Algae reactor added, leather closed

[slipknotgrrl83]

I recently added a diy algae reactor. Ever since my finger leather has been closed. It's day 5 now. He does close to shed occasionally but normally reopens in 3 or 4 days. Could this be related? Does he not like the cleaner water? (Nitrates have dropped about 5ppm since adding it last friday) I am probably over reacting but he never closes this long. All Other corals fine

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Bump

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Still closed..

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Guess no one can help

 

[SDReefer]

He is probably just closed up. Give it a week and it'll probably open up again. You can use a turkey baster to see if anything is perhaps irritating the top of the coral.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

T

He is probably just closed up. Give it a week and it'll probably open up again. You can use a turkey baster to see if anything is perhaps irritating the top of the coral.

Tried Turkey baster...he is very shiny/waxy but no shedding that I can see

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Day 7, still closed

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Day 8. This is what he looks like. Tested parameters, only thing different is nitrates down to 10 from 25 ish

 

[ourcoralreef]

Yes leathers do like higher nitrates they like “dirty” water and im assuming you had it in higher nitrates for a while it probably acclimated to it its a 50/50 either it kicks back or it dies the best option would be to slow down on the nitrate outtake, maybe put a timer on the reactors lights and slowly let it be on longer and longer

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Yes leathers do like higher nitrates they like “dirty” water and im assuming you had it in higher nitrates for a while it probably acclimated to it its a 50/50 either it kicks back or it dies the best option would be to slow down on the nitrate outtake, maybe put a timer on the reactors lights and slowly let it be on longer and longer

I didn't even think of that..yes I have been fighting high nitrates for a while ( in the 30 to 40 range) right now reactor lights are on opposite of dt being 13 hrs, guess I'll cut back to half that and hope he recovers. Rest of corals (lps) are fine

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

He still looks alive so fingers crossed

 

[ourcoralreef]

I personally would start 4 hours and make my way up within a month or two not to shock anything

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I personally would start 4 hours and make my way up within a month or two not to shock anything

Thank you, it's worth a shot. He's the only one not happy, rest are looking better than before

 

[ourcoralreef]

My way of seeing it is your shocking the whole system sort of like doing 100% water changes
There are allot of things in your system besides coral and fish all the micro organisms and invertebrates can get affected as well, its also possible a shock will show good results temporarily but inside the zoanthille is dying

There is a saying, bad things are the only things that happen fast in a aquarium

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

My way of seeing it is your shocking the whole system sort of like doing 100% water changes
There are allot of things in your system besides coral and fish all the micro organisms and invertebrates can get affected as well, its also possible a shock will show good results temporarily but inside the zoanthille is dying

There is a saying, bad things are the only things that happen fast in a aquarium

I moved it down to 4 hrs. Wondering if I should leave off a few days... I actually just retested and nitrates are 20 not 10

 

[roberthu526]

My softies have not been doing well since I added the biopellet reactor. My nitrate is non- detectable and it has been months. I am ready to give up on softies...

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

My softies have not been doing well since I added the biopellet reactor. My nitrate is non- detectable and it has been months. I am ready to give up on softies...

He is my only one, it was given to me, I won't get anymore I don't Think. I want cleaner water for lps and less algae etc

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

@saltyfilmfolks i would love to hear your input?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You haven't tried taking it off line completely ?
Just having lower nutints "shouldn't " make it close up like that Esp with just Cato. A gfo overdose yea I could see that.

It closed up immedialty upon turning it on?

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

You haven't tried taking it off line completely ?
Just having lower nutints "shouldn't " make it close up like that Esp with just Cato. A gfo overdose yea I could see that.

It closed up immedialty upon turning it on?

Reactor still online. Cut it back to 4 hrs from advice above. He opened up the whole day after I used it that first night. Closed 2nd day and hasn't reopened, don't use gfo, no other changes. Tried Turkey basting top and nothing. Possibly just a long shedding process?? I'm out of ideas

Nitrate 20 api will test with red sea tomorrow

Nitrite ammonia 0
Sg 1.025
Cal 480
Mag 1350
Alk 9
Ph 8.1 to 8.2

Only change is nitrates are a bit lower