Reef aquarium upgrade

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I recently upgraded from a 30 gallon reef tank that was running for about 3 years with great success. It was a mixed reef with a clam lps, sps and softys. I finally ran out of room and decided to upgrade to a 90. I had the 90 gallon aquarium set up about two weeks before the move just to look out for leaks and to finalize the set up. I matched all the perimeters to the 30 which are temp-78-80, phos-0, trates-0, trites-0, ammo-0, ph-8.2, calc-450, and alk-8. I have a 30 gallon sump with swc 160 skimmer a refugium with chaeto and an eheim 1260 return pump as for movement I have a mp40 and a glass holes overflow box. I also have about 90lbs of live rock and about 80 lbs of live sand. The lighting is the same as my thirty a  120 watt led system except I added another one to this larger tank. My question is it's been running for two weeks now and I've lost 3 sps that I had owned for the 3 years and my los don't seem to be opening completely. The clam seems normal as well as my softys. The fish are normal and I'm baffled as to what's going on. I feel horrible losing these animals as I try to give them the best possible life. If you could give me any input I would appreciate any help. When I lost the sps it looked like their skin was just peeling off. I also noticed that one of my Large leather coral raspy chef in between two rocks. Could this be releasing toxic stuff? I performed a large water change when I noticed this and I'm also running carbon with no change. I feel helpless at this point. Thanks in advance for any ideas.
-Alex

ANSWER: Hi Alex,

Check Salinity.  My guess is it's up near 1.026.  That is when my SPS begin bleaching.  

I would like to know your salinity and how you mix your salt.  Is any crystal left at all when it goes in?  How often have you cahanged the water since the move?  The MP40...congrats.  I'd love one, (just thought I'd toss that out there), and such should be helpful.

I see no parameter issues, but it could be a chemical war between sps and LPS, having a mixed reef and the softies.  Softies often discharge when moved.

If you have zoas, this could be your source.

Bleaching is usually caused by 3 causes.  Too much light (or too little), combined with high salinity and water quality issues.

None of the above seems to apply.

I'd have to also ask you about your new light  Please send the specifications of your lighting, as well as spectrum and manufacturer of bulbs, and ballast.

Also, Alex, are you using tap water?

I wlll do my best to help you out, but I do need more info.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello,
Thanks for the quick response. My salinity is consistently 1.024 as I have an auto top off. As far as water I only use rodi and I always mix salt a day before water change. My lighting is a LED system I purchased on eBay about a year ago it's through reefkoi and it consists of 70 blue actinic 1watt LED and 50 1watt LED it gives off light like a 250watt 20k halide I have two of these side by side as one would not cover enough area. I don't think it's the light as they have been used to this light for about a year now. As far as zoas, I have a very small colony of about 15-20 polyps. I'm just baffled and I want to do something, but I've tested and all my tests are perfect. I even tested my water and it's at 0 tds. I've changed the water two times since the move one large one about a week ago (40gallons) and yesterday I changed 10 gallons. I do notice some of my turbo snails and hermits are a bit sluggish. But my clam is acting very normal and also the softies are fine. Lps are not showing signs of improvement I have a colony of duncans that are not fully open since the move and a frogspawn that I just lost 3 days ago. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
-Alex

ANSWER: Alex,

I haven't seen the results of your Magnesium test.  Do you know your Magnesium levels?  If too high, bleaching does occur, and on a fast as lightning track!  My own corals just suffered it.

It was horrid ... Lost my beautiful monty and my Bali Slimer.

Well, if that's not it, and your parameters are good, then we have to take other things apart and troubleshoot.  Let's look at plumbing glue, possible chemical interference, buckets used to transfer water which are new, sluggish inverts is a bad sign (usually a chemical notification when that happens...

Move softies from direct current.  Make sure their slime isn't interfering.  This could just be the chem war they send out sometimes, because of the move.

Is your RO/DI from a store outlet?  Perhaps you need to test the water before it goes in, if so, or to be certain that the filter's getting all chlorine/chloramine.

You know, Alex, it could be one of those things where you have no clue why something is happening, but it will have to just run its course.  I'm so sorry...been there.  It's very frustrating.

Maybe a serious water change is necessary.  How often are you changing water? (My apologies if you already put this...I just re-read it a couple times and don't see it).

What is your temperature?  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,
Thanks for all your time. As you know this hobby can be rewarding as well as frustrating! I only enjoy the rewarding part. The most frustrating thing about this is when you make a move like this you think you have everything covered and you think your doing what's best for the animals by giving them more space and you realize that they were happier in the smaller tank. I've lost colonies that were over 5 years old and become very depressed when you  seem helpless. Only people in the hobby understand. And others look at you like your crazy to worry about these things. Anyways, since it's a new set up I have not added any supplements so I doubt it is the mag. I'll test though I know the salt mix can make mistakes. I make my own rodi and all my filters are always serviced on a regular bases.... My tds is always at 0. I make 10% water changes every week. Do you think I should skip that and let the water mature? I'm also getting a lot of brown algae on the sand and on the glass to the point of having to clean the glass daily. My temperature is always between 78-80. do you think the mp40 is too strong for lps and softies? My skimmer is a workhorse and pulling out some nasty stuff. I did buy a new brute can that I mix my water in. But I cleaned it well before I used it. I guess its just a waiting game now. Thanks again.
-Alex

Answer
Hi Alex,

Your MP40 may be too strong, but isn't it adjustable?  I went with the MP10.

It sounds to me like you not only know what you are doing, but like you have it under control.

Like you said, sometimes there just seems to be no reason for this to happen.  It happens to the best of us.   With that said, I honestly can't think of anything, except perhaps the Magnesium.  Overdosing can cause bleaching, as well, but if it's appropriate, then well, I truthfully don't see anything wrong with your setup, parameters or habits.

I would indeed go to a water change of every 2 weeks at this point.  Let the water mature.  Perhaps the bleaching is due to immature water and a lack of planktonic amoeba in the water...as you know, which is what the SPS lives on.

Have you added any Phyto lately or any rotifers?  I would.  I'd add it to be safe.

Better to over-compensate than to under compensate, but in all truth, Alex, it sounds like you are doing a fine job with your tank.

It's just one of those awful things that happens to the best of us.

I worry about mine also!  I live, eat and sleep my reef, lol.