Sad Torch

[Lavey29]

I picked up a refractometer today from BRS. Calibrated it, and I appear to be right on the money around 1.025. Yet this Hanna digital checker even after I calibrate it several times shows at 1.022.. hmmm. I am awaiting ICP results today so I am really curious to see what that shows.

My ICP is always slightly off from what my digital salinity check shows

 

[Lavey29]

I don't know if this helps or not but here's a short video showing flow to my torches. It's reef crest mode so it speeds up and slows down intermittently.

 

[tuscani]

Ugh so who wins..

1. Hanna
2. Refract
3. ICP

My head hurts

 

[Lavey29]

Ugh so who wins..

1. Hanna
2. Refract
3. ICP

My head hurts

If only one coral looks bad, your salinity is probably ok otherwise more corals would show the effect.

 

[tuscani]

Mixed bag....

1 - Bubble Gum Montipora Digitata (somewhat recent but seems fine so far)
1 - Indo Green Torch (not great)
1 - White Tip Toadstool Leather (doing fine)
1 - Mummy Eye Chalice (not great)
1 - Peach Octospawn (not great)
5 - Red Acan (not great)
1 - Meteor Shower Cyphastrea (not great)
1 - Nirvana Zoa (doing fine)
1 - Blue Clove Polyp (doing fine)
1 - Red Lobo Brain Coral (doing fine)
1 - Neon Green Star Polyp (doing fine)

I also had a Hammer where the two heads bailed out

So something is amiss, but some corals are great and even thriving. Inverts and Fish are fine.

 

[benmed]

How old is your tank? I have to say I really had trouble with torches over my first year. Changing nothing, they seemed to get better which I was finally happy to see, but was frustrated about not knowing why.

 

[tuscani]

How old is your tank? I have to say I really had trouble with torches over my first year. Changing nothing, they seemed to get better which I was finally happy to see, but was frustrated about not knowing why.

Tank is only five months old. But I started with established rock and water.

 

[Lavey29]

Tank is only five months old. But I started with established rock and water.

I struggled with euphyllia the first year then the tank got much more stable and predictable and they thrive now.

 

[tuscani]

Looks like a wrap. Ugh. Bummed. I don't get it. It almost looks bleached but it was sitting at ~150-175 PAR tops. I thought my salinity was the smoking gun here but it appears I was more like 1.024 and now I am sitting at 1.026. I think I will just hold on any euphylia for now.

 

[tuscani]

Here is a video of the Torch and two Acans I lost.. they were healthy when I put then in my tank two weeks ago. Again, you would think bleached but the PAR they sat at was under 200.

 

[Lavey29]

Here is a video of the Torch and two Acans I lost.. they were healthy when I put then in my tank two weeks ago. Again, you would think bleached but the PAR they sat at was under 200.

Mine sit in 250 par

 

[tuscani]

Mine sit in 250 par

right so I do not think lighting is issue at least related to bleaching

 

[tuscani]

Well I have come to the conclusion that my Hanna digital salinity checker is indeed BS'ing me. After several tests, calibrations and buying other measuring tools.. here are the results:

Hanna = 1.024
TM Hydrometer = 1.026
BRS Refractometer = 1.026
Instant Ocean Hydrometer = Gave up on this thing.. inconsistent every time.

So there you go.. Was low salinity the cause of my LPS issues? Maybe. I do believe it was low but not as low as I thought. I think it was more nutrients and lighting. Both of which I am addressing.

Acclimating lighting down to 70% from 80%. Will retest PAR at 75%. And working on lowering N03 and P04 a bit.