Help! Sps frags and Colonies slowly bleaching!!

[ReefRockerLive]

As the days go by, my SPS frags loose their color and begin to get a slight fade of white. On the other hand my SPS colony from Solomon Island is going through what seems to be STN from the base up! I've attempted fraging the tips and places were the bleach has already occured and the STN keeps advancing!

Here are a few specs on my tank:

75g
2x400w MH 20 Radiums(11" from water)
1xTunze stream 6000
1xER ES5-3 Skimmer
1 bag of about 1/4 liter of carbon
Whole container of De-Nitate by SeaChem-Small container

pH-8.2
Nitate-20(getting lower)
Nitate-0
Ammonia-0
Magneesium-1130
Calcium-400
Alkalinity-11 DKh
Salinity-1.023
Temp- around 79F

If I get about 30 blue legs, will they stop the STN from advancing since they eat dead tissue?

I need some tips ASAP before STN turns into RTN!

Thanks

[wasp]

Several things, I am assuming you are actually using zeovit. -

Firstly, your dkh is too high. If using zeovit you must lower DKH to 7 or 8. A higher DKH than that in the low nutrient zeovit system will cause STN.

Secondly, you must stop using the De-Nitrate. The combined effect of it with Zeovit also will likely take your nutrients way to low, and cause bleaching and STN, the exact symptoms you have got. May also cause RTN.

The bluelegs will not halt the STN, as it is likely caused by lack of nutrients, rather than disease, however it could be worth checking to see if you have any acro eating flatworms.

In summary, you should lower DKH to 7 or 8, raise calcium to 420 or 440, magnesium to 1250 plus, remove the De-Nitrate, and also stop dosing all zeovit products for a few days to give nutrient levels a chance to rise a bit, you may have overdone it.

This advice does not apply if you are not using zeovit, please let us know if you are using it, how long for, and what your dosing is.

[ReefRockerLive]

I have not started to use Zeovit yet.

[wasp]

OK, well bleaching and stn is often associated with too low nutrients, so you could remove both the carbon and de-nitrate for a week or two and watch for an improvement.
Also check for acro eating flatworms, and red bugs.
Make sure your thermometer is accurate (some are not)
Did this happen after you changed carbon?
How long has your tank been running?

[Aged Salt]

Vinny, low Ca/Mg parameters proportionately to KH will result in TN. Plz. increase both Ca & Mg to > 450 & 1300 respectively if you plan to run your alk.at 11. Bob

[ReefRockerLive]

Well, my green slimer colony was a bright green before, but when my bulb seemed to have failed on me, I tried to get a replacement for that bulb and couldn't so the whole left side of the tank was without any MH lighting except for actinics for 3 days. When that same bulb that was thought to be damaged was placed into the pendent the bulb turned on and it's been 3 weeks now and the green slimer colony that was bright green now appeares to be fading out and turning into a light brown. What can I do to fix this problem.

The solomon island colony just happen to begin to bleach from the base up randomly and that colony was not under the side were the tank was unlit for 3 days.

I'll be sure to begin increasing Mg and Cal. ASAP. I just need to go out and buy some more bottles.

As of today the tank is 2 months old. Any chance that the bleaching could be caused due to the tank still being new?

[wasp]

Yes, that is pretty new, probably not totally stable yet. This throws a new perspective on your coral color issues, the browning of the slimer may actually be caused by too many nutrients rather than too few.
You have a great skimmer, you could compliment that by using the zeovit system on your tank also, in time with proper husbandry this will likely resolve your issues.
But in the mean time, do check for both red bugs and acro eating flatworms.

[ReefRockerLive]

I'll do that! Thanks