Soft Corals Closed

[Jmacaroni]

Hello! I’m about 3 months into starting a new 90g reef. For several months, I have had a couple soft corals (mushroom, leathers, etc), but recently for the past week everyone has been closed. They don’t seem to be shedding, as they’re all closed at the same time and I know what their shed phases look like. I’m not too sure if I should be worried or if there is anything I can do. I currently feed Phyto several times a week and reefroids about once/week. I turned off my skimmer to increase nitrates/phos, as that is my only thought. Could having no nitrates really be the cause? I have also been running lights for some time without any problems, so I don’t think that it is a high light problem. Please let me know!

Mg: 1250
Ca: 420
No3: 0
Po4: 0
dkH: 7.5
ph: 8.15

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi. :-)

Please provide lighting and intensity.
Have you double checked specific gravity?
Is this a deep tank?
Do you have specific coral names, and or an image if able.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I’m wondering if it’s a low light problem? Or maybe not enough flow? Can you give more details on lighting and flow? Thanks

 

[Jmacaroni]

Lighting: Red Sea LED 90
Blues are at about 32% and whites at 30%
The tank is about 19inches deep

Just recalibrated, Sg is 1.025
Flow doesn’t seem to be the problem. I have 2 reef wave 25s running at 80%

 

[Jmacaroni]

 

[Jmacaroni]

I’ve been going through my different options. I’ve done several water changes in the past couple of days and running poly filter and carbon in the sump. It seems like there may be some sort of pollutant or heavy metal in the water. The corals are beginning to open again, which is reassuring, but I have a feeling it will take me several weeks of poly filter and large water changes to reach stability again. Any suggestions on purifying? How long do we think I can leave a poly filter slab in there?

 

[Freenow54]

Hello! I’m about 3 months into starting a new 90g reef. For several months, I have had a couple soft corals (mushroom, leathers, etc), but recently for the past week everyone has been closed. They don’t seem to be shedding, as they’re all closed at the same time and I know what their shed phases look like. I’m not too sure if I should be worried or if there is anything I can do. I currently feed Phyto several times a week and reefroids about once/week. I turned off my skimmer to increase nitrates/phos, as that is my only thought. Could having no nitrates really be the cause? I have also been running lights for some time without any problems, so I don’t think that it is a high light problem. Please let me know!

Mg: 1250
Ca: 420
No3: 0
Po4: 0
dkH: 7.5
ph: 8.15

Usually lighting too far from the perfect light. They will close when they have had enough as well as not enough At least my experience, Only need 100 to 150 Par and low flow