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  #1  
Old 09-19-2009, 06:08 PM
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Default SPS problems

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
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  #2  
Old 09-19-2009, 06:15 PM
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hey, so are your sps dying, (bleaching out) or is the color fading, ? and how long since the start of the zeo system.
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Old 09-19-2009, 10:09 PM
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completely white no sign of life the zeo has been running now since july 8th so a little over 2 months. I change out the carbon every 30 days and I did the zeo at 4 weeks
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Old 09-19-2009, 10:55 PM
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Why are these low

KH=6-7.5
MG=1000-1100
Try RBZ salt
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Old 09-19-2009, 11:20 PM
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Confirm your NO2 levels, these should be 0.
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Old 09-19-2009, 11:49 PM
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I was told on the zeo site and by a few other reefers on here that H2Ocean should not be used with the zeo systems as it will kill your corals, i had good results with RC.

Your mg is a little low.

What are you using for zeo product's and how long have you been running the system as John said. you have to bring the zeo system on very slowly at first so you dont shock your corals into the ULNS. I you haven't already join the zeovit site and they will give you great advise on how to start and maintain the system.
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  #7  
Old 09-20-2009, 01:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bullit67 View Post
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
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  #8  
Old 09-20-2009, 02:17 AM
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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?
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  #9  
Old 09-20-2009, 02:31 AM
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how were your corals doing before Zeo system
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  #10  
Old 09-20-2009, 02:50 AM
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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.
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