SPS Corals Bleaching

[cbayer]

Well all my water paremeters seem to where they should but I still have some SPS corals bleaching out. I am wandering if there is type of flat worm that eat corals or if there is something else that might be doing the damage. Any help or advice on what to look for would be appreciated.

[caferacermike]

Is this a rapid tissue necrosis (RTN) or a gradual thing? I've had times when I've gone to work and come home to a 6" SPS colony suddenly white.

[cbayer]

Ok here are my paremeters:
Temp 78-80
KH 16
Calcium 420
Salinity 1.023
Nitrate 40

The Nitrate I know is high. I guess its time to do another water change. I just did one earlier last week. Maybe the RO water I get from Walmart needs the filter changed. Its definately a gradual bleaching. Any ideas?

[JimD]

KH 16------ Nitrate 40??? If these levels are accurate, I would say that you've found the culpret.

[cbayer]

I understand the Nitrate but is a KH of 16 bad. I know its high but I didnt think it would aid in the bleaching of corals.

[JimD]

Oh yeah, 16dkh is pretty high, normal range should be like 7-12, 12 being on the high side. Maybe one of the chemistry folks will chime in to help you bring it down. That could very well be the immidiate problem.

[cbayer]

Ok I went and tested the KH two more times and I got a little lower reading of 14. Nitrate still tested about 30-40. Its hard to read my nitrate test beacuse its different in every light.

[cbayer]

I have a 45gallon tank with 6 small fish. I feed one cube of mysis and one cube of blood worms every day. I have a calcium reator that I just put on there and I have that thing dial back as far as I can. How much of a water change should I do without making things worse. I usually do about a fifteen percent water change every two weeks.

[jtxstate]

sounds like your over feeding. i have 6 small fish in a 75 with a 30 sump, and i only feed a pinch of flake or about a half cube of frozen. i even think the fish will do fine feeding every other day. Try cutting your feeding in half and some 20% water changes once a week should fix your water problem.

[caferacermike]

I'm no cut chemist but, and please correct me if I'm wrong, isn't there a collaboration between the ALK/CA/MG bond that states if the ALK is that high the MG is ridiculously low? I followed some threads on RC that were about these crazy Germans and Italians running high CA and ALK levels that were unnatural and if I recall that was one of the problems with "DIY" tinkering. Those guys pulling it off were basically salt water chemists.

[Bill S]

I'd do a couple of BIG water changes. Get everything back in line. I've done 50% water changes before with good results. In my daughter's nano, it's like 75%.

[urban79]

Your way over feeding.. I know your fish love it.. But they dont need that much food. I use a cube about 2 to 3 days. And I have over 7 fish.. And I feed my feeder shrimp.

[Texreefer]

sort of Mike,, your not going to be able to maintain your alkalinity without your MG being where it needs to be,, i prefer 1200-1400,,, i can't spout all the chemical reasons without going to the books but basically yes,, those three have a very close relationship that must rely on each other to stay stable

[cbayer]

Thanks