Help with torch

[KBnewbie]

I bought my first torch 3 weeks ago and it was going great. It is a double head and both head were very full and pretty. This week both head are not expanding and one is very retracted. I’m worried it will die.

Nitrates- 13.1
Alkalinity- 9.0
Phosphates- .79
Calcium- 476
PH- 8.1
Nitrite- 0
Salinity- 34.0
Temp- 77deg

Here is what it looks like now compared to what it did look like. I’m guessing it’s because phosphates are really high and maybe it’s because of feeding pellets

 

[Jekyl]

Salinity low and phosphate is high at first glance. Also no mag test

 

[KBnewbie]

Confused on the salinity. Bulk reef supply chart shows 32-35 is good. What is the best way to reduce my phosphates? I don’t have a mag test.

 

[Jekyl]

Confused on the salinity. Bulk reef supply chart shows 32-35 is good. What is the best way to reduce my phosphates? I don’t have a mag test.

Usually want to keep right at 35 for corals. Can use some chemipure elite or other gfo to help on phosphate. Magnesium can be a big deal with LPS and I'd recommend you test for it.

 

[Propane]

The ways to reduce phosphate depend on how they are getting into your tank. You could feed less or feed better food. Perhaps you water change schedule needs adjusting.

 

[KBnewbie]

It is only a 30 gallon tank and I usually change out 5 gallons of water once a week but I missed a week because my back was out. I have frozen foods but stopped feeding it trying to get nitrates down but I read that pellet food is bad for increasing phosphates. Should I go strictly to frozen foods?

 

[Propane]

Your nitrates aren’t completely of the rails it’s your phosphates that are elevated. Do a bit more on your water changes and start feeding less. Aqua forest has a decent mag test and salifert seems effective for many.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I bought my first torch 3 weeks ago and it was going great. It is a double head and both head were very full and pretty. This week both head are not expanding and one is very retracted. I’m worried it will die.

Nitrates- 13.1
Alkalinity- 9.0
Phosphates- .79
Calcium- 476
PH- 8.1
Nitrite- 0
Salinity- 34.0
Temp- 77deg

Here is what it looks like now compared to what it did look like. I’m guessing it’s because phosphates are really high and maybe it’s because of feeding pellets

Does not look terrible in fact good. I would focus on phosphate. If feeding it reef roids , stop and switch to mysis shrimp which all my euphyllia get for meals

 

[KBnewbie]

Yes I had been feeding reef roids but I stopped for a few weeks. I’ll do water change and go strictly to mysis shrimp. Do I need to thaw and rinse the frozen food before feeding?

 

[Propane]

that might help a bit. Be sure to keep up on changing filter socks or floss as well.

 

[Icryhard]

How does the flesh look? Starting to retract?

 

[KBnewbie]

Flesh bands look good but the one head retracts so much I can see the skeleton on one side a little bit.

 

[KBnewbie]

Did water change and it only dropped phosphates from .79 to .72 At that rate this could take a while.

 

[Icryhard]

Did water change and it only dropped phosphates from .79 to .72 At that rate this could take a while.

Water change does not help dropping po4. As you can see, it does reduce it, but not nearly as much as a person would think. This is because it is absorbed by your sandbed and rocks etc. and once it can release again, it'll release what is absorbed. In order to reduce po4 effectively you'd need either something to bind the po4 to, or use live bacteria which consume po4 (which I personally would advice to use).

 

[KBnewbie]

Any certain product you recommend?

 

[Icryhard]

Any certain product you recommend?

Nopox for example could be used to reduce it.

 

[Jekyl]

Any certain product you recommend?

Use a bag of chemipure elite in your filtration