galaxea coral not doing too hot

[snowday1221]

so I got this coral because I had been going back to the pet store and looking at it and wanting it for a whole week, and my partner suggested we get it so we don't miss out and never see it again since we're beginners and don't know how to identify them based on sight. they had no idea what it was when they sold it to me and some other helpful hobbyists told me it looks like a galaxea (i thought it was a torch upon trying to research) so I bring it home and acclimate it temp and dumping water in the bag, and homie just looks terrible, his lil tentacles aren't opening up on the tallest bit although some of the smaller ones look okayish, can anybody help steer me in the right direction? he's the only.coral in the tank so far so I don't have to worry about the aggression YET but I do know to place him very far away if I ever get more corals. how can I save my little guy and make him happy and open up? I don't have the reef test kit, I got the saltwater test kit and at the time I thought it was enough. I plan on getting one as soon as I possibly can because I now realize it's very important.

 

[snowday1221]

calcium - 300ppm
kh - 196.9 ppm
phosphate - 0
ph - 8.0
ammonia - 0.25
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 5ppm
the light is one that came in an imagitarium kit, the light says it's 8 watts

 

[Shirak]

Salinity? Your calcium is very low so either testing error or your salinity is very low. What test kit are you using? Guessing API? toss it.. Salifert or Hanna. I don't like looking at color in tubes so I prefer Hanna Alk, High range Nitrate, Ultra low range Phosphate. Salifert are also good for Alk, Ca

LPS don't need a ton of light but an 8w light is way under powered for coral. The coral has lost a lot of flesh which is not good. My guess is a combination of factors which need correcting. Water parameter issues like calcium and perhaps salinity. Lack of nutrients with 0 phosphate and very low nitrate. Can see nothing growing on the rock too which is also an indication of low nutrients.

Feed more to get your nutrients up. Be prepared to add some snails etc to help eat algae and keep the rocks and glass clean. Look into better lighting.

 

[snowday1221]

Salinity? Your calcium is very low so either testing error or your salinity is very low. What test kit are you using? Guessing API? toss it.. Salifert or Hanna. I don't like looking at color in tubes so I prefer Hanna Alk, High range Nitrate, Ultra low range Phosphate. Salifert are also good for Alk, Ca

LPS don't need a ton of light but an 8w light is way under powered for coral. The coral has lost a lot of flesh which is not good. My guess is a combination of factors which need correcting. Water parameter issues like calcium and perhaps salinity. Lack of nutrients with 0 phosphate and very low nitrate. Can see nothing growing on the rock too which is also an indication of low nutrients.

Feed more to get your nutrients up. Be prepared to add some snails etc to help eat algae and keep the rocks and glass clean. Look into better lighting.

I tested my salinity and it was at 25 instead of the recommended 35 so I realize that's not good, I'm planning on adding salt to a seperate cup of tank water and adding it in very slowly throughout the course of the day until it reads the correct salinity , do you think that could have been my problem? I suppose I'll have to wait and see how the coral reacts

 

[Shirak]

Partly yes. Partly the very low nutrients. For LPS good target range NO3 15-20ppm, PO4 .05-.09ppm

 

[Keithb22]

How old is the tank? Idk if there’s any saving that coral a minimum of a blackbox light is needed or anything with more oomph than 8w. I would absolutely get a fully cycled tank and stable/predictable levels before adding anything alive. Get predictable and consistent tests for your major lytes, I use Hanna for mag, calcium, alk. Refractometer from bed or amazon, ideally the one with the led. Take your time and read through the beginner forum section so you know the next practical steps and how to get there. Best of luck and take your time setting this tank up, takes a while to get results and the only thing that happens quick is disaster