My corals aren't happy

[Phil Edwards]

Hi.

I wonder if you can help. I have a couple of soft corals that just won't open.

I have a second hand Red sea nano and the flow from the return pump is good.
I have the lights on the mid setting which is 100% blue and 50% white.
I have been running it for 3 months now.
I have 2 clowns in the tank.
I have attached perameters that I took yesterday.

 

[Rjukan]

0 nitrate and 0 phosphate will do that to you. You'll want to get those up to a decent detectable range.

Edit: And your pH is a little low as well.. want to get that into the 8.3 range.

When did you put the corals in?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Looks like a frogspawn (or hammer) and a goni to me, lps corals.

I'm not sure about the flow, the return pump IMO normally doesn't provide flow to the full tank, always good to have at least one powerhead in the tank.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Zero nutrients is not optimal

 

[Razorbacks]

Agree with others. Get those nutrients above zero. You can dose them directly but IMO it would be better to broast cast feed something like reef roids and let it break down. I have to do this several times a week on my tank to keep my phosphate from bottoming out.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm no help but want to mention those can be difficult coral to keep in some tanks. I can not keep either one alive in a mature tank with a decent amount of N and P.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

0 nitrate and 0 phosphate will do that to you. You'll want to get those up to a decent detectable range.

Edit: And your pH is a little low as well.. want to get that into the 8.3 range.

When did you put the corals in?

Agree with Rjukan, zero on EITHER of those is a bad thing. Most soft corals actually prefer slightly dirty water. I keep my nitrates between 15 and 25, and my phosphate between .1 and.3

 

[RabidDragon]

Ca is bit low
detectable ammonia? this should be zero. Using what kit?

 

[Phil Edwards]

0 nitrate and 0 phosphate will do that to you. You'll want to get those up to a decent detectable range.

Edit: And your pH is a little low as well.. want to get that into the 8.3 range.

When did you put the corals in?

Thanks for the reply.
One has been in for weeks and the other went in yesterday.
How do I get them higher?
Do I need to dose?

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Water. Ganges will help with calcium in if you have a lot of either SPS or LPS, and coralline me algae. As for raising nitrates and phosphate, feed more. If you have corals then feed Reef Roids! They raise both but be careful because I have read they can raise phosphate significantly, quicker

 

[apb03]

Just feed the tank more, and your nutrients will go up. Also, I'd take some of your filtration offline and let the tank mature a bit more. I think it's a bit too clean.

Also, consider adding more fish.

Do your absolute best to keep the tank high nutrient if you can. A nutrient-devoid tank with w/dry rock is bad news.