Sudden Coral die off

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by laurae95531, Dec 23, 2012.

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  1. laurae95531

    laurae95531 Plankton

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    Hi everybody-I could totally use some help ASAP. I've had a 75g for years, ran it on a Fluval and skimmer, had tons of healthy coral and fish. About a month ago I upgraded to a 120. I put a sump in the basement. Huge skimmer in there, I have my water going through a sock with a bit of carbon in it, and about 40 lbs of rock. I have 4 powerheads in the tank, the lights I'm using are 3 250w MH (alternating), and 3 96w 420nm Actinic, and then the blue LEDS at night.
    When I had the smaller tank, all the corals were great, extending, feeding, growing. Then I moved them in the new tank (used a lot of my existing water BTW). Over the last 2 weeks all my corals are taking a nose dive. Even the huge leather I've had for 4 years died. My cabbage is going, the brain is almost gone, as are the hammers. Even the mushrooms are looking haggard. The fish seem to be doing fine. I've got 2 rabbits, a sailfin, 2 diamond gobies, 2 black perculas, bicolor pseudo, 2 yellow tail damsels, lots of snails and hermits.
    I run my lights about 10 hours a day and 2 MH at a time over the course of about 7 hours. No different than with my old tank. The temp is stable at 75 degrees. All my levels are at normal acceptable ranges. I add calcium and essentials, iron and other bits about once a week. I was the sock every other day. I'm adding about 5g of water 2-3 times a week to the sump. I have not done a water change yet.
    I'm about to have a very gray tank, I'm totally bummed I'm losing all the corals I've had for years.
    Ah, I feed seaweed 2 times a day in a lettuce clip for the fishies. They gobble it up, never noticed even a speck getting to the bottom of the tank. I'm not having any kind of algae problem.
    Anybody have any ideas that may enable me to save my corals before its too late? At this rate I think they'll be gone in about 3 days!
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Did you do regular water changes to the 75 gallon tank?

    What was your water source to make up the difference on between the 75 and the 120 gallon?

    Is this a completely new lighting fixture on the 125 gallon tank?

    Welcome to 3reef, wish it was under better circumstances. This has got to be very frustrating.
     
  4. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    How much iron do you dose? Did you dose in the 75 too?
     
  5. laurae95531

    laurae95531 Plankton

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    I went to my local salt water shop, they make their own RO salt mix using instant ocean. I got a 55g drum filled up with that and used it to make up the difference when setting up the new tank.
    I did use 'new' lights on the 120. Technically they were used, but I put new MH bulbs in, as well as replacing the 96w actinics.
    I did dose the 75g with iron and calcium and essentials weekly, as I'm doing now. I did increase the dose accordingly.
    I'm thinking maybe I should go do a Lugols dip today? Do you think its too late?
    My brain and hammers have lost almost all their color, and skeleton is showing. I have no idea what to do to try and save these guys.
    Oh yea, when I had the 75g I did water changes on a monthly basis. I would add water as needed. We are on well water, and I would use that, not RO, when topping it off. I'm doing the same thing now.
     
  6. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

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    I would test your lfs' water just to eliminate that as the cause. Could be that they're not replacing their ro/di filters often enough and pollutants are not being filtered out.
     
  7. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    It sounds like it has to do with something you did with the new set up that has disturbed the corals.....did you have sand in the old that you transferred to the new? If so, did you rinse really well? I would definitely check the salinity and the water from the LFS to make sure it matches what was in your 75...if you added new bulbs, could that be shocking the corals? Perhaps run the lights incrementally over time....How old were the previous bulbs? It has to be something that is different in the new from the old that is causing the problem....
     
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  9. Marshall O

    Marshall O Giant Squid

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    Since you did not specify, has your tank water tested fine (calc, alk, mag, N&P, pH, etc)? Is your salinity the same as the other tank?
     
  10. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    My guess would be sudden changes in parameters. Did you acclimate them like you would new corals?
    Also why would you increase the dose of iron, ca, et you are adding? Yes you have more tank water which means you need more salt and water for WC but you have the same corals consuming the same amount of nutrients.
     
  11. Toallhisdoom

    Toallhisdoom Dragon Wrasse

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    How about, what was the 55 gallon drum made out of or had in it before hand? Soooo many things could be causing this reaction.
     
  12. nc208082

    nc208082 Zoanthid

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    did you add any rock to your setup? and as oldfishkeeper suggested, what about your sand?