Oldude

If it is a toxin, then running carbon might help. I feel for you, I had a similar problem a couple months back, that fortunately cleared up in a couple weeks.

I have tried running both carbon and poly-filters but the issues are still there.

Have you changed salt brands by chance? I know when I tried to switch from Instant Oceans to Kent all my SPS started to turn white (bleaching) I even tried to slowly change from one salt to the other with the same results everytime. I 've decided to just stay with the I/O and so far everything is great. I'd suggest major waterchanges every other day to help rid the tank of whatever is causing this.

Originally Posted by Blown76mav

Have you changed salt brands by chance? I know when I tried to switch from Instant Oceans to Kent all my SPS started to turn white (bleaching) I even tried to slowly change from one salt to the other with the same results everytime. I 've decided to just stay with the I/O and so far everything is great. I'd suggest major waterchanges every other day to help rid the tank of whatever is causing this.

No I have been using Reefers Best Salt for several years.

How old is the tank? You may want to read up on Old Tank Syndrome (and others may want to chime in if they have experienced this). Some say after 3 to 5 years, tanks can sometimes mysteriously decline. There are a host of hypothesized reasons, but no single solid cause, from what I have found... The solution(s) may not be any fun either.

Originally Posted by ghurlag

How old is the tank? You may want to read up on Old Tank Syndrome (and others may want to chime in if they have experienced this). Some say after 3 to 5 years, tanks can sometimes mysteriously decline. There are a host of hypothesized reasons, but no single solid cause, from what I have found... The solution(s) may not be any fun either.

This tank was only set up in Jan 2009 albeit with the contents of my old tank, however there was a good 200 lbs of new live rock that went into it.

What about your source water? Are you using RO/DI to mix your salt with? Have you replaced the RO membrane or DI cartiage lately?

How old are your test kits? Have you compared to others test kits?

Afraid, with something like this we're just shooting blind.

Originally Posted by Alaska_Phil

What about your source water? Are you using RO/DI to mix your salt with? Have you replaced the RO membrane or DI cartiage lately?

How old are your test kits? Have you compared to others test kits?

Afraid, with something like this we're just shooting blind.

Yes I am using RO/DI, yes I have checked my kits against others. I replaced my di resin in Dec when things started and I believe it was bad so it was swapped out with known good resin from a friend. As i mentioned I have done everything I can think of and tested everything. I even sent water in to be tested professionally in April but it showed nothing that would cause what I've seen. I mean what would make corals in the pocilloporadae family have their polyps blow off leaving bare skeleton when squrted with a turkey baster?

Do you have kids? Could one have dropped a battery in the tank or sump? Given that you have done lots of water changes, what ever is the problem is still in the tank/sump.

Have you considered moving everything out into tubs, and re-placing it (watch out if you have sand as it will stop working and you will have a smallish cycle). See http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

Originally Posted by Chris.Stevens

Do you have kids? Could one have dropped a battery in the tank or sump? Given that you have done lots of water changes, what ever is the problem is still in the tank/sump.

Have you considered moving everything out into tubs, and re-placing it (watch out if you have sand as it will stop working and you will have a smallish cycle). See http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

Thanks, yeah I can't see my grandkids doing that as they know better but we have an annual Christmas party at our place where a bunch of other peoples kids are here so that could be that problem, the timing seems right. I plan to install a lock on the fish room door before this year's party. Hopefully I'll have time this weekend & see what I find in the sump.

Hi Greg. I'm so sorry to hear your tank is having ongoing problems. Do you dose vodka by any chance? Have you checked for stray electricity? What are your pH and ORP levels like - I'm wondering if something you painted or stained in / near the fishroom is being sucked into the system via the skimmer, for example. Does anything at all smell sulfuric? What's the output of your calcium reactor measuring?

Originally Posted by melev

Hi Greg. I'm so sorry to hear your tank is having ongoing problems. Do you dose vodka by any chance? Have you checked for stray electricity? What are your pH and ORP levels like - I'm wondering if something you painted or stained in / near the fishroom is being sucked into the system via the skimmer, for example. Does anything at all smell sulfuric? What's the output of your calcium reactor measuring?

Hey Marc, long time - no talk. I don't dose any carbon based products, no stray voltage, no chance of paint etc, I use a doser so I don't use a ca reactor. I think/hope I'll find the issue when I clean the sump. The more I think about it the more it makes sense.

When you do that, check your pumps. Perhaps you have some split magnets in the system (impellars, feeding clips, pump holders?) that are leaching stuff into the water.

Originally Posted by melev

When you do that, check your pumps. Perhaps you have some split magnets in the system (impellars, feeding clips, pump holders?) that are leaching stuff into the water.

I'll be sure to look at that, thanks

Have you found any pests in your tank while looking at night? I really envy your tank from reading about it and hope it clears up quickly for you