sad corals - what test kits should I buy?

[katsreef]

I have some corals that are closing 3-4 hours before lights off. I also have some zoas stretching upwards. Overall my corals are looking a little sad I'm going to dip them today again incase there are pests. Also I will be moving my light closer to the top of my tank because they may not be getting enough light. I want to check water parameters but I only have ph, nitrate, ammonia, and nitrite test kits. What other test kits should I buy to find a solution to this problem?

Background info: I am not dosing anything or feeding corals directly (although I plan to buy reef roids soon), AIO tank with chemipure elite in the back. I was thinking of getting alk and phosphate? or are there better ones I should get?

 

[Jekyl]

Minimum for softies is nitrate, phosphate, and alkalinity. LPS and SPS add in calcium and magnesium. Ph if you really want to get dialed in. I recommend salifert tests. Others also recommend red sea or hanna. What lighting is being used?

 

[nuxx]

What are the non-zoa corals?

 

[katsreef]

What are the non-zoa corals?

I have two hammers, open brain coral, trumpet, micromussa

 

[Jekyl]

I have two hammers, open brain coral, trumpet, micromussa

Nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, magnesium, calcium and a refracometer with calibration liquid for salinity.

 

[katsreef]

Minimum for softies is nitrate, phosphate, and alkalinity. LPS and SPS add in calcium and magnesium. Ph if you really want to get dialed in. I recommend salifert tests. Others also recommend red sea or hanna. What lighting is being used?

I have hammers, an open brain coral, trumpet coral, micromussa as well. Is it worth getting the hanna instruments over saifert? I am using a prime 16hd 14” from the top of the tank and 25” from the sand bed with the following schedule:

 

[Jekyl]

I have hammers, an open brain coral, trumpet coral, micromussa as well. Is it worth getting the hanna instruments over saifert? I am using a prime 16hd 14” from the top of the tank and 25” from the sand bed with the following schedule:

Others can comment on the light. Salifert has worked fine for me

 

[Huey_Gnr]

Nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, magnesium, calcium and a refracometer with calibration liquid for salinity.

+1

I run a softy & LPS tank and this is exactly what I test for.... but I also check my pH when I check my Alk

Hanna for Nitrate / Phosphate / Alk / pH
Red Sea for Ca
Aqua Forest for Mag

 

[homer1475]

Salifert are cheap and work. Only downside is watching for a color change.

Hanna meters are expensive, and work. The give you a digital readout, and are a luxury item.

With those corals you need:
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate

I would choose salifert for now to get things turned around. Then splurge on the Hannas if you want.

 

[katsreef]

+1

I run a softy & LPS tank and this is exactly what I test for.... but I also check my pH when I check my Alk

Hanna for Nitrate / Phosphate / Alk / pH
Red Sea for Ca
Aqua Forest for Mag

Thank you! I saw there was two phosphate hanna ones. Do you use the low range one or the other?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have some corals that are closing 3-4 hours before lights off. I also have some zoas stretching upwards. Overall my corals are looking a little sad I'm going to dip them today again incase there are pests. Also I will be moving my light closer to the top of my tank because they may not be getting enough light. I want to check water parameters but I only have ph, nitrate, ammonia, and nitrite test kits. What other test kits should I buy to find a solution to this problem?

Background info: I am not dosing anything or feeding corals directly (although I plan to buy reef roids soon), AIO tank with chemipure elite in the back. I was thinking of getting alk and phosphate? or are there better ones I should get?

Any pics under white lighting ? Zoas stretching generally suggests lack of lighting . Essential test kits are:
Nitrate
ph
phosphate
ammonia

For Coral:
Calcium
magnesium
Alkalinity

ChemiPure elite will potentially run Phosphate very low, so monitor that level. Reef roids will increase phosphates- Mysis shrimp makes a great meal for many softies

 

[katsreef]

Salifert are cheap and work. Only downside is watching for a color change.

Hanna meters are expensive, and work. The give you a digital readout, and are a luxury item.

With those corals you need:
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate

I would choose salifert for now to get things turned around. Then splurge on the Hannas if you want.

Thank you! That’s a good point. I’ll pick up the cheaper ones just to get this issue sorted out. Thanks for the insight!

 

[Huey_Gnr]

Thank you! I saw there was two phosphate hanna ones. Do you use the low range one or the other?

 

[katsreef]

Any pics under white lighting ? Zoas stretching generally suggests lack of lighting . Essential test kits are:
Nitrate
ph
phosphate
ammonia

For Coral:
Calcium
magnesium
Alkalinity

ChemiPure elite will potentially run Phosphate very low, so monitor that level. Reef roids will increase phosphates- Mysis shrimp makes a great meal for many softies

My hammer looks like that all day long btw. Also I am removing the snails tonight but I haven’t noticed them harming the corals. I don’t have pics of the zoas in white light but they look like that pretty much all day. I put the chemipure in last month and I will definitely monitor that once I get the test kit. I may try to move my light down because my schedule may not be intense enough

 

[homer1475]

Increase your lights, everything is stretching for it.

 

[katsreef]

Increase your lights, everything is stretching for it.

Is this something that can be done by lowering the light or using a different schedule?

 

[Huey_Gnr]

Thank you! I saw there was two phosphate hanna ones. Do you use the low range one or the other?

Without going into too much of the detail, the phosphorus checker tests at the "ppb" while the ULR phosphate is at ppm. The testable range is why I went with the phosphate ULR checker 0 - 2.5 ppm with a detectable range at .01.

Here is the link to a good article that can explain more if you want to read it

How To Choose The Right Hanna Instruments Phosphate Checker

Choose the right Hanna Instruments Phosphate Checker Colorimeter based on your experience and goals.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[thomas_neil]

This is the lighting schedule I use on my 18x18 cube with softies and lps.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My hammer looks like that all day long btw. Also I am removing the snails tonight but I haven’t noticed them harming the corals. I don’t have pics of the zoas in white light but they look like that pretty much all day. I put the chemipure in last month and I will definitely monitor that once I get the test kit. I may try to move my light down because my schedule may not be intense enough

Your lights are very high above the tank and may explain stretching of coral? What brand light is this?

 

[katsreef]

Your lights are very high above the tank and may explain stretching of coral? What brand light is this?

It is an Ai prime. I actually just lowered it in hopes that it is a better height. Now it is 9-10” off of the waterline. Is this better? (Also I took the shade off after taking this pic)