Chalice challenge

[Cherie cook]

I’m stumped...I just can’t figure out what is going on with my chalice and Favia. Both are receding from the outside edges in. I did have an issue 6 to 8 weeks ago when I had a bad nitrate test kit from nyos which showed low nitrates when it was actually very high. Many water changes later my nitrate is consistently < 20 and all other corals are doing well..including my few SPS, torch, alveopora. My mag level was a tad low a couple weeks ago as I hadn’t been supplementing that..but now it’s 1350 as I hand add it twice per week. Prior to the last six months or so, chalice and favia type corals have done very well in my tank so this is weird.

 

[Hermie]

have you tried feeding them to see if it helps recovery?

 

[Cherie cook]

have you tried feeding them to see if it helps recovery?

It seems that they do not open up in response to feeding. Though I did read something the other day about using an upside down soda bottle to concentrate food over an individual. I have not tried that yet.

 

[IKD]

what kind of lighting / flow do you have? What is your phosphate level?

 

[PicassoClown04]

It seems that they do not open up in response to feeding. Though I did read something the other day about using an upside down soda bottle to concentrate food over an individual. I have not tried that yet.

Just use a syringe, wastes less food since you’re only feeding 2 corals. The erosion on the chalice is very common unfortunately, they are very very sensitive to water imperfections

 

[Cherie cook]

The tank is ? 3 yrs old...as I’ve said we drove it cross country from NY to CO in spring 1998. Right now we have 2 kessil a360x over the tank (but soon will be moving and will have a hybrid LED/ t5 fixture) and the tank is a 90 gallon cube. We have pretty good flow with a maxspect gyre and an octo powerhead which, believe it or not I cannot read the specs of because our parrot chewed the instruction manual!;Bucktooth I try to turn the octo off at night to replicate ocean calm. When we move I will definitely automate that.

 

[Cherie cook]

Just use a syringe, wastes less food since you’re only feeding 2 corals. The erosion on the chalice is very common unfortunately, they are very very sensitive to water imperfections

But what use is a syringe if the coral does not open?

 

[PicassoClown04]

But what use is a syringe if the coral does not open?

The chalice should open up at night, that’s when I’m able to feed all of mine

 

[Hermie]

But what use is a syringe if the coral does not open?

you really may have to coax it and take your time, with pumps off

 

[DonDrummond]

I’m having same issue with all my chalice and it started with a favites. I was an acro/sps dude for decades and I’m use to weird stn/rtn with acros. Downsized to a 25 gallon cube to relax with chalice,acans and lps—- just “relax” while four chalice recede before my very eyes. Can’t figure out what caused it w mine either as they were gangbusters for year and a half- parameters all good and steady- blaming it on the non dipped favites which was first to go- maybe something bacterial brought in. Sorry- no help just commiserating. I’ve seen a few experienced chalice keepers say it just happens w chalice— argh to that I say

 

[Cherie cook]

I’m having same issue with all my chalice and it started with a favites. I was an acro/sps dude for decades and I’m use to weird stn/rtn with acros. Downsized to a 25 gallon cube to relax with chalice,acans and lps—- just “relax” while four chalice recede before my very eyes. Can’t figure out what caused it w mine either as they were gangbusters for year and a half- parameters all good and steady- blaming it on the non dipped favites which was first to go- maybe something bacterial brought in. Sorry- no help just commiserating. I’ve seen a few experienced chalice keepers say it just happens w chalice— argh to that I say

Sorry just jumping back on here after a COVID break. My few remaining chalice and favites type corals continue their slow, awful decline from the outside edges in. Meanwhile my SPS and my other LPS continue to thrive! I have torch and alveopora growing strong. Fish are great..colony polyps and mushrooms are fine. What IS it about chalice and favities? I am just about to move my tank to its final resting place 1/4 mile down the road...which means a new tank (going up by 10 gallons) and a new lighting system (hybrid T5/ LED) so hoping to reset the whole dang thing. How did you make out?

 

[DonDrummond]

Not so good- lost all the chalice, favites and acans too. Let the tank sit for a couple months because I was so bummed and had other interests to distract me. Was/am considering getting out of the hobby for good but just removed some rocks and reaquascaped- which kind of feels like a fresh new start. So now I’m reconsidering—- money very tight atm cuz of cutbacks at work due to the pandemic but I’ve had a reef of sone sort for 25 years so hard to imagine life without one.
I’ll put a word in w the reef gods for yours to make a turn around

 

[mcbdz]

I don't have Chalice but as a last resort maybe frag part of the healthy part, do an iodine dip and put it somewhere away from the colonies and see if it does better.

 

[DonDrummond]

Yes what mcbdz said- I meant to suggest that. I wasn’t able to do that because all my chalice were very encrusted- well I mean I could’ve and should’ve just screwdrivered a nub out and tried that- not sure why I didn’t

 

[ShepherdReefer]

By chance, you know the PAR over those corals and the flow?

 

[Cherie cook]

By chance, you know the PAR over those corals and the flow?

Sorry, we have been in the middle of a move and I just saw this. I think the flow was pretty decent as the tank is an 80 cube and had flow from 3 directions. PAR is a different story...we were living in my daughters basement (so darkish) and the lighting was 2 kessil a360.