RTN Everything is almost Dead

[PHILYD1]

So its been about three week since its started and still no reason, all my sps are dying the same way.. They being to RTN at base and within few hours there gone.. I have tested and tested and tested with nothing to explain what is happening.. I even tried other test kits, My levels are all almost perfect..
Alk 8.9
Cal 420
mag1400
nitrate 0
Phos 0
I bought a UV sterilizer and put that online hopping if there is some type of virus or something it will kill it.. Its so disappointing when we devote so much time and hard work to our reefs and then something like this happens and all that hard work and not to mention $$$$$$$$ down the drain....Makes me wonder sometimes why we do it.. Anyway please anyone that can help me please let me know what i can do to stop the RTN. I am considering doing a 100% water change maybe if there is something in there that will get it out..:grumpy:

 

[MatthewScars]

Lighting system info?

Id check your pumps for metal screws rusting. I had a friend lose everything cause a pump had some hidden piece of metal that rusted out in it.

 

[PHILYD1]

I am running 2 400 watt MH with 4 T5's

 

[prattreef]

Sorry to hear it isn't getting better. As I said in another thread it is likely bacterial in nature and very hard to cure, but I agree with Matt that you should rigorously check all equipment for rusting/metal leeching. Also, when is the last time you calibrated your refractometer to a known standard?

 

[PHILYD1]

Double checked the refractor its perfect

 

[Dre]

Did you add anything, carbon etc? And what about temperature?

 

[cowfish]

Are you using Kent carbon? They had a bad batch a little while ago and a lot of people had tank meltdowns because of it.

 

[PHILYD1]

I dont run carbon, My temp is steady 77,

 

[PHILYD1]

Whats everyone's opinion about doing a 100% water change

 

[Josh]

Temp and SG?

 

[PHILYD1]

Just Tested for copper and came back neg. not even a little trace of it....

 

[PHILYD1]

Temp and SG?

temp 77
sal. 1.026

 

[budddman]

If i were you i would start fragging as much as you can. Seems like the glue will sometimes stop the rtn when you glue frags to a plug or rocks.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Reefs

 

[tomtoothdoc]

throw in a poly pad and see if it changes color. any chance of any chemicals contamination? paint, glass cleaner, bug spray?
temperature swings at different time of the day? are you running a chiller or just recently add a chiller?

 

[ducati335i]

Are your light bulbs good? I know my mh 400 watt died out quick.. Just a thought

 

[prattreef]

While you need to rule out all of the possible causes above ( I think you did most that already), this has all the hallmarks of a classic RTN event which sadly, will not be remedied by tweaking environmental factors.

 

[PHILYD1]

Are your light bulbs good? I know my mh 400 watt died out quick.. Just a thought

yea bulbs are only about 2 months old

 

[PHILYD1]

While you need to rule out all of the possible causes above ( I think you did most that already), this has all the hallmarks of a classic RTN event which sadly, will not be remedied by tweaking environmental factors.

so what are you saying the only way to fix it is with a sledge hammer!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[prattreef]

The only way to fix it is to ride it out and take your lumps. At this point, I would put some poly pads in just to see what they reveal and eliminate all the other obvious causes. I'm not sure how many colonies you have left, but you could try dipping them which may be more stressful than useful. It doesn't appear to be a water quality issue ( unless the poly pads show something) , so I don't know what a large WC will accomplish other than potential stress. You can also frag still healthy colonies and hope some them survive.

It SUCKS bigtime, but there are no easy fixes here and the more things you change at once the further you get from figuring out what is helping or hurting the situation. I just went through this not too long ago, though not to this degree, so I understand completely. All I can offer is that if you keep things stable, some corals will survive and the situation will turn itself around. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Mattl22]

Getting too the bottom of these rtn issues can drive u too pull ur hair out! I see ur parameters r good right now but R u sure u havnt had any temp or alk swings ?

Any kids? ( put something in tank?)
If u can post some pics!
Where u carbon dosing?
Good luck it's really heartbreaking when this happens but I will say we have all been or will be there at some point!
If u see a pice start too rtn frag it see if u can at least save a pice vie heard of guys losing all but 1/4 frag of huge colony and regrowing it !