Help with lighting or coral placement

iztestf · Feb 13, 2021

I am new to trying to keep a saltwater aquarium. I have the fluval 32g flex marine tank. All parameters seem fine. I'm not 100% sure because it takes me an hour just to go through the process. 2 months ago, I felt the tank was ready for coral and I got 2 frags. One zoa and one gsp. After a month they weren't lookin too good, so I changed their location in the tank to moved them closer to the light. I have also changed the light parameters to what I found as recommended on this site. None of that helped and the zoa started to melt off of the frag. I got frustrated and gave it away, but still have the gsp. The pad is still purple and it opens slightly. I can't tell if it's unhappy with the location, the lights or the fact that the cuc wont stay away. I would like to be able to keep corals but I think this tank is only capable of being FOWLR. Any advise?

Ludders · Feb 14, 2021

GSP will grow and thrive in almost any light conditions. From right at the top of the tank, to the lower light levels at the bottom.
Do you monitor your alk levels? What are your nitrate levels at?

iztestf · Feb 14, 2021

Ludders said:
GSP will grow and thrive in almost any light conditions. From right at the top of the tank, to the lower light levels at the bottom.
Do you monitor your alk levels? What are your nitrate levels at?

Wel, alk has been running btween 9 and 10. Today it looks like it's 9.8. Honestly, I'm not sure what it should be. I'm using the Red Sea test kit and supplements. If I'm reading the kh foundation correctly, I should be around 11? Seems like 10 is close to it, no? As for nitrates, I have a hard time reading the color charts. It looks high and it's probably from overfeeding. I was told that some nitrates are ok, but not sure of the threshold. I've attached a picture.

lpsouth1978 · Feb 14, 2021

Looks like you need to do some water changes. From that picture, I would say that you are somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 NO3. That is quite high. I would shoot for <20 for your GSP and zoas.

Also what lights are you using and at what settings?

iztestf · Feb 14, 2021

I just went and got 10 gallons of saltwater. I changed 5 tonight and will change 5 in 3 or 4 days. I checked salinity beforehand and it was a little high at 1.027. After water change it came down just a little over 1.024.

The lights are the fluval Marine 3.0. Attached are the settings I'm using