Never Use Epsom salt with corals. New equipment.

[hrdneglcry]

I had a huge problem many months ago. It killed all of my coral. Even gsp. I added epsom salt (per instructions) to stop a fish from being blocked. So I went back to using Chaetomorpha Algae. I had stopped because it out competed my Sinualria. I had lack of enough nutrients to support both with a low bio load at the time. I added two Kessil H80s tuna flora to the 120 refugium. I added more rock to chamber one in the fuge. I turned the skimmer on which had been off. But I normally always run the skimmer. I have two Aquaclear 110s on the 180 gallon aquarium. I added two Maxspect Gyre XF 350s. I put the Maxspect Jump Gyre 2k into the sump in the Chaeto chamber on low for more flow with the Chaeto. Finally a few corals have sprung up out of the wasteland. I have two Pinktail Triggerfish, a Niger Triggerfish, a Graysby Grouper, a Clown Grouper, a Snowflake Eel, a Barred Eel and a Domino Damsel. I have lots of crabs and recently bought a bunch of large Nasarius Snails.
But I would encourage you to never use Epsom salt with corals. It did not work for my fishes blockage but if you were gonna try I'd quarantine the fish. I can tell you with certainty that it killed all of my coral and wreaked havoc on the parameters for a long time even after I did endless water changes.

 

[MnFish1]

1. Sorry about your coral loss.
2. Epsom salts (which is Magnesium) does not help 'blockages' in marine fish as there is already plenty of magnesium in the water. And unless you way overdosed unintentionally - or used a version that had another additive (did you measure your Mg at all during this time)? It alone should not cause coral loss or the problems you mentioned.
3. Many people underestimate the amount of water that needs to be changed if there is an overdose or problem with parameters - which may partially explain the length of time you had a problem. However, many times, when something 'bad' happens, tank can kind of spiral downhill having nothing to do with the initial insult, but rather the attempts to correct it.
4. It sounds like you have plenty of 'bioload'. It would be nice to know the chemistries. however, so many things were done, that at this point its nearly impossible to dissect out the very many possibilities that may have caused your problems - which again - is a major hassle and sorry you had to go through it.

In the end, your take home message is correct though - it is not helpful to add Epsom salts to marine water for 'constipation/blockages'. Second - whenever treating a specific fish for a specific problem to avoid the issues you have had its usually always best to treat in a separate hospital tank. Glad to see things are on the mend now!

 

[Doctorgori]

Finally a few corals have sprung up out of the wasteland. I have two Pinktail Triggerfish, a Niger Triggerfish, a Graysby Grouper, a Clown Grouper, a Snowflake Eel, a Barred Eel and a Domino Damsel.

4. It sounds like you have plenty of 'bioload'.

God knows I shouldn't soapbox (my tank is "loaded") but @MnFish1 might be slightly understating...
I also have some reserve that a O.D of epsom salts was a main cause...
Hope things turn around, ...tank sounds sorta badd Ash with the predators!!! ...follow up with pics