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- Dec 7, 2018
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I have similar issue recently, GSP, Zoa doing well but all my soft coral not doing good. I don't have any carbon or special filter.
Thinking to add poly filter as you have successful experience. May I ask what is the reason you have carbon initially? What is that for?
This is an older post but what I will tell you is that I thought it was the rusty looking hose clamp...which is why I added the poly filter. Carbon makes the water clearer and gets rid of the yellow tint. It also helps remove any toxins produced by corals like leathers specifically.
Since this post I have tried GSP about 4 times and xenia 3 times. Both will be fine for a bit then all of a sudden I see fewer and fewer polyps out on the GSP until none are out and then the whole thing rots away. Xenia same idea, it will be fine then it starts to shrivel and die off. Even when I have pieces on opposite sides of the tank.
It would be really interesting to know why I can't keep GSP and xenia alive in my tank. But I have kenya trees multiplying like there is no tomorrow, a Tyre toadstool about 10x the size from the time I posted this, montis, Acros, stylos, birds nest, frog spawn, duncan, candy cane, zoas, mushroooms, RBTA's, chalice growing nicely. But....can't keep GSP and xenia alive lol.
I am wondering if the light is frying them, I use 1 165w black box and have been growing montis on the sand bed even with it turned down. I did have the xenia in the sand bed in a corner which doesn't get much light. I did experiment with the kenya trees since I have so many...I put 1 way up high and the others in the sand and there isn't any difference.
My parameters now are:
Alk 9.8dkh
Salinity 1.026
Magnesium 1350
Calcium 410
Nitrates 25-30ppm
Phosphates 0.2ppm
So not enough nutrients is definitely not my problem. I don't know why everyone loves the ultra low nutrient system when you have to spend a ton on supplements. I get way faster growth at my current parameters. I added a kole tang and a bunch of turbo snails and have zero algae except coralline which is now a big nuisance lol.
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