Is this Blasto ok?

[Sinkers]

Hey guys,

Wondering if this Blasto frag is looking normal? Sorry it's not the clearest photo, lights are out at the moment.

I can see it's pushing out a couple of new heads, wondering if it's flaring out for this reason or what.

Was thinking maybe it's stretching for light? I've had it a couple weeks and just had it on the sand bed for time being.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If the lights are out, then its not a good way to judge IMO, corals recede at night to rest.

 

[Sinkers]

If the lights are out, then its not a good way to judge IMO, corals recede at night to rest.

It's like that all throughout the day. They only went out a few mins before the photo.

They aren't receding, they are generally wide open and look to be stretching, the main heads at least anyway.

What I see with a lot of other Blastos, rather than trumpet up like that they look sort of folded over? Generally can't see the underside.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

can you tell us what kind of light you have and what intensity over what size tank? Can you also list your water parameters for reference? Do you have other corals, how are they doing? Thanks

 

[Sinkers]

can you tell us what kind of light you have and what intensity over what size tank? Can you also list your water parameters for reference? Do you have other corals, how are they doing? Thanks

I have an AI prime on a 25g tank. I'm not sure of the total intensity, each colour runs a different intensity. I'm using a lighting schedule I downloaded (Pennywise 81%) and have had it in acclimation mode.

Cal 385
Mag 1320
dKH 7.1
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.03

I have Hammer, Zoa's, Duncan, Cyphastrea, Candy Cane all doing fine.

When Blastos grow new heads do they do that to allow light to get through to them? Or new heads can just pop up from underneath without getting any light? There's a new small head in the photo but there's also one or two tiny ones popping that can't make out in the photo.

 

[Shirak]

I have an AI prime on a 25g tank. I'm not sure of the total intensity, each colour runs a different intensity. I'm using a lighting schedule I downloaded (Pennywise 81%) and have had it in acclimation mode.

Cal 385
Mag 1320
dKH 7.1
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.03

I have Hammer, Zoa's, Duncan, Cyphastrea, Candy Cane all doing fine.

When Blastos grow new heads do they do that to allow light to get through to them? Or new heads can just pop up from underneath without getting any light? There's a new small head in the photo but there's also one or two tiny ones popping that can't make out in the photo.

No they don't do that to allow new heads light.

Ca is on the low side and so is Alk. What's your salinity?

Nutrients seem low too.

Photos of the other corals? 1 Prime on a 25g tank is probably not enough. What are the dimensions etc and distance to the water? Photo would be good.

 

[Sinkers]

No they don't do that to allow new heads light.

Ca is on the low side and so is Alk. What's your salinity?

Nutrients seem low too.

Photos of the other corals? 1 Prime on a 25g tank is probably not enough. What are the dimensions etc and distance to the water? Photo would be good.

I should probably mention that the tank is 7 weeks old so still young. I'm buying my saltwater from LFS for now until I get my own RODI setup.

Salinity is 1.025

Yeh I'd like them a little higher. I didn't think calcium was too bad though? There's not a lot of coral and all are frags.

I'm stuck on what to do for Alk. Nitrification is probably the main cause of it depleting at the moment. I test the bought saltwater and it was 8.8dKH. I'm doing 10-15% water changes probably every 5 days. It got as low as 6.8dKH so it has come up a little since then.

Nitrates and Phosphates too low? With my water changes I haven't seen Nitrates above 12 or Phosphates above 0.06.

Tank is a Waterbox 25G, without the return chamber it's 50cm X 40cm. Light 10" off the surface.

I'll get a couple more photos when I get a chance

 

[Shirak]

A little baking soda and you can bump your alk. Changing that much water at this time is probably unnecessary. 5%/week for the next couple months will help bump nutrients.
Yes I would say too low on the nutrients. Nitrate not terrible but with phosphate where it’s at photosynthesis is hindered which is not good for your corals. I keep mainly lps and shoot for 15-20 nitrates and .05-.1 phosphate.

 

[Sinkers]

A little baking soda and you can bump your alk. Changing that much water at this time is probably unnecessary. 5%/week for the next couple months will help bump nutrients.
Yes I would say too low on the nutrients. Nitrate not terrible but with phosphate where it’s at photosynthesis is hindered which is not good for your corals. I keep mainly lps and shoot for 15-20 nitrates and .05-.1 phosphate.

I don't feed the corals a lot, do Blastos need regular feeding?

I'm worried if I let my nutrients get to high in the early stages it will encourage a lot more algae growth? Is this not the case?

My CUC is only 2 Nassarius, 1 Trochus and 5 stomatella at the moment. Maybe I should let nutrients go up a bit and grab a few more snails.