Should I stop reefing?

[mr frogfish]

I feel like I only can have success with soft corals, I have been in this hobby for many years. I can’t keep hammers, frogspawns, torches, hell, I even failed at candy cane a long time ago. What am I doing wrong? I use live and and live rock, copepods, cycle for long, used pre mixed saltwater, and make sure params are always In check. I’m not even sure about this hobby anymore.. I need help.

 

[Fish Fan]

Weren't we just talking about getting your tank stocked again? What happened?

From the pic you posted before, I think your tank could benefit from some more rock. And if you're buying saltwater from a fish store definitely double check the salinity, I wouldn't just assume that it's good to use because it came from a fish store

 

[mr frogfish]

Weren't we just talking about getting your tank stocked again? What happened?

From the pic you posted before, I think your tank could benefit from some more rock. And if you're buying saltwater from a fish store definitely double check the salinity, I wouldn't just assume that it's good to use because it came from a fish store

The green torch coral is receded, the flesh band is almost past the sclera, and I think my alk is too high by a long shot. I just dosed whenever I saw the Corals retracted but this is is what led to my insanely high alk. Currently setting up a hospitality tank as I lower it.

 

[Fish Fan]

The green torch coral is receded, the flesh band is almost past the sclera, and I think my alk is too high by a long shot. I just dosed whenever I saw the Corals retracted but this is is what led to my insanely high alk. Currently setting up a hospitality tank as I lower it.

What were you dosing? You don't want to dose so much that you're driving the alkalinity way high. You only need to dose to maintain Alk, and in a newer tank without a lot of growing coral, you likely don't have to dose at all, just regular, partial water changes will keep your parameters at a good level.

 

[mr frogfish]

All for reef.

 

[rtparty]

The best advice I could give is to head over to seriousreefs.com and sign up. Use the code “FREE” and you’ll get 7 days for free. No strings attached.

Ryan has a series called the 90/10 method. Watch those videos and be put on the path for success with solid, reliable information.

Thus far I see multiple red flags. Using pre mixed water is a total crap shoot. Are we talking about store bought pre mixed water? Or the ocean water in a jug? Dosing alkalinity all Willy nilly is a recipe for disaster. You MUST test alkalinity before just randomly dosing it. How do you know it actually needs to be dosed? Chances are in a softy tank that alkalinity dosing isn’t even needed

Sounds like a couple basics need to be understood and you’ll be on the right track

 

[NeedAReef]

get an ati ICP test off amazon and have all your water even your RO checked it was an eye opener for me
Amazon product

 

[KrisReef]

Make your own water.
Get an RODI for the base, and use a hydrometer to make sure the salinity is consistent.
Have an automated top off for evaporation
And feed the tank light. What light isn’t important just needs to be the right spectrum and enough watts, and you should be able to grow coral.
Pick one salt and stick with it, a water change every week or two.

If you’re growing hard corals you might need to dose alkalinity, and you have to test the water to see how much dose you need.

Nothing to it, otherwise.

 

[Mebbid]

What are you using to test your water and how often? Start mixing your own water, test often with high quality test kits. Don't do things to your tank without a good reason, dosing just because the polyps didn't look quite right is really not a good reason. Get back to the basics.

Hammers, frogspawn, torches, and even candy canes can all be a bit finicky Try a duncan or a montipora either a cap or spongodes instead to start.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I agree that making your own saltwater and making sure you are using top quality test kits (salifert red sea or Hanna) should be priority for you.

Do you have photos of the corals?

All tanks and reefers have low points. Stick with it, and your tank will bounce back!

 

[reef’r]

OP stated they have been in the hobby for many years so I would think they at least have knowledge of the basics? Maybe not but yeah dosing buffer based off corals being closed up to be honest makes no sense I’m sure there is/was something else going on. Getting test kits and yes making your own water will vastly improve your situation or at the bare minimum allow you to test the water your buying to be sure it’s good to go. Also as someone else said, torches, hammers, frogspawn are actually not the easiest corals to keep… so don’t beat your self up to bad just because your having trouble with some of the more difficult corals in the hobby

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Nothing to add here other than encouragement. Lots of reefers, even experienced reefers, have trouble keeping certain types of corals. I never had much luck with euphillyia myself. Take the advice above, and if it doesn't work out, that doesn't mean give up! Some of my favorite tanks are softy tanks, and I've been tempted to set one up myself. But above all, don't give up.

 

[MadreeferNJ]

Weren't we just talking about getting your tank stocked again? What happened?

From the pic you posted before, I think your tank could benefit from some more rock. And if you're buying saltwater from a fish store definitely double check the salinity, I wouldn't just assume that it's good to use because it came from a fish store

Not just salinity. I was buying RODI from a LFS and was having problems. I tested their water and discovered very high TDS. Once I rectified that all went well. I now have issues with SPS all dead 6 months after tank move. My guess initially was low ALK but it was always low 6ish. I think the float valve ATO gravity feed is the cause. I cannot seem to figure out evaporation rate until the drain or return pump make noise. I assume this constant fluctuation caused the SPS to die.

 

[mfinn]

A lot of good advice going on here.
Nothing else I can add.

But I have a question for you
what the heck is wrong with a softy tank???

 

[revhtree]

You love reefing enough to care that some corals don’t do well for you and you want to know why. To me that says NO don’t stop reefing!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IMO its sad but, sometimes the solution in this hobby is just more money. Lot of the improvements I see here require spending. And we haven't spoken about the tank yet, are you still using the stock light that came with that fluval? Depending what you financial situation is, you might want to think about your options... maybe go with fish only, a pair or clowns or a gobie and pistol shrimp, or you can have an invert tank, or a macro algae tank, those are cool too. Or you can set up a freshwater tank instead which is much easier but just as diverse and interesting as saltwater. I think you should make clear goals for yourself that are attainable.

 

[Fish Fan]

Not just salinity. I was buying RODI from a LFS and was having problems. I tested their water and discovered very high TDS. Once I rectified that all went well. I now have issues with SPS all dead 6 months after tank move. My guess initially was low ALK but it was always low 6ish. I think the float valve ATO gravity feed is the cause. I cannot seem to figure out evaporation rate until the drain or return pump make noise. I assume this constant fluctuation caused the SPS to die.

I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties, but yeah, I wouldn't blindly trust any water you buy from a fish shop, fresh RODI or premixed saltwater. Much better is to make your own water so that you can be in control of the process, and not at the mercy of an employee who may have been having a bad day when they made your water

 

[NeedAReef]

I don't make my own, I have 3 lfs I buy from, I have had each of theirs and their RODI sent off for the kits I linked to above, each store was happy to see the results (because they were good) and 1 gave me the ability to buy tests at his bulk price. Saved me some money. In my case, it was great to set my mind at ease and see the numbers.