Why are my zoos dying

[johnson5585]

So I have noticed that my orange zoos are dying back. They were doing great and multiplying then they started to fall off of the rock and do not fully open. All of my other corals are doing great.

Water parameters are:
Temp 78
Calcium 500
Ph 8.2
Dkh 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0

Lighting T5

The only thing that has changed since they started to die back was my nitrates were hanging around 5 with my skimmer in place. Since I added my turf scrubber they stay at 0.
coral
I am adding trace elemements, Iodide, strontium/molybdenum and coral vite. All by Kent Marine.

Again all of my other corals are doing great!

 

[Pufferpunk]

How much iodide are you adding? With regular water changes, you shouldn't have to add any of that stuff. I stopped Trace Elements years ago. All a real waste of $$$. I have though, had wonderful success in dosing vitamin C. which heals & rebuilds collagen in the cells.

 

[Kevin8888]

You don't want to add those traces, the "need" for these things is a big lie propagated by companies that sell them at the request of people that are unaware of corals/inverts true needs.

I read through a number of documents by a few Drs of marine biology, and the stated that under labratory tests Strontium slows coral growth, and Iodine is not "nessisary" for invert sheding, and infact makes them shed early resulting in shortened lifespans. Oh that and the fact that Iodine is unbelieveably toxic, and is "required" in tiny tiny tiny amounts that cannot possibly be dosed manualy.

 

[FLESHY]

I have mixed beliefs on dosing...am I one of those crazy reefers thats testing magnesium? No...but some supplements are good and necessary.

That being said, Im going to point a finger at the nitrates. Some corals (especially softies and polyps) like a little bit of nitrate to their water. Know a lot of SPS guys that even like to keep that number around ten. I dont, but...I dont have much in the way of soft corals.

 

[mos90]

i wouldnt think u would want much nitrate at all. even if your test kit is reading 0 im sure there is some in the water. most surface nitates in seawater in coral reef areas are less then 5pmm.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/WOA05_sea-surf_NO3_AYool.png

 

[FLESHY]

I agree with that. Less than five though...and most. There are some nitrates. I keep my tank at 0. This has been established...my soft corals also dont grow very fast in that tank. It is my experience...and the experience of many other reefers, that soft corals like nitrates. And...although that diagram is good, Im not exactly sure it correlates entirely to what we are talking about.

 

[mos90]

i added the diagram just for general purposes to show ocean nitrate levels on an average.

as far as dosing traces , most saltwater guys i know dont use them. most of them stick to cal,alk and mag doses only.

 

[FLESHY]

I would describe magnesium as trace...I know a lot of people that go both ways. Just go on to reef2reef or reefcentral and find out.

 

[mos90]

It might be considered a trace but of its too low maintaining ph can be a problem

 

[Myteemouse]

MAG, CAL, ALK, is all you need to ad.
And yes MAG is VERY important.

Old salty dog taught me,
IF YOU DON'T TEST FOR IT, DON'T ADD IT!