My RODI is not working and SPS coral is dead/dying...is there a connection?

[kien]

Where are the rest of your parameters at?

Phosphates
Nitrates
Alk
Calc
etc..

If your SPS were used to nice clean water with a TDS of 0 but are now being exposed to non zero TDS water they could definitely be disgruntled enough to pack it in and call it quits.

[newreefer_59]

ph 8.7
Calcium 420
Kh was 10

that was my thought re: the RODI, but wondering why it is not 'cleansing' the water now. I replaced the DI last July and the RO membrane in July 2011.

[kien]

Originally Posted by newreefer_59

ph 8.7
Calcium 420
Kh was 10

that was my thought re: the RODI, but wondering why it is not 'cleansing' the water now. I replaced the DI last July and the RO membrane in July 2011.

Do you have it on an auto shut off of some sort or do you manually shut off the source water by turning a valve ?

[newreefer_59]

and is sent up via PVC pipes to
a) top off the tank
b) perform water changes

[kien]

Originally Posted by newreefer_59

and is sent up via PVC pipes to
a) top off the tank
b) perform water changes

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand the setup here. So, do you have your RO/DI output running straight into your ATO reservoir ? Or is the RO/DI output running into another reservoir for water changes and ATO? Is there a float valve in the RO/DI reservoir? If there is a float value then is that your primary means of shutting off the RO/DI when the reservoir is full? Do you ever turn off the source water going into your RO/DI?

The reason I ask is that if for example you have your RO/DI output going into a reservoir that has a float valve to shut off the water, you should not rely on your float valve as your primary means of shut off. Water will evaporate out of your reservoir throughout the day and case the float valve to drop causing your RO/DI to kick on. This will happen several times a day and this constant on/off cycling of the RO/DI will burn out your membrane prematurely. Instead, you should turn off the source water going into your RO/DI unit whenever you are done making up water and only turn it on again when you need to make more water.

[newreefer_59]

...and then I turn the RODI off until new water is needed. Thanks.

[sphelps]

Usually it's a combination of a few things that end up killing coral. High TDS in make up water, salinity fluctuations, and likely a few other factors are likely all to blame. Purple growth is a form of cyano, type of algae/bacteria film.