Something going on with Corals

Dr RBG · Nov 30, 2018

Here is the story: A few months ago I saw my elegance detach suddenly from its skeleton. A little worrisome but it was the only one to do this in a year and a half, Thought my torch stung it so I removed the torch. well over the last few months I have noticed this affecting other corals. I have attached some photos and parameters.

Any Ideas or help would be great. I was thinking maybe some activated carbon in case something got in the water?

timrocks311 · Nov 30, 2018

If its affecting multiple corals now, I would assume a water issue. Run carbon and see if it helps. You didn't change anything else like a new light or anything did you? Also, elegance coral is known to have issues with detaching or deteriorating.

Dr RBG · Nov 30, 2018

I am sending in an API water analysis Hope they get back to me soon. I also added some activated carbon just in case. Any other thoughts?

thanks

DSC reef · Nov 30, 2018

Your numbers look decent, I noticed a drop in nitrate. Hard to say really. Do you do water changes, feed the LPS corals?

Coralreefer1 · Nov 30, 2018

Water change should be number one thing you do! What kind of lighting do you use? Are the bulbs past their prime? Do you feed your corals? How is your water flow?

Dr RBG · Dec 1, 2018

I have been doing a 20% water change every 4 weeks. I have 3 AquaIllumination HYDRA 26 LEDS. See attachment. I feed 2x a week with either Reef Roids , LPS grow/color (fauna marin) or Coralific Delight (Hikari) or some combination of them. Occasional Red Sea Reef Energy A&B.

Saltyreef · Dec 9, 2018

The only thing i can see from parameters is elevated po4 and lower ph than reccomended but its stable based on the time stamps. Whats your alk @ today?

Saltyreef · Dec 9, 2018

Had this happen to my lps when the alk was too low. Around 7.9dkh

hart24601 · Dec 9, 2018

Don't happen to have any clowns that try and host the lps? I had a clown that would love lps to death. Took me ages to figure it out. Just another head brown jelly and gone!

The elegance detaching doesn't sound like a clown but never hurts to ask.

Saltyreef · Dec 9, 2018

hart24601 said:
Don't happen to have any clowns that try and host the lps? I had a clown that would love lps to death. Took me ages to figure it out. Just another head brown jelly and gone!

The elegance detaching doesn't sound like a clown but never hurts to ask.

I had my clowns hosting in my large clustering duncan colony but it wouldnt hurt the duncans just leave little black sting marks all over the clowns body. They didnt mind it but i ended up selling off the duncan colony because i didnt like the black spots on my perfect looking naked clown lol.
They would also swim up to the duncan and put the tenticles in their mouths like they are eating them and just sit there stunned looking and float sideways attached to the tenticle! Very weird behavior....i thought the duncan was trying to eat them the first time i saw this!!!

hart24601 · Dec 9, 2018

Interesting! At least can rule that out.

I didn't think Duncan stung! I put them against other corals and never have seen a reaction.

Sounds like quite the character (and well named) clownfish!

Saltyreef · Dec 9, 2018

Yep lots of reefers report the same thing, black sting marks and the clowns hosting and "sucking" on the tenticles!
Im not sure about duncans versus other corals but believe it or not....my mushrooms kill anything in their path. Usually encrusting lps that encounter them.

OP i would pay closer attention to the elevated level of po4 in your system. The pH looks good for your levels of alk and calcium but looks like the data isnt fully there for the latest testing parameters.
Ive had plenty of stuff go south with my po4 up over .10ppm
Thats my best guess for the background and info you provided.

rkpetersen · Dec 9, 2018

Agree with more water changes, adding GAC, possibly other measures such as Phosguard or GFO to get your phosphate down to the 0.1 range, if you have access to a PAR meter take some reading at mid day to see what kind of light levels your corals are actually seeing. Also I'd increase your blue/violet spectrum lights and decrease your white/red/green, to more closely conform to spectra that have had known success growing corals.