Help with SPS colony

[lost_at_sea]

Hello all,

I'm having problems with one major SPS colony but I think it's spreading to others as well, I would really appreciate some help.

Growth seems to have absolutely stopped dead and the tips of many of my sps have begun to bleech white. I'm also noticing some algae (brown) overgrowing the tips and some cyano taking over some other area's of the colony. There are parts of it that are still very vibrant and luminous but overall polyp extension is definitely WAY down.

It's a 90g tank i'm currently running an MP40, k1 and k2 (in the back corners) for flow with a Mag 7 (running 1/2 speed) for return.
I have 2x250 (14k phoenix) with 2t5 actinics for lights (each bulb about 4-5 months old)

My water param's seem to all be in line:
ALK - 9.6dkh
CAL - 430ppm
MAG - 1250
Nitrate (0-5ppm)
PH - has been running 7.8-8.1 daily
Posphate - I just got a Hanna kit and I believe my levels are around 0.02-0.07

I'm not running any ULNS system but I do run BRS HC GFO and ROX 0.8 carbon.

I dose BRS 2 part via 2 dosing pumps 25min / day.

I'd really appreciate anyone's input on the care for these coral's i'm really concerned they may head south very quickly.

Please see attached photo's.

Any help at all would be very much appreciated.

[Original Fin]

I'm a relative noob to marine with no SPS experience...but, a few more details may help others help you.

-Any recent dosing regimine changes? Different products, etc?

-Any recent livestock adds/losses?

-The tank looks fairly young judging by the back glass coraline, how long has it been running?

-What type of SPS is it, and how long has it been in that tank?

-Any changes in skimmate quality/quantity? In other words, has it been consistant?

[mk1151]

What is the water temp?

Also - what's the ammonia and nitrite levels?

[lost_at_sea]

-Any recent dosing regimine changes? Different products, etc?

No i've been BRS 2 part for over a year - I was zeroing in on the correct dosing amount over the past few months so the ALK has fluctuated from close to 11 down to 9ish where it is now. I tried to push a higher ALK (which could be the main culprit) a while back to combat a low pH

-Any recent livestock adds/losses?

Actually yes, a dottyback died/disappeared a few weeks back, unsure of cause. I've lost 3 fish total in 1.5yrs - i've actually never found bodies, my cuc cleans them up in about 1-2 hrs I've seen it happen.

-The tank looks fairly young judging by the back glass coraline, how long has it been running?

Just scrapped the black glass, it's been running for 1.5years. The rocks all came live from a 7yr tank including this coral.

-What type of SPS is it, and how long has it been in that tank?

Unsure of type of SPS it was inherited from the rock i purchased, it's been in the tank from Day 1.

-Any changes in skimmate quality/quantity? In other words, has it been consistant?

I began to think i had an algae problem so I started skimming a little wetter to try and reduce some organics, again this issue has been apparent for at least 1-2 months now just not getting any better.

Ammonia and Nitrite levels I don't test for; the API kits I have for them are next to useless. All my fish are behaving very normally, clowns laying eggs regularly etc so i'm not concerned about Ammonia or Nitrite.

Temp runs between 78-80 - my heater did break down last week and the temp hit a low of 76 for the night. I've since replaced my Stealth heater (thanks for the late recal lol)

Thanks all for your help!

[Matities23]

m...where do you put your fresh water?? sump?DT? or do u have an ATO?
Looks like the colony got a bunch of little bubbles.. if they are then maybe thats stressin it out. U said u have clowns.. have u seen them around the colony? Clowns are knows to brush off and kill corals to cultivate algea.. not sure why.. but they noticed em acting up when they are layin eggs.. Good luck

[lost_at_sea]

m...where do you put your fresh water?? sump?DT? or do u have an ATO?
Looks like the colony got a bunch of little bubbles.. if they are then maybe thats stressin it out. U said u have clowns.. have u seen them around the colony? Clowns are knows to brush off and kill corals to cultivate algea.. not sure why.. but they noticed em acting up when they are layin eggs.. Good luck

I have an ATO the tops up into the sump (in the return section) then up into the DT.

I've definitely noticed the bubbles on the SPS and have been trying to blow it off with a baster as much as possible it tends to be only in the algae covered (dead) area's but I think it's interfering with recovery too.