Pico tank suddenly nuked

IndigoAlive

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 10, 2025
Messages
19
Reaction score
13
Location
OtterTail County
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have a small 3 gallon pico all coral tank on my desk that’s been up for about a year with no issues at all until about four days ago I noticed some coral missing, I kept watching thinking since it was just my tiny bit of pulsing Xenia it was whatever but when my green hairy mushrooms in the front disappeared I took action and did a complete 80-90% water change, I tested the water yesterday and everything was in perfect parameters other than my phosphate on the API reef master kit it said my phosphate was 1.0ppm. I did another water change about the same amount and retested it and now my phosphate is between 0.25 and 0.5 ppm. But my GSP wall has continued to wilt away. What is happening and what else do I do?
 

Subsea

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 21, 2018
Messages
8,925
Reaction score
11,554
Location
Austin, Tx
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
First, kudos to a year of success with 3G tank.

“I noticed some coral missing, I kept watching thinking since it was just my tiny bit of pulsing Xenia it was whatever but when my green hairy mushrooms in the front disappeared I took action and did a complete 80-90% water change”

I am confused as to how coral can disappear in a 3G jar. How is the pico doing now?
 

Mr. Mojo Rising

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Messages
13,337
Reaction score
15,812
Location
Toronto
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would disregard the API phosphate test. That test gives a range, from 0 to .25, then from .25 to .5.... my phosphate level is .05 so on the API test it will show as .25, which is a big difference. Its just not accurate enough for our hobby. API tests are more of a guideline, not very accurate, but the phosphate test is the worst of all. I really don't think phosphate is the issue here anyway. Good luck to you
 
OP
OP
IndigoAlive

IndigoAlive

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 10, 2025
Messages
19
Reaction score
13
Location
OtterTail County
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
First, kudos to a year of success with 3G tank.

“I noticed some coral missing, I kept watching thinking since it was just my tiny bit of pulsing Xenia it was whatever but when my green hairy mushrooms in the front disappeared I took action and did a complete 80-90% water change”

I am confused as to how coral can disappear in a 3G jar. How is the pico doing now?
I don’t know I just looked in the tank and they were just gone like they weren’t there to begin with. But my Duncan coated itself with a white mucus and the died and when completely white over a couple hours. I’m still monitoring the tank and hoping my GSP will get better but I’m not sure about that
 

Dom

Theoretical Reef Keeper
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
7,753
Reaction score
8,190
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am confused as to how coral can disappear in a 3G jar. How is the pico doing now?

Yes. I wondered the same thing. The statement is a bit ambiguous.

If true, and they have actually disappeared, I wonder if there is another reef keeping enthusiast at work that helped themselves.
 
OP
OP
IndigoAlive

IndigoAlive

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 10, 2025
Messages
19
Reaction score
13
Location
OtterTail County
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yes. I wondered the same thing. The statement is a bit ambiguous.

If true, and they have actually disappeared, I wonder if there is another reef keeping enthusiast at work that helped themselves.
They didn’t actually disappear. The tank is a 3 gallon cube and I didn’t see it so I thought that either the starfish or something in the tank ate it or if it moved behind the rock. I meant it disappeared from where I could find it. This tank is also at my home where I am the only one who goes into the tanks
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 26.4%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 45 34.9%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 29 22.5%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 8.5%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 10 7.8%
Back
Top