Help me save my frogspawn

[reefmom28]

Our frogspawn was thriving, living its best life (first photo - last Sunday July 20), until last Tuesday it started to decline FAST (second photo - July 27).

The only new factors to the tank are that we added a few turbo snails, ninja star snails, dwarf cerith, hermit crabs, zig zag periwinkles, dwarf trochus, limpets, nassarius, and a tuxedo urchin (all from Reef Cleaners - added July 18). We have been battling green hairy algae (GHA) for the past 4 months, however the frogspawn has been fine this entire time, even with the GHA.

Starting last Tuesday, it started to quickly recede into itself and has not been the same since (has just gotten worse). No pests have been spotted. The flesh of the frogspawn does not seem to be receding up the base.

I should add - the only coral that seems to also be upset right now is the purple hairy mushroom. Everything else has been thriving.

Tank information:
Tank: 15 gal established 5/2024
Live rock/live sand bed
Single wavemaker
Light is on a schedule that has not been changed since March 2025

Livestock:
2 clownfish
Conch, snails, hermit crabs
Tuxedo urchin

Corals: Toadstool, purple hairy mushroom, acans, green hairy mushroom, various zoas, red and blue mushrooms, and frogspawn in question.

Frogspawn was acquired November 12, 2024.

I’ve tested parameters multiple times. Results:

• temp: 79 deg F
• salinity: 1.026 SG
• pH: 8.3
• Nitrates: 0.05 ppm
• Phosphates: 0.08 ppm
• Calcium: 465 ppm
• Alk: 9.45 dKH
• Magnesium: 1380 ppm

Does anyone have any tips, tricks, or advice to help save this frogspawn?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Are you running carbon to absorb any toxins that might come from that big toadstool?

 

[reefmom28]

I’ve tested parameters multiple times. Results:

• temp: 79 deg F
• salinity: 1.026 SG
• pH: 8.3
• Nitrates: 0.5
• Phosphates: 0.04 ppm
• Calcium: 445 ppm
• Alk: 9.6 dKH
• Magnesium: 1275 ppm (dosed with 10 mL Magnesion after testing)
• (note original post said ppm for nitrates and phosphates - ignore the ppm bc I forgot that Hanna doesn't read out in ppm)

 

[reefmom28]

Are you running carbon to absorb any toxins that might come from that big toadstool?

no, we have had issues with running carbon before. considering it though.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Are you running carbon to absorb any toxins that might come from that big toadstool?

Agreed, running carbon to combat the toxins. As it can take months before you notice other corals being affected by it and then its too late.

 

[Shirak]

Not sure what you mean about Hanna not reading in PPM for nitrate. What tester are you using? Your nitrates and phosphate are quite low which is what I would expect if you are battling hair algae. So in addition to the carbon as others have mentioned. The coral is probably starving.

The hair algae is very aggressive and fast growing and will suck nutrients like a sponge. Corals like your LPS will look fine even if they are not getting enough nutrients.... for a while. Then they hit a tipping point and rapidly decline in noticeable ways. I would suggest target feeding 2 or 3 times a week with chopped frozen mysis and maybe some small sinking pellets. Frogspawn should react to feeding but helps to turn the flow down or off for 15-20 minutes. Hermits and shrimp will try and steal food too so throw a little extra in for them first.

 

[kevgib67]

It appears far from gone, still has great flesh bands so it hasn’t been in decline for a long time and just started showing it on the outside. Address the parameters and listen to the advice on carbon and it will be back to it’s previous beauty.

 

[Saltyreef24]

Did this one come back? Hoping your coral is good and well