Why am i having so much trouble keeping acros?

Godbert · 07-08-2008, 01:30 PM

I am having a heck of a hard time keeping acros alive, i have 150w of mh and 2x 65w actinics over a 30 gallon tank a aquaclear 50 powerhead, a fifty gallon filter a HOB fuge and a 50 gallon skimmer, here are water params from a week ago
30 SPS Tank:
Ammonia: .15
Ph: 8.2
NO2: .075
NO3:10
Alk: 2.2
Calc: 495

Daniel072 · 07-08-2008, 01:36 PM

you know..........can't say for sure but I will say that there's not enough flow in the tank. With acropora, the more flow you have, the better.

Godbert · 07-08-2008, 01:38 PM

do you think that could be it? shoul i just bite the bullet an buy some koralias?

Iraf · 07-08-2008, 01:46 PM

I'd vote for lets find the source of your ammonia and start there, thats really bad on most corals

Godbert · 07-08-2008, 01:52 PM

should i get some ammo-lock? i cant think of anywhere it would be coming from

phoenixhieghts · 07-08-2008, 01:55 PM

acro's are def a challenge, and should be kept in a species tank only.
If you have softies they could be killing the acro's. Run carbon 24/7 - that should help.

You should also have no ammonia nitrite or nitrate! they require optimal water quality and require alot of attention. Something for the experts in my opinoin!
A low KH will also kill them off

hope to have helped

Godbert · 07-08-2008, 01:58 PM

how do i test for kh?i have a nitrate sponge should i add it? i am already running phoslock

Tangster · 07-08-2008, 02:03 PM

The ammonia and NO2's are off the charts for any sps coral thats is enough right there to kill them in and of its self. You made no mention of Magnesium ? a very important mineral for them to convert the Ca and Carbonates into calcium carbonates to grow with. And the 2.2 Alk is low its being suppressed by the Ca. and I'm thinking non existent Magnesium . How old is this system ? what are the temps hitting for the Max highs ? Oh I have more questions (:

P.S the Alk at 2.2 should be at 4.5 to 5.0 if converted from DKH to Alk

phoenixhieghts · 07-08-2008, 02:04 PM

You will have to buy a kh test kit. if you have a low kh you will have to buffer your water.
Not sure about the nitrate sponge, but an ozonizer would help bring the amm and nitrite to nil.
As far as i'm aware - without a form of denitrafication, your tank will always have nitrates.

Bogie · 07-08-2008, 02:24 PM

I'd put in a couple tablespoons of arm and hammer (bicarbonates) mixed in cup of fresh water, wait an hour, then re-test your alk/dkh. You should be able to find that somewhere around the house. Add more slowly as needed to get dkH up to a range of 12-14 or 4.5 -5.0 Alk as Tangster said. Red Sea makes the Mag test kit I use.