I am throwing in the towel. (12/10/14)

For two months I've been battling cloudy water. At the same time, my corals turned pale, some bleached, but retained polyps. Nothing has died, but polyp extension is reduced.

I've added carbon, I've done water changes, cranked up my skimmer etc.

Last night I did a 100% water change fearing a contaminant may be in the water. It was a success and nothing died over night or through the day. The water was crystal clear last night.

Tonight, it is once again milky white. I just don't know what to do at this point.

Temp: 78-80
Sal.: 1.026
Alk : 156 ppm
Calc: I'll get
Mag: I'll get
pH: 8.0-8.2
Lighting: 6 hrs 250 watt MH (transitioning back from LED)

Calcium reactor maintains chemistry.

Tank is bare bottom.

 

Sounds like something is precipitating out of solution. Definitely need to know your mag and cal levels.

 

Do you dose cal/mag with a doser?

 

Calcium reactor

 

Calc: 500
Mag: 1540

Unfortunately, having done a 100% water change with reef crystal, there is no way of telling if those #s are typical or a result of water change.

Last mag test on 6/28 was 1480, calc 425.

All has been between 150-160 for 3 months.

 

Instead of throwing in the towel consider taking the Ca reactor off line, you just did a huge water change I am sure you should not see a dramatic swing initially. Let the tank run without intervention for 4-5 days, hands off. You're thinking off taking a break anyway so just step back and see if the tank will settle down without intervention.

I would hate to see you throw in the towel, you seem to sincerely love the hobby.

 

Would precip. Cause pale and poor polyp extension?

 

I second the taking the Ca Reactor offline. The water being cloudy will effect the light that is making it to the coral which will in turn effect the corals.

 

I had a persistent bacterial bloom that had me at the same point. Ultimately it turns out my skimmer was badly set up and letting the bacteria in the tank grow out of control.

Your skimmer may be fine and it may yet be a bloom. Get a big uv sterilizer and run it for a week. If it clears, you know the problem. Try borrow if you can.

 

My skimmer rarely produces any skimmate. It has a foam head, but not enough to export. I have been leaning towards bacteria as my water chemistry has been pretty spot on at every check.

I did a 100% water change, but didn't empty the skimmer body.