Dying corals

Discussion in 'Coral' started by Zero_Dude, Jan 19, 2014.

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  1. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Just a point of interest Zero, I recently cross checked alk that was showing consistent 10 with API. I checked on salifert and it was 7.7. I trust the salifert because they include a reference sample that tested right on. No more API for me.
     
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  3. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    as asked before, how old is the tank? What is your lighting?
     
  4. Zero_Dude

    Zero_Dude Fire Shrimp

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    That's a little disconcerting.. I'll get a new test kit from a different company when I get my LEDs.

    Sorry, OFK! Tank was established in May last year.

    Lighting is:

    ATI Sunpower T5 6x54W (48")

    Bulb 1: ATI Actinic
    Bulb 2: ATI Aquablue Special
    Bulb 3: ATI Blue Plus
    Bulb 4: ATI Blue Plus
    Bulb 5: ATI Purple Plus
    Bulb 6: ATI Aquablue Special
     
  5. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    I'm thinking it's more related to the water parameters than to the lights. What about flow, do you have a good amount?
     
  6. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    I tend to agree. Judging by the sequence of pictures, the coral were light acclimated.
     
  7. Zero_Dude

    Zero_Dude Fire Shrimp

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    The big birdsnest was in a lower flow area, and was doing okay there. Moved it to a higher flow area and algae started growing on it. Moved to a lower-light, lower-flow area to stop algae growth on it, and to stop the bleaching

    Kenya was in an area with moderate flow. Was doing fine. Moved it lower so the bleaching would stop.

    Mushroom has medium flow. Keeping it in the same place, since it isn't bleaching.

    Finger coral is in medium flow, high light. All polyps extend all the time. It's just a little lighter than when I got it.

    Also, I'll add: no corals have shown growth (which isn't surprising, since params aren't too good) except for the larger birdsnest.
     
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  9. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    could you be having swings in parameters - especially ALK? do you run anything to lower phosphates? What's weird is that it looks like bleaching - what else causes a coral to appear bleached?
     
  10. Zero_Dude

    Zero_Dude Fire Shrimp

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    My alk and calc probably swing a bit. My dosing schedule isn't too good (especially if I forget a day). Alk Monday/Thursday, Calcium Tuesday/Friday. Is an auto-doser worth the price?

    And I haven't even looked into that! Let's see...
     
  11. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    You may not even need to dose if nothing is growing and even it if were, you typically don't notice an appreciable drop in any level without larger mini-colonies/frags of stony coral.

    I wouldn't dose anything without accurate test kits either.

    Lastly, if you are dosing because your alkalinity keeps dropping, it likely means your magnesium is too low.

    I would get red sea or sailifert kits and test away before dosing again.
     
  12. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    how often and how much do you do water changes?