New Corals Closed

[eliaslikesfish]

Hi all,
I just purchased my first corals, a rock with some zoas and a couple other kinds of corals that admittedly I’ve already forgotten the name of. Anyways, I got them in at night and when they went in they were closed as I expected, then the next day they were all open and looked good, second day the zoas were all closed, and then today most seem closed (i’ve attached an image as reference.. My water parameters are solid and so I’m wondering if this is normal for new corals or if something might be wrong. Any insight is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Elias

 

[Lavey29]

How old is your tank? What are your complete parameters including salinity and lighting. Corals can take weeks to acclimate.

 

[El Toro]

Some corals need light and flow acclimation. Start with targeting the same parameters as your seller used for Par and flow/location and they should adjust to all other params within a few days.

 

[kevgib67]

^ What @Lavey29 said, a lot post parameters are solid only to find out they are using inaccurate test kits, expired tests kits or results are due to user error. We need the numbers to help.

 

[JayM]

Sometimes it takes a while for them to fully acclimate. Mine did the same and didn’t open much for about a month. They’re now thriving.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

How old is your tank? What are your complete parameters including salinity and lighting. Corals can take weeks to acclimate.

tank is 4 months old, 2 clownfish, 1 midas blenny, 1 fire shrimp. parameters are below. just tested them all today..

Temp: 78F
Salinity: 1.025
Alkalinity: 9 dKH (used hanna tester)
pH: 8.2
Ammonia & Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.15PPM (used hanna tester)
Calcium: 390PPM
Phosphate: 0.17PPM (used hanna ULR tester)
Magnesium: 1400 mg/l

hope this helps!

 

[Uncle99]

Likely light adjusting.
Be patient.
Nitrate to low….expecting 5-15ppm
No white?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

tank is 4 months old, 2 clownfish, 1 midas blenny, 1 fire shrimp. parameters are below. just tested them all today..

Temp: 78F
Salinity: 1.025
Alkalinity: 9 dKH (used hanna tester)
pH: 8.2
Ammonia & Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.15PPM (used hanna tester)
Calcium: 390PPM
Phosphate: 0.17PPM (used hanna ULR tester)
Magnesium: 1400 mg/l

hope this helps!

Nitrate is way too low for soft corals. They prefer "dirtier" water. Phos is ok but would also be fine if it goes up somewhat. Feed your fish more to try to raise these nutrients.

 

[JayM]

IDK if your low nitrate number is an issue, but mine run mid teens to low twenties.

 

[kevgib67]

Agreed, need nitrates up to levels mentioned above. Heavier feeding and less export. Reduce or decrease water changes. If you have a skimmer take the collection cup off and just let it run for gas exchange. Then sit back and let them acclimate.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

Nitrate is way too low for soft corals. They prefer "dirtier" water. Phos is ok but would also be fine if it goes up somewhat. Feed your fish more to try to raise these nutrients.

Nitrate is way too low for soft corals. They prefer "dirtier" water. Phos is ok but would also be fine if it goes up somewhat. Feed your fish more to try to raise these nutrients.

ok cool, thank you… I have an AI light.. any recommendations for light settings? I’m not home now so I can’t show my current. I’ll reply with a screenshot when i get back.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

ok cool

, thank you… I have an AI light.. any recommendations for light settings? I’m not home now so I can’t show my current. I’ll reply with a screenshot when i get back.

current light settings: lmk what I can do to make it better.. pretty clueless still on what to set the lights at..

 

[Reefering1]

I like to use the Kelvin adjustment. Once you click edit, it's on the top right. I like 14k. It works better to start a new schedule and try vs. Editing a current schedule. Outside dial is Kelvin, inside dial is intensity

 

[Yang’s Blue Paradise]

Ideally, you would have a par meter to check the par levels, once you have the lights dialed in I wouldn't touch them at all. Zoas generally prefer lower light but can acclimate to higher light I'd say maybe place them in some shades and let them acclimate. you'll probably be fine Zoas are hardly corals.