Healthy or Unhealthy Corals?

[ollysaquariums]

Hey everyone,
I have a mixed reef tank which is newly cycled and includes soft corals and LPS. I wanted to see if anyone would be able to tell me if my corals are happy or not since I’m still learning to be able to tell between healthy and unhealthy corals. I’ll include a picture of all my LPS: Australophyllia Wilsoni, Acan, Favia. I also have a picture of my duncan coral which when first introduced to the tank was really happy and always open but recently it’s been closed up the past few days and only came out this morning to eat but didn’t even fully extend, would anybody know why this is? Is it a bad thing or a good thing?

I also thought I’d show my little zoa garden a mate gave me haha.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

no pictures came thru

 

[ollysaquariums]

no pictures came thru

this work?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

yep! like your acans! they might be happier in a more shaded spot

 

[ollysaquariums]

yep! like your acans! they might be happier in a more shaded spot

alright bet haha. any ideas on why the duncan is closed up randomly it was always open before yesterday and randomly closed?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ive had a challenging time with duncans. i finally discovered the only way mine was happy was out of direct flow

 

[ollysaquariums]

ive had a challenging time with duncans. i finally discovered the only way mine was happy was out of direct flow

okay thank you! also I woke up this morning and my favia looks really unhappy I’ll attach a picture if you’re able to say if I’m seeing things or not cause I’m worried haha.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

hmmm @Rocks reef what do you say?

 

[Rocks reef]

Ok, couple questions.
How old is your tank?
What lights are you using and at what intensity?
Do you know your parameters?
They do look a bit unhappy. However, @smitten with ocean life and I will get you sorted out.

 

[ollysaquariums]

Ok, couple questions.
How old is your tank?
What lights are you using and at what intensity?
Do you know your parameters?
They do look a bit unhappy. However, @smitten with ocean life and I will get you sorted out.

Tank is maybe 4-5 weeks old, I’m using the aqua one minireef lights which I think are the aqua one mariglo lights.

Parameters:
Mg: 1290ppm
Ca: 480ppm
PO4: 0.32ppm
KH: 11.2 dKH
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
Salinity: 1.025 SG
pH: 7.9

I was having phosphate issues which is why they’re still a bit high but they originally were at 3.2 before and I added the LPS when the phosphates reduced to 1ppm and my rowaphos has reduced even more. The nitrogen cycle is going but since I only have two clownfish, the nitrates are quickly consumed by the corals so as soon as ammonia and nitrites are converted they’re taken in by corals.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ok. sounds a little new and the numbers arent stable enough.

 

[ollysaquariums]

ok. sounds a little new and the numbers arent stable enough.

what could be wrong with the favia and duncan causing the duncan to close up and favia to not be as colourful?

 

[Coral Memere]

ok. sounds a little new and the numbers arent stable enough.

what could be wrong with the favia and duncan causing the duncan to close up and favia to not be as colourful?

The Favia looks like that sometimes, after it eats. They eat in the dark, so if you've just turned the lights on, they could be digesting. Favia also get puffier as the day goes on and they're basking in their low light. I was going to say everything looked happy until I came to the Duncan...

Keep moving the Duncan around every couple days, different light, different flow. You've got a pretty hearty one. It'll tell you what it likes. The Acan and Favia are in good places.

About the wilsoni... It's a deep-water coral that like a cooler water. Mine are having a rough time with the summer water temps crawling into the high 70s. Find i a dark place with constant, medium flow to keep it cool... Maybe freeze some water bottles to float as a poor-man's chiller.

You're tank is really new. In theory, it's still cycling. You've picked some tricky corals to start with--jumped right over the kiddie pool and into chest-deep water. The Wilsoni is my biggest concern, so know all you can about it I wouldn't add any more, even though the urge is overwhelming. Learn these guys. Study them at different times at night and day. You'll learn what they like and what l
Makes them mad. For example, By mistake, (dog knocked down the curtains) I just saw mine in a sunny window and couldn't believe the difference between my lights and weak northern sunlight! They're amazing!

Next coral purchases you make, investigate before buying on impulse. Each "mouth" is an animal you're "rescuing". You'll need to know what it eats, how it behaves, what home it needs and how finicky it is.

You got this! They're going to be beautiful when y'all get adjusted to each other!

 

[Coral Memere]

Ok, couple questions.
How old is your tank?
What lights are you using and at what intensity?
Do you know your parameters?
They do look a bit unhappy. However, @smitten with ocean life and I will get you sorted out.

Tank is maybe 4-5 weeks old, I’m using the aqua one minireef lights which I think are the aqua one mariglo lights.

Parameters:
Mg: 1290ppm
Ca: 480ppm
PO4: 0.32ppm
KH: 11.2 dKH
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
Salinity: 1.025 SG
pH: 7.9

I was having phosphate issues which is why they’re still a bit high but they originally were at 3.2 before and I added the LPS when the phosphates reduced to 1ppm and my rowaphos has reduced even more. The nitrogen cycle is going but since I only have two clownfish, the nitrates are quickly consumed by the corals so as soon as ammonia and nitrites are converted they’re taken in by corals.

Your 0.0 nitrates could be affecting the Duncan. Nitrates are feetiliWr to feed the zoxanthelle. In your LPS tank, they can be 20+. Duncans also get grouchy with higher phos, unless they're used to it. (Mine are, right now, too.) Again, the zoxanthelle needs a min .03 to photosynthasize.

But, again, check your water temp.... And I like the high flow idea to entice the tentacles out.

 

[Coral Memere]

ok. sounds a little new and the numbers arent stable enough.

what could be wrong with the favia and duncan causing the duncan to close up and favia to not be as colourful?

Fighting Irish Favia?

Color has to do with nutrients. Feed your tank and raise the nitrates. Also, get the ammonia down with nitrifying bacteria. Noone like ammonia. Once your tank is fully cycled, you won't have measurable ammonia.

Fair warning, the algae is coming with those phosphates.

 

[ollysaquariums]

ok. sounds a little new and the numbers arent stable enough.

what could be wrong with the favia and duncan causing the duncan to close up and favia to not be as colourful?

Fighting Irish Favia?

Color has to do with nutrients. Feed your tank and raise the nitrates. Also, get the ammonia down with nitrifying bacteria. Noone like ammonia. Once your tank is fully cycled, you won't have measurable ammonia.

Fair warning, the algae is coming with those phosphates.

Yeah haha I’ve got a bunch of algae but the inverts take care of it pretty fast. I have a mate who knows a lot about marine and has his own tank with LPS and SPS, also soft corals. He’s been helping me heaps and telling me what I’m doing right and wrong and he and a few other people that work at a small coral and fish shop (and take great care of everything) told me that these would be the best beginner LPS and they’re real hardy. I bought the Wilsoni with a pair of clowns a while ago not knowing what it was but now I know. Thanks so much for that advice! I was also told my light isn’t fit for reefing tbh

 

[Rocks reef]

The Favia looks like that sometimes, after it eats. They eat in the dark, so if you've just turned the lights on, they could be digesting. Favia also get puffier as the day goes on and they're basking in their low light. I was going to say everything looked happy until I came to the Duncan...

Keep moving the Duncan around every couple days, different light, different flow. You've got a pretty hearty one. It'll tell you what it likes. The Acan and Favia are in good places.

About the wilsoni... It's a deep-water coral that like a cooler water. Mine are having a rough time with the summer water temps crawling into the high 70s. Find i a dark place with constant, medium flow to keep it cool... Maybe freeze some water bottles to float as a poor-man's chiller.

You're tank is really new. In theory, it's still cycling. You've picked some tricky corals to start with--jumped right over the kiddie pool and into chest-deep water. The Wilsoni is my biggest concern, so know all you can about it I wouldn't add any more, even though the urge is overwhelming. Learn these guys. Study them at different times at night and day. You'll learn what they like and what l
Makes them mad. For example, By mistake, (dog knocked down the curtains) I just saw mine in a sunny window and couldn't believe the difference between my lights and weak northern sunlight! They're amazing!

Next coral purchases you make, investigate before buying on impulse. Each "mouth" is an animal you're "rescuing". You'll need to know what it eats, how it behaves, what home it needs and how finicky it is.

You got this! They're going to be beautiful when y'all get adjusted to each other!

Great post!!

 

[Rocks reef]

Ok, back to the light first.
What size tank do you have and what size light do you have?
I feel there are three main issues.
Light
Nitrates
Tank age

Your phosphate is fine, however, you are starving the corals having no nitrates.
What size is the light you are using. I looked them up and they are quite weak.

 

[ollysaquariums]

Ok, back to the light first.
What size tank do you have and what size light do you have?
I feel there are three main issues.
Light
Nitrates
Tank age

Your phosphate is fine, however, you are starving the corals having no nitrates.
What size is the light you are using. I looked them up and they are quite weak.

The light is abt 4ft long same as my tank which is 197 litres

 

[ollysaquariums]

Ok, back to the light first.
What size tank do you have and what size light do you have?
I feel there are three main issues.
Light
Nitrates
Tank age

Your phosphate is fine, however, you are starving the corals having no nitrates.
What size is the light you are using. I looked them up and they are quite weak.

Hey, I have an update on the Duncan. It’s open now, but not fully extended. I think it was closed because it was growing a new head which is exciting and I’ll attach a picture. The acan also possibly is growing new polyps or whatever it’s called, let me know if it actually is in the photo haha.