Is my Torch Coral dying?

[redseanewbie]

Hey so I got a torch coral pretty much for pennies. Some guy had a massive colony and gave me his smallest frag.

So i took it home and it started opening up and then 2 days later it looks like this. It was not under much light at his tank and i set it at the bottom of my bed (90 par). Once it started dying i moved it and thats where the photo is taken. Tank is newer but I was told they can be new tank friendly? all my other coral are doing alright.

Is this guy a goner or should i let him wait it out. If so what are some things I can do for better odds?

some of the tentacles have got very thin

Gave it a 5 min dip and plopped it in.
Parameters:
Ph: 8.2
Nitrate: 7.5
temp: 78
Phosphate: .25-.5
Calcium: 400
Alk: 8

 

[redseanewbie]

update: i tested my Alk: it is now 5... not sure where to even start

 

[Shirak]

What are you using to test alk?
What is your salinity at and testing method? Maybe it's low?

I would run Alk test again. If everything else checks out with salinity and it really is below 7 then bumping up with baking soda is pretty easy.

I would leave the torch where it is. 90par is not too much and shouldn't stress it much even if it was lower where it came from. Tank parameters that are significantly different though like a big alk difference will absolutely upset it.

I would look at your tank stability and what you are doing for testing, dosing, supplementation etc.

 

[redseanewbie]

What are you using to test alk?
What is your salinity at and testing method? Maybe it's low?

I would run Alk test again. If everything else checks out with salinity and it really is below 7 then bumping up with baking soda is pretty easy.

I would leave the torch where it is. 90par is not too much and shouldn't stress it much even if it was lower where it came from. Tank parameters that are significantly different though like a big alk difference will absolutely upset it.

I would look at your tank stability and what you are doing for testing, dosing, supplementation etc.

API test kit (drops) for Alk. Ran it a few times and even cross refrenced water from LFS to ensure accuracy. Ya I started to dose yesterday and am slowly bringing it up. I dont even have that much coral but i was reading in new tanks there are so many factors that can drop Alk.

Salinity is at 1.026

 

[Dustin07]

has it stayed like that for the full 24hrs? one of my torches does that every day around 5pm.

I've been told ideal param for torches are cal 450+, mag 1500, kh 9+.
That said, I'm currently at 420, 1290, and 8.0 but slowly trying to increase all three because my torches are all looking healthy, but don't grow as much as I think they should.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You need a better test kit than API, I would not trust that reading. I would say this is not a good choice for a newer tank, IMO euphyllia is more of an intermediate level coral

 

[Shirak]

API test kit (drops) for Alk. Ran it a few times and even cross refrenced water from LFS to ensure accuracy. Ya I started to dose yesterday and am slowly bringing it up. I dont even have that much coral but i was reading in new tanks there are so many factors that can drop Alk.

Salinity is at 1.026

Yes new rock and sand can suck calcium and alk out of the water initially but that should stop after a few weeks or so. Salt mixes can also vary considerably on the alk level they mix too but they should at least be 7 or higher. SO if it really is 5 that's a problem.

If alk is 5 then I wouldn't be so worried about bringing it up slowly! Bump to at least 7 with baking soda. Use an online calculator so you can input total water volume and current/desired alk using sodium bicarbonate. Mix with some RODI and get your alk back to at least NSW levels. There are dosing calculators in the reef chemistry forum. BRS has calculators too for most things you need to worry about.

Low alk and Ca can also be an indicator for low salinity because if salinity is low everything else will be low too.

What are you using for salinity and how are you calibrating it?

Lots of methods to test but results can vary...

I agree about the API test kit. Get a better kit even if you are bringing to the LFS for confirmation. Salifert is an inexpensive quality kit.

 

[Uncle99]

Many corals do that when moved.
I’d just leave it be

Your Alk, with that test kit, could just as well be 7-8

 

[frankenfav]

Try to move it as little as possible and make sure to watch out for potential phosphate spikes.