Everything is slowly dying… What could be wrong???

Discussion in 'LPS Corals' started by eddie2OOO, Jun 13, 2014.

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  1. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    My thoughts: I doubt that there is any ammonia and if be surprised if there are nitrites. You should have enough rock in there to support the bio filter assuming there is enough water movement to give the bacteria oxygen. I'd take a sample to the local lfs assuming he uses salifert, and get it tested. No need to buy an ammonia kit if it tests 0. If you do buy a kit, get salifert. Does the black algae look like it's caked and come off in a broken sheet? Slimy? Could it be a very dark green or blue? Could be blue green algae. I'd like a better characterization of the algae.
     
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  3. eddie2OOO

    eddie2OOO Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    I already purchased red sea ammonia test kit and should get it tomorrow. I'll definitely take some of my water to petco tomorrow to get it checked.

    Algae is definitely not green or blue. It is black. And since it lays on top of burgundy caroline algae, it makes it look dark burgundy. It is not hairy, nor slimy. I'd call it ash or dust like in texture. But it is not coming off easily and gets accumilated on glass, coral based, but primarily on live rock. I'll try to scrape a sample with a tooth brush tomorrow. Meanwhile here are the close ups...
     

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  4. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Is it possible the it is coralline algae? Most other algae are soft to some degree. + for the red sea test kit. Is Petco the only LFS in your area? Some are good. Depends who is working there and the test they use.
     
  5. eddie2OOO

    eddie2OOO Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    I suppose it is possible, I just never had it this color before. Also coralline algae is stony, you could scrape it with a razor and it would come off in a slice. This isn't like that, it is much softer.
     
  6. proreefer

    proreefer Feather Star

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    let me just ask a question have you vacuumed the sand?
     
  7. eddie2OOO

    eddie2OOO Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    No never. I was under impression I should not disturb the sand bed is it collects poisonous gases.
     
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  9. eddie2OOO

    eddie2OOO Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    You are correct, just ran ammonia test, and it clearly shows zero.

    Regarding algae, take a look at attached picture of a monti cap, you could see how this algae reproduces, it looks like a collection of small dots that after a while connect. At least I think it's this algae as I have not seen this there before...

    Any thoughts on lighting? Too intense or not intense enough, ran too long or maybe not long enough?
    I have an LED light by buildmyled.com. And have them running at 50% output for 7 hours.
     

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  10. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    My first thought is that it's a fungus though I can't tell you why. Have you seem it attack other corals this way?
     
  11. eddie2OOO

    eddie2OOO Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    I noticed that it tends to go for harder parts of corals, such as coral bases.
     
  12. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    I noticed in some of your earlier pics that you don't have any power heads. That was a beautiful tank by the way. Whatever the microbe is that's attacking, I have to wonder if increased flow would help. There is a small powerhead made for manos. One has a wave maker of sorts.