Closed elegance coral

[dvgyfresh]

Elegance coral syndrome , I am not sure what causes this. It happened to me in a healthy tank, but I was also running high alkalinity in 10-11 as well

 

[vetteguy53081]

They should not be in much flow. Only a slight movement. Here’s mine. It closes at night but opens every morning. Sorry for blue. Not sure exact par but they do not like strong light. Mine should really be in the sand but didn’t want certain things to run across it.

@vetteguy53081 has them and can give insight since that’s a long time to be closed up (3 weeks)

Do not toss out and it is stressed yes, but we need to identify the stressors. This coral is receded rather than dying and check your mag level for starters , as mine does NOT like high mag- 1330 is where mine is at and has done this when it jumped over 1400. Also your phosphates are elevated (you want .06 - .1). Elegance require a moderate amount of light to support their photosynthesis which is needed as LEDs, fluorescent lights are sufficient but you want a PAR of about 80-120. And also important is water flow which should be moderate.
You don’t want the flow to be too high or too low but allow the tentacles to flow gently. Too little flow and elegance corals will not make it. Too much flow and you risk tearing the polyps which brings food and nutrients to the coral's polyps which should be drifting in the water flow.
Again, Elegance are photosynthetic, which they have an inner algae called zooxanthellae that lives inside its tissue and they require regular feedings with foods such as krill, Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or small pieces of fish, and shrimp.
Elegance corals ARE prone to elegance coral syndrome (ECS). If your coral has this disease, you’ll see swelling around the oral disc and unopened polyps or a white mucus coating.

Here is mine

 

[johnnycamp5]

I do not believe 11.5 is too high for alk, it is just on the high range.... That said, if it was in an 8-9 tank before you bought it, and you "Shocked" it in to the 11.5 range, that could have been the start of its stress.

No it was 10.1 a month ago and two months ago around 9.5 so it’s slowly risen

 

[johnnycamp5]

@vetteguy53081 thanks
Mine looked great like that for a few weeks
I hate to trash it of course…
I’d like to save it of course

Maybe I’ll try moving it a bit

The lights are pretty dim and it’s at the very bottom with very low to no flow…

 

[1112-425XL]

There's a video on YouTube

Why do elegance corals struggle?
A discussion with Laura Simmons

Watch this video and consider placement and flow. It really helped me succeed with my Elegance coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 thanks
Mine looked great like that for a few weeks
I hate to trash it of course…
I’d like to save it of course

Maybe I’ll try moving it a bit

The lights are pretty dim and it’s at the very bottom with very low to no flow…

assure moderate flow and lighting. They need light for energy and dim will not work

 

[bluemon]

I do not believe 11.5 is too high for alk, it is just on the high range.... That said, if it was in an 8-9 tank before you bought it, and you "Shocked" it in to the 11.5 range, that could have been the start of its stress.

I would absolutely say 11.5 is high.

The slightly faster growth rate is not worth the risk that comes with such high Alk.

OP, you should definitely dial down your Alk (limewater in your ATO).

Your Alk should not creep up like that, even slowly unless you want to be at 11.5 for a good reason.

Consistency is key. Pick a number and stick to it.

If you keep it up, the alk will rise faster than corals grow to consume it which will mean constant creepin

 

[johnnycamp5]

I would absolutely say 11.5 is high.

The slightly faster growth rate is not worth the risk that comes with such high Alk.

OP, you should definitely dial down your Alk (limewater in your ATO).

Your Alk should not creep up like that, even slowly unless you want to be at 11.5 for a good reason.

Consistency is key. Pick a number and stick to it.

If you keep it up, the alk will rise faster than corals grow to consume it which will mean constant creepin

Thanks
It just so happens I had to refill the ATO (15 gallons) last night.
I reduced the lime by 1/3…
I’ll see what the KH reads in a few days to confirm it’s either the same or even slightly lower than 11.4
I’ll try and ease it down slowly

 

[johnnycamp5]

Today KH is reading 11.1 so down a little from Mondays 11.4
I hope this is gradual enough.

Elegance looks the same (bad) but Alveopora looks slightly better.

 

[1112-425XL]

Today KH is reading 11.1 so down a little from Mondays 11.4
I hope this is gradual enough.

Elegance looks the same (bad) but Alveopora looks slightly better.

Did you get a chance to check out the video I mentioned above?

 

[johnnycamp5]

Did you get a chance to check out the video I mentioned above?

I did thank you

I believe I’m hitting all of her 3 key point’s EXCEPT flow…

 

[AmateurAlchemist]

The phosphates are a bit high but I've run my tank at that with little issues, so should be okay.

But it would help to lower it a bit to around 0.5-1.0 range.

also your alkalinity is WAY too high. That would definitely have had an effect on your elegance and alveopora.

I would aim for 7-9 range

What are the other corals you have that aren't struggling?

Sorry but this is straight up wrong. I run alk at 12 and have no problem with elegance (or many other LPS for that matter).

OP- bleaching is often a sign of too much light. IME, elegance hate intense light and don’t do well with a lot of UV or flow. Your temp and nitrates are a little on the high side but otherwise everything you’ve shared so far checks out.

What lights do you run and what’s your schedule?

 

[johnnycamp5]

I use Reefi Uno 2.1’s

Lights start to ramp at 7:30am, full intensity by 10:30-5:00pm, then ramp down till about 9:30pm then to moonlight (if there’s moon illumination in my region)

The slightly bleached coral was my green Alveopora (no longer and starting to expand)
Elegance is the same (closed)

 

[mmorrison55]

Did you check your Mg levels as vetteguy suggested? I would be curious what your levels are. I lost my elegance and my water parameters were all good except I was running high Mg (1400+). I was mimicking Vic from WWC parameters, and he suggested Mg in the 1400-1450 range. Im now wondering if the high mg was my elegances undoing.

Also, this thread is good for elegance coral information…


Thread 'Elegance Coral Syndrome Diagnose and Treatment with Fresh Water Dip'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/e...se-and-treatment-with-fresh-water-dip.654005/

 

[johnnycamp5]

Ill have to get a checker for magnesium

 

[johnnycamp5]

While I’m at it I suppose I should get one for calcium

 

[Hippopus_clam]

was

Sorry but this is straight up wrong. I run alk at 12 and have no problem with elegance (or many other LPS for that matter).

OP- bleaching is often a sign of too much light. IME, elegance hate intense light and don’t do well with a lot of UV or flow. Your temp and nitrates are a little on the high side but otherwise everything you’ve shared so far checks out.

What lights do you run and what’s your schedule?

could I ask for the rest of your parameter numbers? The LPS in your picture look so healthy and I’m curious of how you’re running your tank.

 

[AmateurAlchemist]

was

could I ask for the rest of your parameter numbers? The LPS in your picture look so healthy and I’m curious of how you’re running your tank.

Thank you! I target and almost always sit right in the middle of these ranges-
Phos 0.1-0.15
Nitrate 10-15
Mag 1250-1350
Calc 410-450
Alk 11-12

My regal angel took a liking to the pictured elegance, so it’s not looking so great now…! The regal normally hangs out in one area so I moved the elegance and the little bugger followed!