Coral problems. Help me find the problem

[Reeftanker3295]

So, for the past month or so I have been having problems with my SPS and acans. I changed my bulbs to phoenix bulbs and everything looked awesome! My leng sy cap was a brilliant green with a blue rim, my spongodes finally started to turn neon green, and my new acans looked awesome! My zoas also started spreading like crazy. Then something happened... My leng sy cap bleached and died over the course of a month... My new acro colonies bleached (first due to red bugs but that was treated for and still bleaching), my spongodes browned out again, and my acans shrunk a lot. All of my softies are still doing ok, but no new growth. I have come up with some theories as to why this is happening, hopefully you guys can help.
1. I put a lot of GFO in my phosban reactor. It said that was the right amount but after I did this it seemed that my corals started having problems. Should I go back to the amount I was using before? And yes I did rinse before use.
2. My RO/DI filter cartridges... I am ashamed to admit this but I forgot to change out my cartridges for a year now. I have ordered new cartridges and they will be here on thursday. Could this fix the problem? This is my guess for the problem.
3. My salt. I used Coralife salt but I left the box open and it all hardened together. I read somewhere that it was safe because it was just because of moisture but I also read that this would mess up my tank... I did a few water changes with this salt around the time the problems started. I recognized the problem and ordered a bucket of DD H20cean salt. I love the results of this salt after seeing naples' tank. I think this will help a lot, but could this of been the problem?
4. Could the bulb change be the cause of the problem? I didn't think it would shock the corals since I was using Reeflux 10k bulbs before these and they have very high PAR. I also just ordered new VHO actinics because my actinics need to be replaced.
So what do you guys think I should do to fix the problem?
Thanks for any help!

 

[KathyC]

Wow, that is an awful lot of things all going on simultaneously!!
You might not necessarily be able to identify the specific issue but the best thing you can do it stabilize the tank.

What are all of the parameters - the very best place to start

The salt being hard is problematic - the parameters may give you an indication of what might have precipitated out of the salt when it hardened.

Can you get a TDS reading before you change out the filters in your rodi, so you will know what- of any- nasty water you may have been adding to the tank?

As far as GFO, it is said best not to shock a system by removing phosphates too quickly. How much did you add and what is the tank size?
I wouldn't bother to remove it now, as whatever damage it may have done - is already done, but I would use less when you do change it out the next time.
Were elevated phosphates a concern in the tank?

I would focus on some serious/regular water changes once you get the new ro filters to help stabilize the tank.

Best when changing bulbs to always raise the fixture a bit, or cut the lighting cycle by a couple/few hours as old bulbs have (obviously) deteriorated par value, so there can be some degree of light shock.

Unfortunately, most all of the things you have going on there could be what is causing your issues, or a combination of all of them is so short a period of time

 

[ming]

The only thing it doesn't seem like is your bulbs. Because you said your corals started getting more colorful before it bleached. If it were your bulbs, they would just bleach and wouldn't get more colorful. Everything else seems like a definitely possibility, but it could even be more. You might consider testing your water before altering it, i.e. testing your PO4 to tell when to replace and how much GFO to use.

 

[petraio]

well how old were the bulbs before replacing them? that could bleach them for corals to get brown is from bad water quality especially the filter from your RO they need to be replace all depending where you leave, i moced a year ago and where i'm now need to replace them every 6 weeks i can see them getting super dirty! and the phophate remover media causes coral to bleach especially if you had it done befor or for a long time !! should have done water changes first with better salt ! especially being open the salt absorbed all sorts of impurities andcan on ! with more all can suggest now with the new RO filters and salt do slow changes weekly water change 10% and watch alk anf calcium! and let it get come back

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

wow, that is an awful lot of things all going on simultaneously!!
You might not necessarily be able to identify the specific issue but the best thing you can do it stabilize the tank.

What are all of the parameters - the very best place to start

the salt being hard is problematic - the parameters may give you an indication of what might have precipitated out of the salt when it hardened.

Can you get a tds reading before you change out the filters in your rodi, so you will know what- of any- nasty water you may have been adding to the tank?

As far as gfo, it is said best not to shock a system by removing phosphates too quickly. How much did you add and what is the tank size?
I wouldn't bother to remove it now, as whatever damage it may have done - is already done, but i would use less when you do change it out the next time.
Were elevated phosphates a concern in the tank?

I would focus on some serious/regular water changes once you get the new ro filters to help stabilize the tank.

Best when changing bulbs to always raise the fixture a bit, or cut the lighting cycle by a couple/few hours as old bulbs have (obviously) deteriorated par value, so there can be some degree of light shock.

Unfortunately, most all of the things you have going on there could be what is causing your issues, or a combination of all of them is so short a period of time

+1
i think the rodi filters could be the problem and to much gfo

 

[Reeftanker3295]

Thanks guys! I ordered new filter cartridges and they will be here soon. Hopefully that will fix the problem.

 

[fishman1069]

I think you might of stripped the tank of phosphates too quickly. You have to be careful when first introducing GFO.

 

[TRUKINGNY]

Say for people that have a tds meter in and out on their ro/di units and and it reads 0 out would they still have to change their filters even that it says 0 I have had mine on for a year


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[joselastra]

My meter reads 10 on the filtered water, 350+ on the unfiltered water. I haven't changed my filters in 2 years. Should I be?

Say for people that have a tds meter in and out on their ro/di units and and it reads 0 out would they still have to change their filters even that it says 0 I have had mine on for a year


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

Sent from my ADR6300 using Reefs

 

[fishman1069]

Say for people that have a tds meter in and out on their ro/di units and and it reads 0 out would they still have to change their filters even that it says 0 I have had mine on for a year


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

Ive had my unit set up for almost 2 years without changing the filters and still read 1 ppm on my tds meter. I think it all depends on the water going into the unit. If its really bad (like 200ppm) then your filters will exhaust easier) My tap is 42 ppm, so the filters arent workin as hard.

 

[KathyC]

Say for people that have a tds meter in and out on their ro/di units and and it reads 0 out would they still have to change their filters even that it says 0 I have had mine on for a year


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

No, zero is fine as long as you are sure it is accurate.
A lot depends on what size your ro unit is (capability - GPD wise) and how much water you make depending on the size of your tank.

 

[KathyC]

My meter reads 10 on the filtered water, 350+ on the unfiltered water. I haven't changed my filters in 2 years. Should I be?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Reefs

Yes, at a reading of 10 you should definitely be changing your ro cartridges.
If after changing them you still have a reading, you may also need to change the membrane.

ok folks, please let's keep this thread on the OP's issue.
If you have a question about your own RO issues, please start another thread - thanks!!

:backtotop

 

[KathyC]

Thanks guys! I ordered new filter cartridges and they will be here soon. Hopefully that will fix the problem.

Can you give us a TDS reading before you change the cartridges? It may give us a big clue of what kind of water was going into the tank and if that might be the main cause of your issues.

 

[jetthril]

I think you might of stripped the tank of phosphates too quickly. You have to be careful when first introducing GFO.

+1, I agree with Fishman. You may have removed too much phosphate too fast from your system.