Halide deterioration vs. SPS health

[CD]

cap - Has your skimmer been working efficiently lately? Reason I ask, is that the skimmer in our 75G hasn't been producing well at all lately (the higher quality skimmer we have is now in the 210G). I've noticed that reduced polyp extention and some actual recession had been taking place over the last few weeks...on *some* of the SPS - not all. I moved the one SPS colony that looked the worst over to the 210G last night, and it looks MUCH better today (as far as polyp extention). This may not be the case with your set up, but I thought I would mention it as a possibility.

Wendy

[NaCl_H2O]

If it was a light issue, chances are you would also have increased algae and diatom growth.

I have noticed more posts than normal recently about SPS "problems" - My theory is they don't like loud Spurs playoff games in the same room as the tank :P

Seriously though, our weather is changing, temps higher, AC running, evaporation rates are higher, Tank temps fluctuate more ... is this a seasonal thing? A few of my SPS have some die off too, and I seem to remember a similar pattern this time last year?

[captexas]

Steve - interesting theories, especially the Spurs one! lol. I have a chiller on my tank and keep my house temp the same so I don't think temp is an issue. Maybe there is something with the humidity or time of year, I don't know.

Wendy - skimming is a possiblity along with the running carbon to remove any toxins as Gary has mentioned. I've had a Lifereef skimmer on this tank the entire time (over a year or so) and have never really been happy with it's performance. Maybe with my now heavy SPS population and fish bioload it is finally past it's capability.

If I didn't need to save all my money for the new tank I would spring for one of those fancy Off-the-Reef skimmers to try out :P

[GaryP]

Chris,

Check the carbon thread that is going now. We talked about building a real simple carbon canister from PVC that can go into the sump.