Candy Cane receding. Help appreciated.

[rbendikas]

Hi, I’ve bought this candy cane 2 weeks ago and it seems to be receding. Any ideas why?
Alk: 7.7
Ca: 410
Salinity: 35ppt
NO3/PO4: virtually 0
Lights: 2xMaxspect MJ 290 (spectrum attached)

Attaching picture immediately after I bought it and now.

 

[DSC reef]

Alkalinity seems a bit a low, do ypu have any fish, how often do ypu feed? In my experience my LPS thrived with some nutrients.

 

[rbendikas]

Alkalinity seems a bit a low, do ypu have any fish, how often do ypu feed? In my experience my LPS thrived with some nutrients.

I’m trying to keep around 7.7/7.8 as I struggle to keep higher. I have 2 clowns and 2 cardinals. I don’t feed corals except BTA.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Any reason to set your lights at only 50% Do you have other corals, how are they doing?

 

[rbendikas]

Any reason to set your lights at only 50% Do you have other corals, how are they doing?

These lights are quite powerful. I have a 80x60x60cm tank and 2x mj 290. I noticed past 50% my corals hate it (GSP fully closed, BTA very stringy).

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

NO3/PO4: virtually 0

Start dosing some ammonia bicarbonate to get your nutrients up. Your candy cane may be starving.

 

[get-salty]

I would agree on your nutrients.

I got a candy cane as a freebie and i threw it nearly on the sandbed with very low light and flow and its thriving.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I also agree that you should raise your nutrients. What are you using to test?

 

[rbendikas]

I also agree that you should raise your nutrients. What are you using to test?

I know that these are low but I was advise against dosing N/P/Ammonia by my LFS. The tank is 3 months old so the bacteria might not be fully stable and don't want to overshoot / kill the fish. I'm using Red Sea / Fauna Marin kits to test. Last ICP results (2 weeks ago): NO3 0.4 mg/l, PO4 0.009 mg/l. I'm feeding full cube of mysis a day now to boost those up naturally.

 

[get-salty]

I know that these are low but I was advise against dosing N/P/Ammonia by my LFS. The tank is 3 months old so the bacteria might not be fully stable and don't want to overshoot / kill the fish. I'm using Red Sea / Fauna Marin kits to test. Last ICP results (2 weeks ago): NO3 0.4 mg/l, PO4 0.009 mg/l. I'm feeding full cube of mysis a day now to boost those up naturally.

You need to beef it up, use pellets and feed the tank with some reef roids. def will raise your nutrients.

 

[Shirak]

These lights are quite powerful. I have a 80x60x60cm tank and 2x mj 290. I noticed past 50% my corals hate it (GSP fully closed, BTA very stringy).

I would not be so sure of that. 75g tank with 200w total power isn't that much. Also photo period at peak power? Looks like about 8 hours with 30 minute ramp up and down?

Aside from lighting questions.. 0 NO3 and PO4 is not good IMO. Especially since you are not feeding the corals and a pretty small bio load on fish for that size tank. So you are not putting much nutrients in as fish food either.
I think this is the biggest issue.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I know that these are low but I was advise against dosing N/P/Ammonia by my LFS. The tank is 3 months old so the bacteria might not be fully stable and don't want to overshoot / kill the fish. I'm using Red Sea / Fauna Marin kits to test. Last ICP results (2 weeks ago): NO3 0.4 mg/l, PO4 0.009 mg/l. I'm feeding full cube of mysis a day now to boost those up naturally.

I would ignore their advice. Nitrates and phosphates being zero can result in dinos and your tank starving. I wouldn't personally dose ammonia, but if you want to dose, I would use NeoNitro or NeoPhos by Brightwell.

You can also up your feeding and try to feed more nutrient-packed foods as well if you are worried about dosing.

 

[Shirak]

Candy Cane's love to eat at night. Mysis is great food. Try target feeding each polyp a little mysis about an hour after lights out. Should see tentacles out then.

 

[rbendikas]

I would not be so sure of that. 75g tank with 200w total power isn't that much. Also photo period at peak power? Looks like about 8 hours with 30 minute ramp up and down?

Aside from lighting questions.. 0 NO3 and PO4 is not good IMO. Especially since you are not feeding the corals and a pretty small bio load on fish for that size tank. So you are not putting much nutrients in as fish food either.
I think this is the biggest issue.

The candy cane is sitting in the zone that measured 139 PAR when intensity was set to 35%. I've already increased it to 50% over a couple of weeks, so should be even higher now. Will have to rent PAR meter to remeasure. Photo period at peak for 10h with 1h up and 1h down.

 

[rbendikas]

Candy Cane's love to eat at night. Mysis is great food. Try target feeding each polyp a little mysis about an hour after lights out. Should see tentacles out then.

Yeah I see them every night, will try to feed mysis.