Euphyllia help ASAP!!

[Reefing Mama]

Just wondering... have you seen any polyps actually floating away? Or are they just disappearing from the skeleton?

I've seen some floating away on 2 of them

 

[amazongb]

A few questions.

What size is your tank?

How old is your tank?

I see you're doing CA and ALK, what time do you dose these?

 

[Brit’s Fish]

I've seen some floating away on 2 of them

I’m so sorry to hear that! I have been through this as well with one of my hammers and it’s really hard to watch. The good news is if they’re branching, sometimes whatever is happening only affects a few heads. I’m not expert but to me, this answers the question about whether the polyps are just angry or actually bailing out. the cups will help either save them or at least maybe keep the bailed out polyps from blowing around and still stinging your other corals. Just make sure they’re still getting enough movement so the water doesn’t just “sit.”
I hope one of the experts on here can help more than I can! Good luck!!

 

[BobbyCline]

That PO4 is pretty high. Water change alone won’t drop it very fast.

 

[Reefing Mama]

I did 5 gallons for my 32 tank. Should have helped some. Don't want to change too much too fast

 

[BobbyCline]

Test the PO4 after the water change? I’d guess it’s still near the same.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Test the PO4 after the water change? I’d guess it’s still near the same.

Highish Po4 has literally no major effect on lps or softies... in fact, they do better with elevated levels if po4 and no3.

 

[MERKEY]

Test the PO4 after the water change? I’d guess it’s still near the same.

I think we are getting somewhere...

Long term high po4 will bail heads like you are describing.

Combined with low alk and low no3 you are in a danger zone for most corals.

Nitrates should be 10 to 20 times your phosphate for a good avarage range.

I'd focus on getting alk stable, phosphate down slowly to around .1 and let that settle for a couple weeks.

While lowering phos your alk consumption will double if not more so be prepared to test a lot.

 

[tehmadreefer]

I think we are getting somewhere...

Long term high po4 will bail heads like you are describing.

Combined with low alk and low no3 you are in a danger zone for most corals.

Nitrates should be 10 to 20 times your phosphate for a good avarage range.

I'd focus on getting alk stable, phosphate down slowly to around .1 and let that settle for a couple weeks.

While lowering phos your alk consumption will double if not more so be prepared to test a lot.

Po4 does NOT cos bailing...

 

[BobbyCline]

I think we are getting somewhere...

Long term high po4 will bail heads like you are describing.

Combined with low alk and low no3 you are in a danger zone for most corals.

Nitrates should be 10 to 20 times your phosphate for a good avarage range.

I'd focus on getting alk stable, phosphate down slowly to around .1 and let that settle for a couple weeks.

While lowering phos your alk consumption will double if not more so be prepared to test a lot.

Good stuff.... 0.5 PO4 would have me concerned for sure.

 

[Quoc Vu]

Have you recently added any new LPS with out dipping? Heads dead fast makes me think of brown jelly disease. You have a close up of the dead heads?

 

[BobbyCline]

Highish Po4 has literally no major effect on lps or softies... in fact, they do better with elevated levels if po4 and no3.

Impressive LPS collection you have here. What PO4 level do you recommend cos I have no idea.

 

[BobbyCline]

Woah....30 months of reef tank experience!

 

[Dkmoo]

Ph is pretty low - looks like it swings between 7.6 to 7.8, if that's accurate

LPS can tolerate as low as 7.7 but its not ideal - it really inhibits calcification and make the bones brittle. Since it has to use more bicarbonate at that level to calcify, it needs more energy to pump the extra h+ ion, which means inside its tissue the pH is likely even lower.

Most low pH is caused by high co2 concentration - could be either caused to by bioload or ambient room co2 levels.

As a point of reference, with alk at 8 and normal co2 level, pH should be 8+

 

[Reefing Mama]

Ph is pretty low - looks like it swings between 7.6 to 7.8, if that's accurate

LPS can tolerate as low as 7.7 but its not ideal - it really inhibits calcification and make the bones brittle. Since it has to use more bicarbonate at that level to calcify, it needs more energy to pump the extra h+ ion, which means inside its tissue the pH is likely even lower.

Most low pH is caused by high co2 concentration - could be either caused to by bioload or ambient room co2 levels.

As a point of reference, with alk at 8 and normal co2 level, pH should be 8+

I even have a bubble pump that runs to the tank that is placed outside. We just took the lid off the other day and it has stayed low

 

[Dkmoo]

I even have a bubble pump that runs to the tank that is placed outside. We just took the lid off the other day and it has stayed low

Sounds like high ambient room co2. An outside air pump helps but its still competing against the surface agitation/overflow/skimmer air exchange thats pushing more co2 from room back into the tank. Try opening windows or add a recirculating co2 scrubber.

If you are daily dosing alk, switch to soda ash can help too (if so break it up into a few smaller doses per day and put more at night to mitigate day/night swing)

 

[MERKEY]

I even have a bubble pump that runs to the tank that is placed outside. We just took the lid off the other day and it has stayed low

Getting ph higher is good but you are dealing with a whole package here and your ph will naturally rise once your alk gets higher and stable.

Here is BRS number 1 and first thing in rasing ph is getting alk maintained properly.

@Reefing Mama you need to get alk, cal, mag, po4, no3, under control and then worry about ph.

I'm not saying ph is not very important.

I'm just trying to get you to get your big 3 and then nutrients under control and then your ph will raise naturally.

Top 5 Tips: How to raise pH in reef tanks and saltwater tanks | Reef FAQs

Our Top 5 methods for raising and maintaining the pH at healthy levels in your saltwater reef aquarium.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Reefing Mama]

Getting ph higher is good but you are dealing with a whole package here and your ph will naturally rise once your alk gets higher and stable.

Here is BRS number 1 and first thing in rasing ph is getting alk maintained properly.

@Reefing Mama you need to get alk, cal, mag, po4, no3, under control and then worry about ph.

I'm not saying ph is not very important.

I'm just trying to get you to get your big 3 and then nutrients underckntrol and then your ph will raise naturally.

Top 5 Tips: How to raise pH in reef tanks and saltwater tanks | Reef FAQs

Our Top 5 methods for raising and maintaining the pH at healthy levels in your saltwater reef aquarium.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Figured 8.49 alk and 499 cal would be ok...mag I've been struggling with a little but waterchanges tend to help somewhat but imo not enough

 

[MERKEY]

Figured 8.49 alk and 499 mag would be ok...mag I've been struggling with a little but waterchanges tend to help somewhat but imo not en

Somehow I read you had lower alk.

Your alk is fine number wise but how much variance do you have daily?

Does it go up to 9.5 and back down or does it dip to 7.5 and come back up? Is it swinging?

I would now focus on long term po4 exposure.

My ph sits at 7.9 and I have 0 issues.

I would get better growth if I had it around 8.3 but I don't want to add a line outside or another cow scrubber.

What do you have to remove po4?

People use gfo
Phosgaurd
lanthium

 

[JCM]

How long has the tank been running?

How long have you had these hammers?

Have you added anything new recently?

Are those parameter numbers normal for your tank?