Not sure what my plate coral are doing. Help!

[((FORDTECH))]

I posted yesterday. Hoping to find someone that is familiar with plate coral. Attached is pics of my orange and green plate coral. They are slowly turning white. Is it bleaching? A fungus? Need help and direction. A suggestion was ALK was low so started to raise that a bit. Other than that all the numbers are in line.

120g tank
PH 8.3
AM 0.1
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Salinity 1.024
Phos 0.25
Calcium 440
ALk 5.9
Temp 82.4

thanks!

Dude this is second thread from you of the exact same issue in 2 days. Did you not like the answers everyone gave you because as I read now this thread the answers are all the same. And they are not Gunna change if you post a 3rd thread about the same thing

 

[Saltyreef]

Recommend red sea pro phosphate for test kits.
Salifert for the rest unless ultra low nitrates then the red sea has a good low range.

Agreed with above comment.
But i doubt its coral pro with those numbers.
Likely blue bucket.

 

[vetteguy53081]

These are fairly hardy coral. location plays a role although I have one high and one near the sand.
Moderate light and water flow seems favored.

I see some different alk readings posted but generally the following is recommended. NO NEED TO CHASE NUMBERS, adjust slowly if desired.

Temp 77-79
Ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .04
Phos < .04
Ammonia < .03
Mag 1300
alk 8-9
CA 440

I dont place directly on the sand AS if stirred by the fish will land on them and irritate them.
From the recession showed on yours, I would reduce the white light intensity a little, at least temporarily.

 

[shadow62672]

I use the API Reef Master kit, the flow is low where they currently sit. Water change is roughly 12 percent every 2 weeks. The waterSalt ratio is purchased at the LFS they use red sea

So my KH went from 5.9 to 12. Way too fast! I know. At this point do I do a water change and try and bring it down to 7-9 or leave it alone? I am leaning to lowering it. But at this point no clue. It’s been exactly 24 hours since dosed yesterday.

 

[shadow62672]

Dude this is second thread from you of the exact same issue in 2 days. Did you not like the answers everyone gave you because as I read now this thread the answers are all the same. And they are not Gunna change if you post a 3rd thread about the same thing

Dude this is second thread from you of the exact same issue in 2 days. Did you not like the answers everyone gave you because as I read now this thread the answers are all the same. And they are not Gunna change if you post a 3rd thread about the same thing

First off I am not your dude. Second there was one reply and they were not familiar with this type of coral. I am new to this forum and hobby. Go troll somewhere else.

 

[shadow62672]

These are fairly hardy coral. location plays a role although I have one high and one near the sand.
Moderate light and water flow seems favored.

I see some different alk readings posted but generally the following is recommended. NO NEED TO CHASE NUMBERS, adjust slowly if desired.

Temp 77-79
Ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .04
Phos < .04
Ammonia < .03
Mag 1300
alk 8-9
CA 440

I dont place directly on the sand AS if stirred by the fish will land on them and irritate them.
From the recession showed on yours, I would reduce the white light intensity a little, at least temporarily.

Thank you for the suggestions. Never had these before and am a little bummed they are melting. Seems I am chasing numbers. On a side note the kh jumped to 12. Shoukd I just leave it alone or do a water change to bring it lower. Afraid the jump is harsh on all in the tank. Your thoughts?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the suggestions. Never had these before and am a little bummed they are melting. Seems I am chasing numbers. On a side note the kh jumped to 12. Shoukd I just leave it alone or do a water change to bring it lower. Afraid the jump is harsh on all in the tank. Your thoughts?

Lower it a little

 

[shadow62672]

Lower it a little

Did a water change, kh was around 9 in the new water. After change dropped it to 10. About 20 gallons in my 120. Will hold and wait and see. Thank you to all that made suggestions and helped me. Great forum and website!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Did a water change, kh was around 9 in the new water. After change dropped it to 10. About 20 gallons in my 120. Will hold and wait and see. Thank you to all that made suggestions and helped me. Great forum and website!

I would suggest to figure out what your new fresh mixed salt dkh is sounds like 9 or so and try to then keep tank alk about that number in the end. Will be best when you eventually get on a routine for water changes.

 

[Spieg]

So my KH went from 5.9 to 12. Way too fast! I know. At this point do I do a water change and try and bring it down to 7-9 or leave it alone? I am leaning to lowering it. But at this point no clue. It’s been exactly 24 hours since dosed yesterday.

I think you're swinging at shadows until you get some more reliable test kits... API seems to be failing you.

 

[shadow62672]

I would suggest to figure out what your new fresh mixed salt dkh is sounds like 9 or so and try to then keep tank alk about that number in the end. Will be best when you eventually get on a routine for water changes

I think you're swinging at shadows until you get some more reliable test kits... API seems to be failing you.

Agree. Will be looking into a better test kit going forward.

 

[shadow62672]

I would suggest to figure out what your new fresh mixed salt dkh is sounds like 9 or so and try to then keep tank alk about that number in the end. Will be best when you eventually get on a routine for water changes.

Agree. Everything went to hell when I had Velvet wipe out all the fish. Water cycle has decreased with the absence of fish as I go fallow for 90+ days. Seems it has thrown everything for a spin.

 

[Billldg]

Please lets keep the discussion on topic.

 

[KrisReef]

Agree. Everything went to hell when I had Velvet wipe out all the fish. Water cycle has decreased with the absence of fish as I go fallow for 90+ days. Seems it has thrown everything for a spin.

Sorry about your fish.
Plate coral are very hardy. I feed mine when I feed the fish, no target feeding, just letting them scavenge food and fish waste.

if you are going fallow don’t add anything new ( except dried coral food) or else you could introduce pathogens from adding wet corals?

do you have any crabs or shrimp or anything that is eating on the plates?

gl

 

[shadow62672]

Sorry about your fish.
Plate coral are very hardy. I feed mine when I feed the fish, no target feeding, just letting them scavenge food and fish waste.

if you are going fallow don’t add anything new ( except dried coral food) or else you could introduce pathogens from adding wet corals?

do you have any crabs or shrimp or anything that is eating on the plates?

gl

I have a sea urchin, hermit crabs, skunk shrimp, peppermint shrimp, snails, starfish. never see anything messing with them, i havent noticed anything missing from the plates. Lost an emerald crab overnight, assume it was the DK swing. I used the AB plus today, and the plates seemed to react, swelling a bit and mouths semi open. Will try reef roids tomorrow or Saturday. DK is sitting at 10 today, 440 was the Calcium. PH 8.3 - 8.4 dropped white lights a bit, and temp a degree. All other corals look good. Time will tell.

 

[shadow62672]

Update. Both I think are dead. One is bleached white, the other has some flesh but is on its way. Thank you for the help. Surprised how fast they won’t. All other coral seem happy!

 

[Cantusaurus]

dang. That really sucks. Sorry to hear that BUT... LEAVE THE SKELETONS IN THE TANK! They are known to drop out little baby plates when they die (not always, and mine sadly did not do it or I do not think it did). Plates are the only corals that actually have a lifespan and live about 10 years (not saying yours died from age, but they do eventually die and I've heard if they are going down a rough path they sometimes just say you know what I'm gonna die, and sometimes they just will go from healthy to crawling toward death. So don't feel too bad, they are known as easy corals for some reason, but I think it has to do with chance and if the conditions in the tank are right. Not saying yours are bad or anything though. But yeah mine did not make it either, but I had worse tank conditions (very high phosphate) and I overfed mine. and I should have just waited longer to buy mine. Sorry about the coral. I would just leave it there, and it might pop out a few babies. I'm not 100% sure what to look for though.

 

[shadow62672]

dang. That really sucks. Sorry to hear that BUT... LEAVE THE SKELETONS IN THE TANK! They are known to drop out little baby plates when they die (not always, and mine sadly did not do it or I do not think it did). Plates are the only corals that actually have a lifespan and live about 10 years (not saying yours died from age, but they do eventually die and I've heard if they are going down a rough path they sometimes just say you know what I'm gonna die, and sometimes they just will go from healthy to crawling toward death. So don't feel too bad, they are known as easy corals for some reason, but I think it has to do with chance and if the conditions in the tank are right. Not saying yours are bad or anything though. But yeah mine did not make it either, but I had worse tank conditions (very high phosphate) and I overfed mine. and I should have just waited longer to buy mine. Sorry about the coral. I would just leave it there, and it might pop out a few babies. I'm not 100% sure what to look for though.

It sucks but such is life. Thank you, I will keep them in there and try and keep algae off them.