Candy cane coral shrinking...help?

WetWhistle · Oct 31, 2016

Water changes and no dosing is a good way to get things back in ratio of what you want. It is also a lot smoother and gradual so more time for corals to adjust.

Nano101 · Nov 3, 2016

Diesel said:
Thanks for posting the results.
I see the problem.
Your ALK and No3 are way off, not to mention a high PH and low Po4.
Here's the deal with a high ALK on low No3 your corals don't think it's at 12 as you test but they think or feel it's a lot higher.
Common rule in this hobby is with low No3 you drop your alk, in your case your No3 needs to be at 2ppm or higher close to 3 or 4 ppm and alk can be at 8.5.
You just need to find the right balance.
I have my No3 at 3ppm as we speak but ALK at 7.8 give and take.
As far of PH that needs to drop between 8 and 8.2.
Never seen a tank do good at 8.5.
Feed a little more to the fish so that Po4 is detectable around 0.04 but not lower, higher is better but 0.08 should be a limit till you can play around with nutrients control and consumption from your corals.
If you need to know the scientific results from High and Low ALK on No3 shoot a note to @Randy Holmes-Farley

the salt I use (Red Sea Coral Pro) is premixed at 12 dKH. I am happy with the dkH. My nitrates have jumped to just under 20ppm as I'm feeding more often. I know I don't want phosphates, I have seen in previous builds to what can happen. I believe my RO/DI water and chaeto have kept my phosphates at 0 which is great

Diesel · Nov 3, 2016

Nano101 said:
the salt I use (Red Sea Coral Pro) is premixed at 12 dKH. I am happy with the dkH. My nitrates have jumped to just under 20ppm as I'm feeding more often. I know I don't want phosphates, I have seen in previous builds to what can happen. I believe my RO/DI water and chaeto have kept my phosphates at 0 which is great

12 DKH is a bit high, what is your PH?
If nitrates are dropping perfect but don't let them drop below 2ppm.
Phosphates can be detectable but around 0.04 ppm should be the limit.
Well experienced hobbyist are playing with the Po4 and sometimes having it at 0.2 ppm for better color and growth.

Nano101 · Nov 3, 2016

pH is 8.5, still 0 at for P04 according to my Milwaukee instruments colorometer. Right on the salt mix bucket, it says dKH 12.2. I guess that's what Red Sea sees as good parameters. I'm not dosing. Just weekly water changes and testing every 2-3 days

twin77 · Nov 3, 2016

Have a peppermint shrimp? Mine terrorized my candy cane almost killed it. Once I removed him the candy cane came back bigger and better. Not sure if that's what's going on here, I'd just thought I'd add. Good luck!