Help with Fox Coral

[David Groos]

So I am new to the board and this is my first post. I have a 40 gallon mixed tank and everything is going well except for my fox coral. I've had it for about 4 months and the first three months it opened splendidly. One day it quit extending fully, and now it barely opens. I've tried moving it to various parts of the the tank to no avail.
Tank Params:
Temp:77-78
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm
Nitrate: 10ppm
Ph:8.2
Alk:8.6
Calc:490
Mag:1440

Fox Coral Location:
Sand Bed, with low flow. PAR 105
Original Location: Sand Bed, Med flow, PAR 164

I moved it to an area of lower light thinking that may be the issue, but to no avail. The only changes made that may have instigated the issue was increasing the photoperiod from 10 to 11hours. I checked for pest and all i found was a feather duster growing on the base, which I scrapped off.

Any thoughts?

 

[mermaid_life]

Did you move it as soon as it closed up? If not, how long was it closed for before you decided to move it?

 

[David Groos]

Did you move it as soon as it closed up? If not, how long was it closed for before you decided to move it?

I moved it roughly three days after it closed up.

 

[mermaid_life]

The reason I ask is because IME LPS tends to have cranky days. My fox coral, frogspawn, and hammer sometimes close up when they are about to split or for no reason at all, but they come back in a few days. Of the 3, my fox tends to be the most sensitive to movement, me cleaning the tank, etc.

If you are certain nothing has changed and it doesn't look like it has disease or pests, I would leave it be for at least a week. Just my opinion though!

 

[Heres_doe_]

The reason I ask is because IME LPS tends to have cranky days. My fox coral, frogspawn, and hammer sometimes close up when they are about to split or for no reason at all, but they come back in a few days. Of the 3, my fox tends to be the most sensitive to movement, me cleaning the tank, etc.

If you are certain nothing has changed and it doesn't look like it has disease or pests, I would leave it be for at least a week. Just my opinion though!

I ain't got a fox but my euphyllia tend to be very sensitive to anything especially my torch so if my torch is happy i know for sure the entire tank is if it's not i start looking for issues if it's closed up all the way i know for sure there's a problem

 

[mermaid_life]

I ain't got a fox but my euphyllia tend to be very sensitive to anything especially my torch so if my torch is happy i know for sure the entire tank is if it's not i start looking for issues if it's closed up all the way i know for sure there's a problem

I have heard torches are notoriously temperamental and sensitive which why I stopped at hammers and frogspawn lol.

 

[Heres_doe_]

I have heard torches are notoriously temperamental and sensitive which why I stopped at hammers and frogspawn lol.

My first tank if i can do it u can too lol my hammer actually is such a little girl always so mad over nothing my torch isn't even that bad compared to my hammer. My frammer just always happy doesn't care.

 

[mermaid_life]

There you go @David Groos .... euphyllia = temperamental ;Joyful just depends on your specific one.

 

[Heres_doe_]

So I am new to the board and this is my first post. I have a 40 gallon mixed tank and everything is going well except for my fox coral. I've had it for about 4 months and the first three months it opened splendidly. One day it quit extending fully, and now it barely opens. I've tried moving it to various parts of the the tank to no avail.
Tank Params:
Temp:77-78
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm
Nitrate: 10ppm
Ph:8.2
Alk:8.6
Calc:490
Mag:1440

Fox Coral Location:
Sand Bed, with low flow. PAR 105
Original Location: Sand Bed, Med flow, PAR 164

I moved it to an area of lower light thinking that may be the issue, but to no avail. The only changes made that may have instigated the issue was increasing the photoperiod from 10 to 11hours. I checked for pest and all i found was a feather duster growing on the base, which I scrapped off.

Any thoughts?

U have all LPS? If so i see my lps do better in dirtier water like 20 ppm nitrates

 

[David Groos]

I have Frammers, Hammers, Frogspawn and a torch. All are happy and fully extended. I first I thought one of my frogspawn had stung the fox because it sends out pretty long sweepers. I have lps, zoas, a couple of leathers and sps. All are happy except the fox. My duncan gets cranky after it eats, but it is the only one that gets temperamental. That's why the fox is so irritating. Any thoughts on maybe dipping it to see if there are pest I can't see with the naked eye?

 

[Heres_doe_]

I have Frammers, Hammers, Frogspawn and a torch. All are happy and fully extended. I first I thought one of my frogspawn had stung the fox because it sends out pretty long sweepers. I have lps, zoas, a couple of leathers and sps. All are happy except the fox. My duncan gets cranky after it eats, but it is the only one that gets temperamental. That's why the fox is so irritating. Any thoughts on maybe dipping it to see if there are pest I can't see with the naked eye?

I had a blasto who was getting stung by aiptasia and i couldn't see it for a bit could be so look closely.

 

[David Groos]

Now that I think about it I started dosing Red Sea Energy plus about the same time. Think that may cause any issues?

 

[David Groos]

I had a blasto who was getting stung by aiptasia and i couldn't see it for a bit could be so look closely.

That's a good point. I will pull him out tomorrow and give a good look over

 

[mermaid_life]

I have Frammers, Hammers, Frogspawn and a torch. All are happy and fully extended. I first I thought one of my frogspawn had stung the fox because it sends out pretty long sweepers. I have lps, zoas, a couple of leathers and sps. All are happy except the fox. My duncan gets cranky after it eats, but it is the only one that gets temperamental. That's why the fox is so irritating. Any thoughts on maybe dipping it to see if there are pest I can't see with the naked eye?

my two cents is still leave it be. The more you put it through, the longer it will take to be "normal" again. Unless you see disease. My fox literally just opened today after being VERY CLOSED for 2 days. Maybe a picture might help us see something else?

 

[mermaid_life]

Now that I think about it I started dosing Red Sea Energy plus about the same time. Think that may cause any issues?

my tank loves Reef Energy. I use it once a week but only 4mL in a 75galloon. They look extra fluffy the day after I add it. I would add more often except that I had an GHA issue in the past when I added too much too often

 

[David Groos]

Here’s a pic

 

[mermaid_life]

Here’s a pic

Thanks. That's what mine look like when "taking a break." If everything else is good and you've found no pests on it or no nearby corals stinging, put it in a place with low/medium light and low/medium flow and leave it be for a few days. If things start looking worse than the above, post updated pictures.

When lps are ticked, they REALLY retract and you see the skeleton. This one doesn't look that way. I hope this helps.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Stability is key for these coral.. Reef energy can have impact on water quality rather than coral . Did light or water flow change?
If not, focus on water. What test kits are you using for ammonia and nitrate ?

 

[David Groos]

Stability is key for these coral.. Reef energy can have impact on water quality rather than coral . Did light or water flow change?
If not, focus on water. What test kits are you using for ammonia and nitrate ?

I did move my power heads after cleaning them, but they are in roughly the same area.. as I mentioned befor I increased the photo period by an hour a day. As for test kits, I use red sea for everything except alk, which I use a Hanna checker on because I test it more frequently. I did find some bubble algae on the base, three or four very small globes, which I removed

 

[Heres_doe_]

See look at this baby cry hammer and look at my other euphyllia. Some corals are just fussy i guess.