sps question

[pdnyc69]

i hope someone can explain this to me. once in a while i get a die off on an sps colony. just a few branches will peel all the way off completely. but the rest will survive and still grow. is this a normal thing? all water parameters are good. ph is 8.3-8.4. alk is 8.6-9.0 calc 430 mag 1350 sal 1.025. any input would be greatfully appreciated. oh and i keep a lot of flow in my tank

 

[JavyJaverson]

wild colony maybe?

 

[pdnyc69]

yes they were but i had this last one for a year

 

[dotc0m]

phosphate is off check. Are you feeding a lot? Are you really doing weekly to biweekly waterchanges with RODI water?

 

[batt600]

What lighting are you using

 

[pdnyc69]

led. i do monthly water changes. i use salifert phos test kit which says i have 0 phos. i know these kits are sometimes inaccurate but i guess it must be close

 

[pdnyc69]

oh. and i always use rodi water

 

[MIKE NY]

I find that wild corals are not as hardy and any little variation in water quality will effect them even those that have been in my sytem for awhile.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

get yourself a hanna phos ck'er, the range is much more specific when it comes to tolerance. < 0.03

 

[batt600]

I would lower my dkh to 7 and see if that helps

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Maybe the led's are to strong or week

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Maybe the led's are to strong or week

+1 My leds were burning out my sps!

 

[prattreef]

It could be any number of things and is really quite common. As long as it is only a few branches on occasion, I wouldn't be overly concerned. Sometimes, as the colony grows it begins to block both light and current to some of the inner areas of the colony causing either detritus or bacterial build up and decay.

 

[pdnyc69]

i just realized my hydrometer was not accurate. my salinity was really 1.028. could this be it?

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Yes it could

 

[Bob 1000]

I think it's a flow issue.. Most of my colonies were wild and when the flow changed due to my return pump strainer being clogged the colonies would let me know.. Salinity as well will make them do that..

 

[pdnyc69]

i have had a lot of flow for a year now. none of that has changed.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

i just realized my hydrometer was not accurate. my salinity was really 1.028. could this be it?

Uh, a little high I'd slowly get it down over the next few days.