Plate Coral and Anemone problem

[Lisa Cain]

Hello, My saltwater tank has been doing well, I went out of town, and my son did a fabolous job of taking care of my tank. However, two problems have arisen.

1. My plate coral appears to be dying? Is there any hop e for it?
2. My anemone was pink and green, however now it is brown and losing it pink. Has anyone experienced this before. If so what is the cause?

Thanks for any information that you can provide. I have pictures of what they used to look like and that they look like now. Tank

Red Sea Max 250​

65 gallon aquarium.
The salinity is 1.024-1.025, I just did a water change (12-15%) and need to check the phosphate levels and calcium, however, they were okay about 6 days ago. I may go buy a testing kit a take a water sample to the store in a few minutes. The other bubble tip anemones and rock anemones are fine. It is simple this bubble rose with the lone tentacles. It originally split. It's baby kept trying to hide and now is has disappeared. This one also tried to hide under a rock, however it moved to the top and now it looks sick.

 

[MikeyZo]

can we get a full tank shot where they’re located as well as parameters? These will help figure out the root cause.

 

[Lisa Cain]

can we get a full tank shot where they’re located as well as parameters? These will help figure out the root cause.

I just realize the photos did not attached. Will edit and add.

 

[BryanM]

I think that plate is likely to survive, unless algae is growing on it, in which case an H202 dip might be in order to ttry and remove the algae.

Unknown on the nem.

 

[Lisa Cain]

I think that plate is likely to survive, unless algae is growing on it, in which case an H202 dip might be in order to ttry and remove the algae.

Unknown on the nem.

Thanks, It seems to be losing some of its orange tissue. Headed to get the water tested. What makes you think that it will make it? I hope so.

 

[BryanM]

Thanks, It seems to be losing some of its orange tissue. Headed to get the water tested. What makes you think that it will make it? I hope so.

I had a green one do the same and come back fully. I just moved it to a little less light a flow to let it recover.

 

[mcarroll]

Would like to see those test parameters when you have them.

 

[Lisa Cain]

I had a green one do the same and come back fully. I just moved it to a little less light a flow to let it recover.

Thank you, I will do the same. I will make sure that it is in a quiet place!!

 

[Lisa Cain]

Would like to see those test parameters when you have them.

I was surprised when i had the local store to test my parameters.
Salinity 1.023
Ph 8.0
Phosphate 2.0 was .2 a week ago
Calcium 200 (surprised) was 400 6 days ago
Ammonia .25

I purchased a calcium test kit and Fusion 1 to raise calcium. Going upstairs to test again to make sure it was not a mistake and will dose. The plate coral changed after the water change. I will send a picture. Tomorrow I will do another 10% water change. The white stuff is coming off. I have to get the phosphate and ammonia down.

 

[BryanM]

You'll want others to chime in, but there's a fairly solid relationship between alk, calcium, and magnesium.

I would test alk and see where that is at, because your calcium number is so low (But calc is notoriously hard to test).

How big is the tank, how big was the water change, and is there any chance you changed with just straight RODI instead of mixing the salt (trying to help account for the decreases in numbers).

And Phos 2.0 from .2?

You've got some mysteries... besides water changes, what, if anything, are you dosing?

Thx.

 

[Lisa Cain]

You'll want others to chime in, but there's a fairly solid relationship between alk, calcium, and magnesium.

I would test alk and see where that is at, because your calcium number is so low (But calc is notoriously hard to test).

How big is the tank, how big was the water change, and is there any chance you changed with just straight RODI instead of mixing the salt (trying to help account for the decreases in numbers).

And Phos 2.0 from .2?

You've got some mysteries... besides water changes, what, if anything, are you dosing?

Thx.

The young man who tested my water obviously did not know what he was doing. I tested my calcium a few minutes ago and 25 drops =450, I had to use 27 drops to obtain a blue color. If I had dosed based on what he said I would have killed everything. In the store he said it is still pink so it is 200. I did not know because I had not tested calcium in years. My calcium is okay, may be on the high end. I am going to test my phosphates myself tomorrow after I purchase a kit or take it to another store. If my phosphates are high I may understand because my son was feeding my fish a lot of garlic soaked food while I was away because he saw a few white spots on the blue hippo. The spots are no longer on the blue hippo tang.

 

[Lisa Cain]

The young man who tested my water obviously did not know what he was doing. I tested my calcium a few minutes ago and 25 drops =450, I had to use 27 drops to obtain a blue color. If I had dosed based on what he said I would have killed everything. In the store he said it is still pink so it is 200. I did not know because I had not tested calcium in years. My calcium is okay, may be on the high end. I am going to test my phosphates myself tomorrow after I purchase a kit or take it to another store. If my phosphates are high I may understand because my son was feeding my fish a lot of garlic soaked food while I was away because he saw a few white spots on the blue hippo. The spots are no longer on the blue hippo tang.

I changed water with a combination or ROI and Salt water to maintain the proper salinity. I will test magnesium and alkalinity tomorrow.

 

[BryanM]

Glad you tested, rock on. Doesn't sound nearly as bad now!

 

[mcarroll]

Salinity 1.023
Ph 8.0
Phosphate 2.0 was .2 a week ago
Calcium 200 (surprised) was 400 6 days ago
Ammonia .25

Sounds like you're already on this track, but just to pile on.....I would recheck all of these, including s.g.

That's a whole lotta "sus" at once!

 

[Kmst80]

What test kits are you using? Don't get api, get salifert tests, they are reasonably priced and accurate.
If you want more accuracy get hanna, although i wouldn't recommend calcium and magnesium in the hanna.
Now which of the pictures is the supposedly sick nem? Is the one with te arrows the healty nem picture?
Nems split when they are stressed or because they can, i found my forrest fire bta splits constantly.
If you have different bta nems in one tank it could be nem warfare too.

How long have you had the bta? what lights do you have? How old is the tank?

 

[MikeyZo]

What test kits are you using? Don't get api, get salifert tests, they are reasonably priced and accurate.
If you want more accuracy get hanna, although i wouldn't recommend calcium and magnesium in the hanna.
Now which of the pictures is the supposedly sick nem? Is the one with te arrows the healty nem picture?
Nems split when they are stressed or because they can, i found my forrest fire bta splits constantly.
If you have different bta nems in one tank it could be nem warfare too.

How long have you had the bta? what lights do you have? How old is the tank?

What’s wrong with Ca and Mg Hanna test kits? I have them. They work well (although the process is annoying)

 

[BryanM]

What’s wrong with Ca and Mg Hanna test kits? I have them. They work well (although the process is annoying)

Calcium tests require special deionizing water, and what's far worse is that they only use .1ml tank sample water for the rest.

 

[MikeyZo]

Calcium tests require special deionizing water, and what's far worse is that they only use .1ml tank sample water for the rest

I have the deionizing water, and I get what you mean by the small sample.

What do you recommend?

 

[BryanM]

I have the deionizing water, and I get what you mean by the small sample.

What do you recommend?

A quick read up on this thread. Though if you really want to test for calc Salifert is better, and mine was climbing via icp too high so I did get one (at least they are cheap).

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/

 

[Lisa Cain]

Sounds like you're already on this track, but just to pile on.....I would recheck all of these, including s.g.

That's a whole lotta "sus" at once!

Thank you