Coral Questions

[ReeferTang44]

So I have some corals and wondering if they are on the road to death or success
The blasto started this a little bit ago
From this

To this Today

And the next 2 I got like this but I’m still curious
Before

Today

Before

Today

This last one looks pretty similar I think

Now the Zoas that are acting up

One polyp on left is staring to close
And you probably can’t tell because there pretty much gone but on the bottom right three of them have been in hiding for a while and have definitely shrunk
There might be reaching but I don’t think that would cause them to close

Yes I know there is no par reading so sorry, but what about the light timing
Here are the levels

Alk is actually at 9.0

 

[blaxsun]

Your zoas/palys may not be getting enough light as they appear to be stretching.

 

[ReeferTang44]

I was reading and looking at light schedule on bulk reef and they say one hour to ramp eight at max and one hour to turn down and could light effect coral recession on hammers and blasto

 

[ReeferTang44]

And if that is right should I change my lights slowly and make it
Start - 11:00
Ramp - 11:00 - 12:00
Max - 12:00 - 9:00
Ramp Down - 9:00 - 10:00
Something about that doesn’t seem right to me

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I have some corals and wondering if they are on the road to death or success
The blasto started this a little bit ago
From this

To this Today

And the next 2 I got like this but I’m still curious
Before

Today

Before

Today

This last one looks pretty similar I think

Now the Zoas that are acting up

One polyp on left is staring to close
And you probably can’t tell because there pretty much gone but on the bottom right three of them have been in hiding for a while and have definitely shrunk
There might be reaching but I don’t think that would cause them to close

Yes I know there is no par reading so sorry, but what about the light timing
Here are the levels

Alk is actually at 9.0

Zoas are stretching for light and hammers seem to calcium deficient by looks of skeleton despite good calcium numbers assuming your tests are accurate. There are babies though peeking from the side of the hammer/frammer

 

[ReeferTang44]

Zoas are stretching for light and hammers seem to calcium deficient by looks of skeleton despite good calcium numbers assuming your tests are accurate. There are babies though peeking from the side of the hammer/frammer

I’m thinking about getting a salfire kit and if it does read pretty close should I raise it

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Is that a

So I have some corals and wondering if they are on the road to death or success
The blasto started this a little bit ago
From this

To this Today

And the next 2 I got like this but I’m still curious
Before

Today

Before

Today

This last one looks pretty similar I think

Now the Zoas that are acting up

One polyp on left is staring to close
And you probably can’t tell because there pretty much gone but on the bottom right three of them have been in hiding for a while and have definitely shrunk
There might be reaching but I don’t think that would cause them to close

Yes I know there is no par reading so sorry, but what about the light timing
Here are the levels

Alk is actually at 9.0

Is that a Fluval light?
Sunrise I'd do 1 hr ramp
So 11-12am
12-18:00 full illumination
18:00-20:00 ramp down
You could raise the cyan,blue and purple to what you like. I'd also raise the cool white up to what looks good to you. I go off the look where the fish colors are not blacked out as example a orange and white clown fish. If the orange is looking really dark like black then the white is to low. Once you can see all the colors of the fish I'd personally leave it for a while and see how the corals react.

I see your running night at 3% blue for a lunar look from all night from ramp down to ramp up and that's fine IMHO but everyone likes their own style. Myself I'd have total darkness at the end of the ramp down to the ramp up start.

But as others state the zoas are reaching so you need to bring the intensity up Ofer the period of a few weeks and then leave it for a while. Coral will adapt to light but need time.

I myself am in a 30 day acclamation mode running 60% for 30 days and over the days the intensity will slowly ramp up. My new constellation, blowpops and blue eye blonde Zoa's are slowly opening and the constellation zoas are reaching for the light. But when they came from the farm they were used to another spectrum and intensity.

Overall the corals look good to me, you can also try and move your zoas higher up and see how they react. They'll react pretty quickly if they like the change or not.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

What test kit are you using for calcium?

Your calcium level looks good from what you are showing in your picture. My calcium a few days ago was around 422 and alkalinity was at 7.. I've just been focusing on bringing up the dkh and spent a couple days dosing it at .5 a day and now it's at 7.9 and calcium has also gone up to 455.

I'm going to give the tank rest for the week and see what the numbers do and if there isn't much change I will be shooting for a 9 dkh.. but to me your numbers look good but the nitrate is still higher than most people would like to see.

 

[ReeferTang44]

Hanna checker for all my test

 

[blecki]

With coral loss the mistake is rarely something you just did. It's something from weeks ago. I see you've brought the nitrate down a little from the last time you posted numbers - it needs to come down more. Unfortunately however the damage might already be done.

 

[ReeferTang44]

Yes to FluvalSmart

 

[ReeferTang44]

With coral loss the mistake is rarely something you just did. It's something from weeks ago. I see you've brought the nitrate down a little from the last time you posted numbers - it needs to come down more. Unfortunately however the damage might already be done.

Is it going to be ok because the polyps/ head is still connected and open

 

[blecki]

That's a big maybe. There's nothing you can do but give it the best quality water possible and wait.

 

[ReeferTang44]

Co

What test kit are you using for calcium?

Your calcium level looks good from what you are showing in your picture. My calcium a few days ago was around 422 and alkalinity was at 7.. I've just been focusing on bringing up the dkh and spent a couple days dosing it at .5 a day and now it's at 7.9 and calcium has also gone up to 455.

I'm going to give the tank rest for the week and see what the numbers do and if there isn't much change I will be shooting for a 9 dkh.. but to me your numbers look good but the nitrate is still higher than most people would like to see.

Could I raise my mag

 

[mrpontiac80]

And if that is right should I change my lights slowly and make it
Start - 11:00
Ramp - 11:00 - 12:00
Max - 12:00 - 9:00
Ramp Down - 9:00 - 10:00
Something about that doesn’t seem right to me

I would definitely run longer times at your high settings. Mine looks like this. I use a 2 hr sunset with just blues for color pop.

 

[ReeferTang44]

That's a big maybe. There's nothing you can do but give it the best quality water possible and wait.

So hypothetically if I lower my nitrates and maintain water parameters maybe raise alk and mag I should be ok

 

[ReeferTang44]

I would definitely run longer times at your high settings. Mine looks like this. I use a 2 hr sunset with just blues for color pop.

Do what he said which is

 

[mrpontiac80]

So hypothetically if I lower my nitrates and maintain water parameters maybe raise alk and mag I should be ok

The biggest thing is maintaining your parameters. A lot of your corals will eventually adjust to the tank as long as things are not constantly changing.

 

[ReeferTang44]

And if so do small changes over time ???

 

[mrpontiac80]

And if so do small changes over time ???

I would definitely do small changes over time. Any drastic change can wipe corals out quickly. It looks like most of your corals are LPS or softies so personally I would not even worry about trying to raise alk.
My tank is a mixed reef and here are my parameters just in case you’re interested in what I keep. Some of these corals are going on three years old but the 180 gallon they are in has only been running since about March.