Sick bubble tips

[Audrina]

My bubble tips have been happy for years. Over a few short days they seem to have become ill and won’t open or are dying. One moves around multiple times a day.

20gal Red Sea
3ish years bought used with corals had 1.5yrs
Numbers at end of pics

 

[KrisReef]

Do a75% water change and add carbon filtration. Something is wrong.

 

[Audrina]

Thank you for the suggestion. I’ve done these things and there have been improvements however no one is thriving and some are still dying. Any other advice you may have would be lovely. Oh I did also get a new pump.

 

[Tahoe61]

Are you dosing anything?
That looks like a water chemistry problem.
Have you changed lighting?
What is the SG, have you double checked the value with another testing method?

 

[vetteguy53081]

My bubble tips have been happy for years. Over a few short days they seem to have become ill and won’t open or are dying. One moves around multiple times a day.

20gal Red Sea
3ish years bought used with corals had 1.5yrs
Numbers at end of pics

How old is this tank?
It looks new and is highly suggested to NOT introduce any nems in a tank less than 4 months old as the water chemistry will be variable including potentisal spikes in ammonia. Moderate water flow and moderate -med light. If your light is less than 65=90 watts, may be insufficient.

 

[Audrina]

Are you dosing anything?
That looks like a water chemistry problem.
Have you changed lighting?
What is the SG, have you double checked the value with another testing method?

Lighting has not changed and not dosing. SG is 1.025, and parameters are nitrates at 12.4 phosphates at 0.17 alk at 7.6

 

[Tahoe61]

What type of lighting? The other corals look to be suffering as well.

 

[Audrina]

Fairly certain it’s the original light from RedSea:
The ReefLED 50 universal mounting arm is suitable for tank widths 14"-20” (36-51cm) with a glass thickness of 5/16”-3/8” (8-15mm) and can be rotated from side to side during reefscaping or other tank maintenance.
No one else seems to be struggling.

 

[James M]

What did you change or do different from the years they were happy

 

[Audrina]

There was a hurricane that came thru a few months ago that knocked the power out for a few days. Things went downhill after that

 

[Audrina]

How old is this tank?
It looks new and is highly suggested to NOT introduce any nems in a tank less than 4 months old as the water chemistry will be variable including potentisal spikes in ammonia. Moderate water flow and moderate -med light. If your light is less than 65=90 watts, may be insufficient.

Bought the tanks used with fish and corals. I’ve had the tank for about 1.5yrs and it was already established with the bubble tips at purchase

 

[vetteguy53081]

Lighting has not changed and not dosing. SG is 1.025, and parameters are nitrates at 12.4 phosphates at 0.17 alk at 7.6

I mentioned one cause is high phosphates and yours is elevated. . . you want .06 - .1
Age of tank?
What lights are you running?

 

[Tahoe61]

Fairly certain it’s the original light from RedSea:
The ReefLED 50 universal mounting arm is suitable for tank widths 14"-20” (36-51cm) with a glass thickness of 5/16”-3/8” (8-15mm) and can be rotated from side to side during reefscaping or other tank maintenance.
No one else seems to be struggling.

There are Euphyllia, an LPS in the image which is clearly struggling. The LPS appears bleached, with tissue recession. That could be related to lighting that's too intense.
There maybe something wrong with that fixture. Check intensity and make sure the fixture is working correctly.

I suggest you take a water sample to the local fish store and have them test the water. You didn't post a Calcium value and you alkalinity is on the low side. Have them doubled check SG as well as get a Magnesium level.

You should be able to get things turned around.

 

[Uncle99]

Having a BTA for years, then, in days, shrink to that makes me think someone in there caused that, assuming water chemistry has not been significantly changed.

That cleaner can and will steal its food and can damage the nems mouth.

Just a SWAG.