Corals Struggling

[goose0211]

Some of my SPS are beginning to show signs of lessening polyp extension struggle/brown at the tips.

I’ve been struggling with phosphates fluctuating recently but other parameters are pretty stable.

Salinity 35
Nitrates 5
Phosphate 0, fluctuates up to 0.16 then down again when running rowaphos
Alk 8.4
Cal 420
Mag 1350

Read forums and some suggest more nutrients needed, other say too many nutrients causes this kind of thing??

Any thoughts?

 

[Duffer]

The phosphate swing can cause brown tips…

 

[dwest]

Running 0.16 ppm phosphates is much better than swinging. I would not run GFO and watch your corals. If you need to run GFO use less but replaced more often.

 

[goose0211]

Thanks, will stop GFO for a while and see how they do, presumably they’ll recover if things stabilise?

 

[dwest]

Thanks, will stop GFO for a while and see how they do, presumably they’ll recover if things stabilise?

I think they will. But you never know. If you are losing a piece, I would break off a fully healthy piece and remount it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd try using less GFO so it doesn't run down to zero.