Kenya Tree - are they ok?

[Srh444]

Hello All,

I have a couple of Kenya Trees that were standing upright but now they are drooping. Please see attached photos. The first photo is in blue light. The second is in white light.

Parameter tested today are:

SG 1.025/1.026
Temp 25
pH 8.0
Phosphate 0.01
Alkalinity 1.43 (I know this is low and I have dosed today)
Calcium 450
Magnesium 1300
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2
Ammonia 0

Any advice would be very welcome

Thanks in advance, Steve

 

[shakacuz]

alk that low is very likely test error. so if you dosed ALK, you may have spiked it, causing a coral reaction due to the abrupt change.

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[BryanM]

I would test Alk again, that has to be an error.

 

[BZOFIQ]

If you're testing with Hanna tester, expired reagents will cause that reading. Check the date.

 

[Srh444]

Thanks all for your comments. I don't use Hanna testers. I use the Red Sea tests. The expiry on the box is 2024 - will that make much of a difference as we're only just in to 2025?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Mark Goode]

They'll take over your tank. You know that, right?

 

[shakacuz]

Thanks all for your comments. I don't use Hanna testers. I use the Red Sea tests. The expiry on the box is 2024 - will that make much of a difference as we're only just in to 2025?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

personally, with anything that has a "best by" date, i tend to use before the date, or throw away if after. i wouldn't chance it especially with $$$$$(corals/fish/etc) in the tank

 

[Srh444]

They'll take over your tank. You know that, right?

I wish!!

 

[Srh444]

personally, with anything that has a "best by" date, i tend to use before the date, or throw away if after. i wouldn't chance it especially with $$$$$(corals/fish/etc) in the tank

Yes I should update them. Just looked and quite a few test kits are 2024.

 

[shakacuz]

Yes I should update them. Just looked and quite a few test kits are 2024.

Salifert, Aquaforest are reputable brands. I do have experience with the red sea kits, but found better use out the easier to use hanna "egg" checker.

 

[Srh444]

Salifert, Aquaforest are reputable brands. I do have experience with the red sea kits, but found better use out the easier to use hanna "egg" checker.

I have looked online at the Hanna checkers but they're very expensive just for one - around £60 pounds sterling, I'm in the UK. Maybe I'll go for the other option Salifert.

 

[Srh444]

I have looked online at the Hanna checkers but they're very expensive just for one - around £60 pounds sterling, I'm in the UK. Maybe I'll go for the other option Salifert.

Thanks for your reply.

Thanks to all those who have replied, much appreciated.

 

[FUNGI]

Your tank is too clean......Kenya's like a little "dirty water".

 

[Srh444]

Yeah I know, it is on the clean side. I have a five head xenia on a rock - the first two months all the tentacles and polyps were out and stretched. Now, they're about 1.5/2cm long . I guess they need it dirtier too?!

 

[FUNGI]

Yeah I know, it is on the clean side. I have a five head xenia on a rock - the first two months all the tentacles and polyps were out and stretched. Now, they're about 1.5/2cm long . I guess they need it dirtier too?!

IMO....pretty much all softies like it......."dirty"....LOL.

 

[Srh444]

Thanks for the info, yes I had read about that. My Zoas and Palys are OK but anything else struggles. I have had numerous other corals, scolys, hammers, frogspawn, Duncan, bta's - all fine for around two months, then they recede? No idea why, my parameters were similar to yesterday's post, although the alk was much better. I've resigned myself to just keeping softies.

IMO....pretty much all softies like it......."dirty"....LO

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I have looked online at the Hanna checkers but they're very expensive just for one - around £60 pounds sterling, I'm in the UK. Maybe I'll go for the other option Salifert.

Fully understand the initial expense is steep but in the long run, you will wonder how you did without it.
I still use salifert for mag & potassium but for something like alk, dripping potions into a vial like a victorian scientist is false economy

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is there any water movement in your tank, do you have a powerhead in there?

 

[Srh444]

Fully understand the initial expense is steep but in the long run, you will wonder how you did without it.
I still use salient for mag & potassium but for something like alk, dripping potions into a vial like a victorian scientist is false economy

I had another look on ebay yesterday, they're not £60, more like £77 and £85 so even more expensive. I'll go with Salifert for now, you can get 7 test kits for around £75 sterling, so 7 for under the price of 1 Hanna checker. I have heard that Hanna are the best, they should be at their prices but will go with the others for now.

 

[Srh444]

Is there any water movement in your tank, do you have a powerhead in there?

Yes there is a wavemaker at one end and the return pump the other end. The tank is small, 30g and around 32" long