Help!

[John_A]

Hey guys so I've had some of my coral mainly Duncans and candy canes are just melting I also have this algae I'm doing battle with I just tested my water here are my numbers also tank has been up for 4+years

Nitrates 0

Phos 0

Cal 470

Ph 8

Mag 1020

KH 15.7

I was originally only dosing all for reef but was advised to stop has my KH was super High I hadn't dosed anything but I know my Nitrates and Phos can't be 0 since I have the algae issues I have a Bubble temp Nem or I would reduce light any help o direction

 

[eliaslikesfish]

your alk is quite high and you have no nutrients I’m guessing that’s what’s causing your corals to melt. Not all algae prefers nitrate. Some will take up ammonia and such, however, the phosphates and nitrates could also be locked up in the biomass of the algae and therefore sequestered from the test kits. try feeding more, how big is the tank and what is the livestock currently?

 

[John_A]

your alk is quite high and you have no nutrients I’m guessing that’s what’s causing your corals to melt. Not all algae prefers nitrate. Some will take up ammonia and such, however, the phosphates and nitrates could also be locked up in the biomass of the algae and therefore sequestered from the test kits. try feeding more, how big is the tank and what is the livestock currently?

40 Breeder with a 20 gal sump live stock 3 fish Duncans,Blastos,Hammer, Bubble Tip Nem,Candy Cane

Here is a picture of type of algae

 

[eliaslikesfish]

40 Breeder with a 20 gal sump live stock 3 fish Duncans,Blastos,Hammer, Bubble Tip Nem,Candy Cane

Here is a picture of type of algae

looks like cyano, can you blow it off the rock with a turkey baster or does it stay there when you blow on it

 

[Dburr1014]

Do a water change and suck up the cyano.
Need to get some nutrients in there.
And lower the alk.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Please make small daily water changes of 20-30% for a few days until your alkalinity is back to normal.

While feeding more is an option, this may not raise your nutrients quickly enough and your corals will continue to decline. Dosing a little bit of phosphate and nitrate either by feeding the corals with reef roids (for phosphates) or by dosing ammonium chloride directly will be important toward having detectable nutrient levels.

Your magnesium is also quite low. Where is your salinity at? Which salt mix do you use?

 

[John_A]

looks like cyano, can you blow it off the rock with a turkey baster or does it stay there when you blow on it

Small pieces might blow off with force but for the most part it stays

 

[John_A]

All of this started once I added sand to my tank prior to this my tank was clean the sand has been in for a few months got a diatoms bloom shortly after and it's been a crap shoot every Sense lol the same stuff that's on the rock is on my back glass as well snails are eating it off the back glass but can't seem to keep up on the rocks my entire tank doesn't have this algae only in spots I'll snap a full tank shot

 

[John_A]

Full tank shot

 

[vetteguy53081]

40 Breeder with a 20 gal sump live stock 3 fish Duncans,Blastos,Hammer, Bubble Tip Nem,Candy Cane

Here is a picture of type of algae

Assure phosphate is not highly elevated and reduce light intensity and even turn of whites for 5-7 days. Additionally add 1-2 pencil urchins and sone astrea and turbo snails. Moderate light and water flow

 

[John_A]

As far as water changes I'm on the club of I Don't do them hadn't had one in 3 years I still have salt on hand it's instant ocean purple bag

 

[John_A]

Assure phosphate is not highly elevated and reduce light intensity and even turn of whites for 5-7 days. Additionally add 1-2 pencil urchins and sone astrea and turbo snails. Moderate light and water flow

I have the Astrea and turbo snails already I have 2 Nicrew 100s Whites at 30 Blues 100 but was under the impression with having a Nem they had to have the white light

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have the masters and turbo snails already I have 2 Nicrew 100s but was under the impression with having a Nem they had to have the white light

Many nems will function well under low, base light intensities. Blue helps with their inner algae known as zooxanthellae which is their color and energy source fed by light

 

[John_A]

Many nems will function well under low, base light intensities. Blue helps with their inner algae known as zooxanthellae which is their color and energy source fed by light

Ah ok so if I just go full blue for a week it should be fine

 

[John_A]

I also can dose Nitrates I took my skimmer cup off and just letting it overflow to help boost as welll

 

[Dburr1014]

I don't have a ton of badges under my name but, nems won't fair well under "low light".

Your, coral dying is simple. No food=hungry=starving.
High alk=high metabolism=need more food(which you don't have).

Yes there could be underling issues but let's fix this first.
Change one thing at a time....

 

[John_A]

I don't have a ton of badges under my name but, nems won't fair well under "low light".

Your, coral dying is simple. No food=hungry=starving.
High alk=high metabolism=need more food(which you don't have).

Yes there could be underling issues but let's fix this first.
Change one thing at a time....

Will running my Blues at 100 be ok without the whites?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ah ok so if I just go full blue for a week it should be fine

Not all blue, just dont furnish too bright of light

 

[John_A]

Not all blue, just dont furnish too bright of light

Will the 100 blues need to be brought down as well? I could do 5% white

 

[John_A]

Will the 100 blues need to be brought down as well? I could do 5% white

Actually I'm sorry not 100% blue 65% 5% white