Help with PAR - SPS/LPS

[MatthewScars]

Does anyone have a PAR meter that they can come over and test my par? Im having an issue keeping some corals. I have had 3 types of Birdsnest slowly just bleach to white from the bottom up over a span of one month from initial entree into the tank. And they are on the sand on a plug

I have AI LEDs and I stupidly originally had worked them up to W100 B85 N85. That killed all my acans, but nothing else was effected (didnt have sps then). About a month ago I dropped it to W50 B55 N55 and still am having issues. Light cycle: 3pm-5pm 55B 55N / 5pm-9pm 50W 55B 55N / 9pm-11pm 55B 55N / 11pm - 3pm 1B 1N

I bought a meteor shower, war coral and they were bleached and dead withing 24 hours. Yet I have encrusting montis and caps at the top of the tank and their color is amazing.

Water params are all within range. I keep my alk at 8.5 - 9.

Let me know if you have a PAR meter or any other advice. There is beer/wine/liquor/money in it for you!

 

[noelskii]

What test kits are you using? Maybe not enough flow? Ca? Mg? PO4?

 

[MatthewScars]

What test kits are you using? Maybe not enough flow? Ca? Mg? PO4?

Redsea. Flow i have a mp10 and the return (mag 5) in a 40 cube. More than enough.

cal 440
alk 8.5
mag 1300
n 2
phos 0

I have one fish. ha

 

[noelskii]

:scratchch salt? temp? bleached and dead within 24hrs?? that's really bad, even my sps last longer than that lol. Maybe your tank just isn't ready for SPS yet. :redface:

 

[gatojebv]

I do not think this a light or PAR issue. A coral dying within 24 hours for light is not very likely . Definitely it is something else.

 

[MatthewScars]

Care to elaborate? Any Suggestions? Or you're just saying?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

What were the parameters of the tank(s) they came from? If there was a large variance it could just be that the extreme change set them off.

 

[evoIX_Reefer]

From what it sounds like, if everything was stable and if you have AI SOLs then you definitely have enough par unless it's 10 feet up.

Question: What was your acclimation process? How big are the birdsnest? I've seen beautiful tanks with full grown birdsnest that die towards the bottom because of light deprivation. If you are referring to frags, then obviously not the case. I currently have a huge pink birdsnest that is exactly what happened. The mid-top portion are booming with polyp extension but the bottom portion is pretty dead.

Since you said other corals died and others thrived. I would quickly point to acclimation process since as mentioned above change in parameters from the previous owner and based on the information you have given.

But....

Bleaching = water parameters
Browning out = Light

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Bleaching (purging zooxanthellae) can be a result of too much light or poor water parameters
Browning out (over growth of zooxanthellae) can be from lack of light or poor water parameters

It depends on what parameters are at what levels that would determine the response in the coral.

 

[MatthewScars]

What were the parameters of the tank(s) they came from? If there was a large variance it could just be that the extreme change set them off.

I got all my stuff from Alan (reef creations). His stuff is top notch. I drip acclimated for 40 minutes. Like one drip per two seconds'ish.

Temp 78-80 1.025~6

Evo: I agree. Light will toast the whole frag, not just the bottom. Well, when i added the AI all my acans at the bottom started melting. within 3 weeks they were gone. I got the Meteor shower and War coral when i had my light at 100w85b85n and they only saw that white light for about 5 hours. That night I turned the w down to 55. But they had already bleached. the Meteor was white and the war coral just melted to nothing the next morning.

Ive been getting frags of birdnest just to test on. I tried top/middle/bottom of the tank. Same deal. Yet my red monti cap is at the top of the tank and doing well. I have the AI like 6 inches off the tank. Check these pics out:

The tips are growing well. Just the receding base. Im leaning toward a param issue causing this, thoughts?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

What parameters have you tested so far?

 

[MatthewScars]

What parameters have you tested so far?

Ill get you a fresh reading tonight. I have all the tests except Phos, I ran out and just ordered a new one today.

 

[MatthewScars]

I did a 15g wc last night and tested this morning:

CAL: 400
MAG 1450
ALK 9.1
1.025
Nitrate 0-2

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Phos would help and since you're having issues I would find a strontium kit.

 

[MatthewScars]

Yeah, like i said, i ran out Phos tests. I have one on the way to my house.

Strontium, aye? I think Ill just start doing more consistent weekly 15g WC to keep that stable. I recently (2 months ago) switched to Redsea pro salt.

This is just a really annoying issue. I think ive been slacking on the WC and dosing. And when i do dose it is not consistent. I dont know if this would cause this to damage only certain SPS and LPS, but its worth a try to fix.