Coral Killer

nicholar · 07-07-2003, 06:33 AM

I am unable to get a coral to stay alive in my tank.
26 gal with 25 lbs live rock,50 lbs live sand, 70 watt MH,
sump, asm skimmer. Cycling started may 10th. June 24
put in a hammer coral which never did a thing. It had 3 good stalks and after 2 died quickly (2 days) I got it out of there. A true perc and scooter blenny put in the same day are doing awesome. On July 1 put in a small Galaxy Coral which looks to dying off now. It has never come out of the skeleton since I got it home. Yesterday the LFS gave me a small Xenia which looked good for a couple of hours in my tank but now looks awful. What could be going on? PH is 8.3, calc is 400ish, alkalinity is 14, temp is between 78 and 80. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is 0.

Matt Rogers · 07-07-2003, 07:44 AM

[flash=468,60]http://www.3reef.com/fish/sitepics/threesteps3.swf[/flash]

Hey thanks for joining 3reef!

After reading your post, I was wondering, are you using R.O. water?

[smiley=vulcan.gif]

nicholar · 07-07-2003, 08:01 AM

Yes...from the LFS. I use it for topping off as well as water changes. A couple of times I topped off with bottled "drinking" water from the grocery store. What would make a coral start dying immediatly but not affect the fish? I had a mouse pad under the skimmer and pump in the sump and yanked that yesterday on some odd notion it could be toxic.

Matt Rogers · 07-07-2003, 08:10 AM

Not sure.

WHere did you put the hammer?

I moved mine up right under the light and it was happy.

Wrassman · 07-07-2003, 08:11 AM

What kind of water flow do you have going on in there? Is there anything to move the corals around at all? Corals definitely like to sway in the current

Not STRONG current now...you know what I mean...

Matt Rogers · 07-07-2003, 08:12 AM

By the way, I doubt your skimmer was 'toxic' unless it was overflowing into the tank.

nicholar · 07-07-2003, 08:29 AM

I took out the mouse pad---not the skimmer(maybe that was a little unclear). I was thinking it could be current or light related as well. I had the hammer in the center of the tank. I don't have power heads---just the return from the sump going through a Squid. I would say the current is "light". As far as the lighting, could it be too strong? It is a 70watt HQI from Sunlght Supply and about 7 inches from the surface. It seems pretty bright in there. I did move the Hammer once but it did no good.

Matt Rogers · 07-07-2003, 08:42 AM

What kind of sump pump do you have?
I'd say with the squid you should be fine though..

That light should be great too.

THis is weird.

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Anything in there that could be picking at the corals?

nicholar · 07-07-2003, 08:51 AM

Eheim 1250 pump mounted externally.
No "pickers" that I am aware of.

Matt Rogers · 07-07-2003, 08:59 AM

The pump's cool.
I'd say you got the hardware you need.

The only thing I am seeing is high alk, which may be adverse. The highest alk I have seen recommended is 12. The range is 8 - 12 I believe.

Was the tank used? Any meds or copper go through it? Copper could easily kill some corals.