torch bailout

[Notsolostfish]

Good morning.

Woke up this morning to my 1 year old torch one of the heads bailed out. So i fragged it. I am not sure why would that happen. Tested my water alk is 9.7 i monitor it weekly or biweekly sometimes its always been 9.5-9.7. I dose all for reef on a redsea doser. My tank is a 150G. Everything thriving in it no issues.

The only changes that iv been doing is dosing tropic marin A and K, experimenting with it to see if i get any benefits from since last icp test showed me some 0 elements. Im doing 3ml half the recommended amount on both. Everyday.

I dose phyto everyday as well, 150ml in the morning. The last changes i also did was i switched from reef crest to lagoon flow, changed the flow a bit, but nothing major at all. Im also dosing wolf glass silicate for almost 2 months now to get rid of the large amphidium dinos, which its working pretty good. But the only recent change has been the traces should i stop that?

Parameters:

Alk:9.7
Cal:450
Mag:1404
Phosphate: showing on hanna 0.51 but i believe thats because the high concentrated silicate in the water interfering with the test.
Nitrate:12.4
Ph:8.2

 

[Shirak]

Doubt it was the trace elements. I have used AFR for a while and works fine. Nitrates at 12.4 Maybe as you say phosphate test is off and it's pretty low? Could be a nutrition thing. How does the flesh band on the outside look on the other heads?

 

[Notsolostfish]

Doubt it was the trace elements. I have used AFR for a while and works fine. Nitrates at 12.4 Maybe as you say phosphate test is off and it's pretty low? Could be a nutrition thing. How does the flesh band on the outside look on the other heads?

Iv been using AFT for over a year thats not the issue, iv been trying add extra traces to it tropic marin A and K. Maybe i overdosed on traces.

 

[Shirak]

Iv been using AFT for over a year thats not the issue, iv been trying add extra traces to it tropic marin A and K. Maybe i overdosed on traces.

Highly doubt it!
I think one of the key factors in long term success is managing nutrients and feeding, light intensity, and water flow as corals grow. If it were a problem with the extra trace elements it would not be one head that bailed out.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Highly doubt it!
I think one of the key factors in long term success is managing nutrients and feeding, light intensity, and water flow as corals grow. If it were a problem with the extra trace elements it would not be one head that bailed out.

What could be then; my parameters are listed im confused

 

[exnisstech]

Sometime stuff just happens. When it's a single piece and everything else is fine it often remains a mystery. At least that been the case for me. I never make changes if its a single piece that struggles.

 

[BryanM]

^^^^ likely this.

 

[FindinNemo]

I'm sorry to hear about your torch coral; it's always concerning when a coral exhibits signs of distress. There could be several reasons for a torch coral head to bail out, even in a seemingly healthy tank. Here are some potential causes and suggestions moving forward:

1. Environmental Changes:​

• Flow Changes: Switching flow modes from Reef Crest to Lagoon can affect how corals receive and filter food as well as impact their adhesion to the substrate. If the new flow isn't ideal for your torch, it might be leading to stress.
• Light Changes: If you changed the light intensity or spectrum recently, even slightly, it might be worth reevaluating. Corals can be sensitive to light changes.

2. Water Quality:​

• Silicates and Testing Parameters: The presence of silicates due to your dosing of Wolf Glass Silicate could be impacting your phosphate readings, making it appear higher than it is. High phosphate levels can lead to stress in some corals. Make sure to track your overall water quality closely.
• Tropic Marin Elements: Introducing Tropic Marin A and K at half the recommended dosage may not be causing harm, but observe closely for any sudden changes in your system’s responsiveness. If you see distress in your corals (like what happened with the torch), consider pausing the additives until you see stability.

3. Nutrient Levels:​

• Phosphate and Nitrate: Having a phosphate level of 0.51 can be concerning, albeit only if it has been consistently high. Torch corals, like many others, can tolerate some nitrates but can be sensitive to elevated phosphates and poor water quality, leading to rough conditions. Strive for a balanced nutrient level (around 0.03–0.1 for phosphate).
• Nutrient Dump: If you're dosing phyto at 150ml daily, analyze whether this is causing excess nutrients to accumulate. While phyto can benefit corals, high volumes might also lead to spikes in nutrients.

4. Physical Damage:​

• Handling Stress: Sometimes, handling corals (such as during fragging) can lead to stress, resulting in bailouts or other issues afterward. If the fragging was done improperly or too aggressively, the coral might react negatively.

5. Health of the Coral:​

• Injury or Disease: Look for signs of disease or stress in the remaining heads of the torch. Signs like discoloration, skeleton exposure, or tissue recession can indicate problems. Ensure your coral is not being attacked by pests.

6. General Coral Care:​

• Wait and Observe: After fragging, monitor the individual pieces of the coral closely for signs of recovery or further distress. Keep the newly fragged piece in a low-flow area initially to reduce stress.
• Target Feeding: Consider gentle feeding to help the coral recover, as they might not be getting enough sustenance from the water column with increased flow.

Moving Forward:​

1. Monitor Parameters: Keep a close eye on all water parameters, especially nutrients, and make sure they remain within an optimal range. If the phosphate remains problematic, consider methods to reduce it naturally, like using a phosphate remover.
2. Gradual Changes: Avoid introducing too many changes at once. If you want to experiment with dosing, do so one at a time and observe the overall tank response.
3. Coral Growth & Health: Maintain stable conditions and ensure other corals remain healthy to see if the problem was isolated.
4. Consult an ICP Test: Consider running another ICP test to provide a clearer picture of your trace elements and any potential imbalances in your system.

Best of luck, and I hope your torch coral recovers well!

 

[Miami Reef]

I'm sorry to hear about your torch coral; it's always concerning when a coral exhibits signs of distress. There could be several reasons for a torch coral head to bail out, even in a seemingly healthy tank. Here are some potential causes and suggestions moving forward:

1. Environmental Changes:​

• Flow Changes: Switching flow modes from Reef Crest to Lagoon can affect how corals receive and filter food as well as impact their adhesion to the substrate. If the new flow isn't ideal for your torch, it might be leading to stress.
• Light Changes: If you changed the light intensity or spectrum recently, even slightly, it might be worth reevaluating. Corals can be sensitive to light changes.

2. Water Quality:​

• Silicates and Testing Parameters: The presence of silicates due to your dosing of Wolf Glass Silicate could be impacting your phosphate readings, making it appear higher than it is. High phosphate levels can lead to stress in some corals. Make sure to track your overall water quality closely.
• Tropic Marin Elements: Introducing Tropic Marin A and K at half the recommended dosage may not be causing harm, but observe closely for any sudden changes in your system’s responsiveness. If you see distress in your corals (like what happened with the torch), consider pausing the additives until you see stability.

3. Nutrient Levels:​

• Phosphate and Nitrate: Having a phosphate level of 0.51 can be concerning, albeit only if it has been consistently high. Torch corals, like many others, can tolerate some nitrates but can be sensitive to elevated phosphates and poor water quality, leading to rough conditions. Strive for a balanced nutrient level (around 0.03–0.1 for phosphate).
• Nutrient Dump: If you're dosing phyto at 150ml daily, analyze whether this is causing excess nutrients to accumulate. While phyto can benefit corals, high volumes might also lead to spikes in nutrients.

4. Physical Damage:​

• Handling Stress: Sometimes, handling corals (such as during fragging) can lead to stress, resulting in bailouts or other issues afterward. If the fragging was done improperly or too aggressively, the coral might react negatively.

5. Health of the Coral:​

• Injury or Disease: Look for signs of disease or stress in the remaining heads of the torch. Signs like discoloration, skeleton exposure, or tissue recession can indicate problems. Ensure your coral is not being attacked by pests.

6. General Coral Care:​

• Wait and Observe: After fragging, monitor the individual pieces of the coral closely for signs of recovery or further distress. Keep the newly fragged piece in a low-flow area initially to reduce stress.
• Target Feeding: Consider gentle feeding to help the coral recover, as they might not be getting enough sustenance from the water column with increased flow.

Moving Forward:​

1. Monitor Parameters: Keep a close eye on all water parameters, especially nutrients, and make sure they remain within an optimal range. If the phosphate remains problematic, consider methods to reduce it naturally, like using a phosphate remover.
2. Gradual Changes: Avoid introducing too many changes at once. If you want to experiment with dosing, do so one at a time and observe the overall tank response.
3. Coral Growth & Health: Maintain stable conditions and ensure other corals remain healthy to see if the problem was isolated.
4. Consult an ICP Test: Consider running another ICP test to provide a clearer picture of your trace elements and any potential imbalances in your system.

Best of luck, and I hope your torch coral recovers well!

Thanks, ChatGPT! Great response.

 

[Notsolostfish]

I'm sorry to hear about your torch coral; it's always concerning when a coral exhibits signs of distress. There could be several reasons for a torch coral head to bail out, even in a seemingly healthy tank. Here are some potential causes and suggestions moving forward:

1. Environmental Changes:​

• Flow Changes: Switching flow modes from Reef Crest to Lagoon can affect how corals receive and filter food as well as impact their adhesion to the substrate. If the new flow isn't ideal for your torch, it might be leading to stress.
• Light Changes: If you changed the light intensity or spectrum recently, even slightly, it might be worth reevaluating. Corals can be sensitive to light changes.

2. Water Quality:​

• Silicates and Testing Parameters: The presence of silicates due to your dosing of Wolf Glass Silicate could be impacting your phosphate readings, making it appear higher than it is. High phosphate levels can lead to stress in some corals. Make sure to track your overall water quality closely.
• Tropic Marin Elements: Introducing Tropic Marin A and K at half the recommended dosage may not be causing harm, but observe closely for any sudden changes in your system’s responsiveness. If you see distress in your corals (like what happened with the torch), consider pausing the additives until you see stability.

3. Nutrient Levels:​

• Phosphate and Nitrate: Having a phosphate level of 0.51 can be concerning, albeit only if it has been consistently high. Torch corals, like many others, can tolerate some nitrates but can be sensitive to elevated phosphates and poor water quality, leading to rough conditions. Strive for a balanced nutrient level (around 0.03–0.1 for phosphate).
• Nutrient Dump: If you're dosing phyto at 150ml daily, analyze whether this is causing excess nutrients to accumulate. While phyto can benefit corals, high volumes might also lead to spikes in nutrients.

4. Physical Damage:​

• Handling Stress: Sometimes, handling corals (such as during fragging) can lead to stress, resulting in bailouts or other issues afterward. If the fragging was done improperly or too aggressively, the coral might react negatively.

5. Health of the Coral:​

• Injury or Disease: Look for signs of disease or stress in the remaining heads of the torch. Signs like discoloration, skeleton exposure, or tissue recession can indicate problems. Ensure your coral is not being attacked by pests.

6. General Coral Care:​

• Wait and Observe: After fragging, monitor the individual pieces of the coral closely for signs of recovery or further distress. Keep the newly fragged piece in a low-flow area initially to reduce stress.
• Target Feeding: Consider gentle feeding to help the coral recover, as they might not be getting enough sustenance from the water column with increased flow.

Moving Forward:​

1. Monitor Parameters: Keep a close eye on all water parameters, especially nutrients, and make sure they remain within an optimal range. If the phosphate remains problematic, consider methods to reduce it naturally, like using a phosphate remover.
2. Gradual Changes: Avoid introducing too many changes at once. If you want to experiment with dosing, do so one at a time and observe the overall tank response.
3. Coral Growth & Health: Maintain stable conditions and ensure other corals remain healthy to see if the problem was isolated.
4. Consult an ICP Test: Consider running another ICP test to provide a clearer picture of your trace elements and any potential imbalances in your system.

Best of luck, and I hope your torch coral recovers well!

I appreciate the AI response