My huge centerpiece Torch coral decided to kill itself yesterday. Very suddenly, too... an entire head was bleached when I woke up yesterday morning, and another wasn't looking too good. The third head (also the smallest) seems as good as ever, though... which I find odd. It hadn't been inflating completely for the last week or so, but I figured that was because it was upset at the higher-than-normal water temperature (it's been HOT out, and I don't have any refridgerator units).

Anyway, I'm depressed. I did a 20 gallon water change (100 gallons in the system), cleaned everything and readjusted the flow on the torch so it's not going to get blown apart.

The thing is, I have no idea why it happened. The only thing that's a little off with the water parameters is the calcium (which I just tested at about 320).... but it's always been low, and I've never had any problems with my corals. Any ideas?

You're gonna need a chiller. What kind of lights and how long is the photo period? Cutting back on the photo period may HELP your temp. How high did the temp go? ULTIMATELY, we are all responsible for our animals' lives. I'm sorry for your loss!

you should get a elcetric termomitor sor it will tell you the highs and lows of the day. so you can know if the water tamperture killed them

Low calcium, eh? What's your pH and alkalinity?

Low calcium, eh? What's your pH and alkalinity?

pH 8.4, alkalnity is 8.1 dKH. Temperature ranges from 78-79 at night to a high of maybe 84 after the halides have had their for the day. Usually when I check it during the day it's right around 80 or 81.

My photoperiod is:
actinic T5's (four of them) come on at 9AM, 2 10K 150 watt MHs come on at noon, and are off at 4PM, actinics turn themselves off at 9PM.

The torch is the highest coral in my tank, and is also the only one being affected by whatevers wrong. I'm afraid of moving it, because the undamaged head is healthier than ever and the hurt (but not dead) head is recovering already. It's always thrived where it is, so moving it seems stupid until I know what's wrong. The rest of my corals look like they always do.

When my temp controller failed and my tank got up to 86 some of my SPS bleached so it could be the heat. But you would think it would impact more than 2 heads on the same coral so maybe it is just a stupid thing.

84-86 is WAY too high for a reef tank! The key to success in a reef tank is stability...there may be a degree or two swing from season to season in the wild, however they are VERY gradual! Try to get a chiller that is operated on an elcirtonic temperature controller...like a Ranco dual...it controls the current to both the chiller and the chiller..only allows one to operate at a time!

Unfortunately my dual phase controller failed when my chiller should have been running and that is how my tank got so hot. I subsequently replaced it but unfortunately any device can and will fail.