some people are suggesting that it could be the source of your problems as I haven't come across any information stating that you can't run zeo with H2O brand salt.

i been using h2o salt with zeo for about 4 months, had no problems with sps, i go thur 3 buckets of salt already, my kh always around 7.5-8, ca 420, mag 1300 from the newly mixed salt