New to the hobby, don't know what I'm doing, though I try my best to read up on things. Steps described below clearly include a lot of mistakes, some of which I now realize. Trying to save the torch coral, our splurge purchase.
Tank (108G display, 31G sump) had been in good shape, though relatively recently established (cycled December). More recently introduced 5 anthias (i.e., feeding a lot more than before), a torch coral and a montipora frag.
We were away for 4 days, and during that time things turned south fast.
I suspect alkalinity was already low a few days before we left - I had been mostly monitoring nitrates and the macro algae in the refugium has been good about keeping that down. As a consequence, I skipped a water change that I should not have. However, corals looked healthy when we left.
On our return, we found the tank in bad shape. Alkalinity really came down a lot to below 4.5, and simultaneously had a brown algae bloom (diatoms?). The coral all looked unhappy, including the GSP being fully retracted.
We immediately did a ~10% water change, incoming water had 12 dkh (in hindsight, probably too aggressive - I thought the 0.5 maximum change was for supplementing only...)
The next day, coral looked worse. The torch was still extended, but looking skinnier.
Alkalinity was up to 5. We did nothing further that day.
The third day, we did another 20% water change, again with ~12dkh. Alkalinity up to 6.3.
The fourth day, the coral started to look a bit better. we supplemented to increase by 0.5.
Morning of fifth day, alkalinity of 6.7. Corals looking a tiny bit better, including torch. GSP is back, though not at 100%.
This afternoon, torch looked a lot worse, and withdrawn. Alkalinity still 6.7.
Current parameters:
Alk: 6.7
ph:8.3
Ca:47
Mg:1520
Ammonia:0
Nitrates:2
Phosphates:0
I'm torn between continuing supplementing to push alkalinity to at least 7, or giving them a day of rest and supplementing every other day. I would go slowly, but it looking worse this afternoon has me spooked, and 6.7 is still low. From reading different threads, it's not unreasonable to expect coral to look worse before things get better again (i.e., damage from low alk may take time to show)- is that right?
Am I better of giving the corals more time, or getting it back to 7 more quickly?
Corals: acropora, birdsnest, montipora, GSP, (all smaller frags)
stylophora (bigger frag)
torch coral
Stylo isn't happy either (mostly retracted), birdsnest and montipora seem fine.
Tank (108G display, 31G sump) had been in good shape, though relatively recently established (cycled December). More recently introduced 5 anthias (i.e., feeding a lot more than before), a torch coral and a montipora frag.
We were away for 4 days, and during that time things turned south fast.
I suspect alkalinity was already low a few days before we left - I had been mostly monitoring nitrates and the macro algae in the refugium has been good about keeping that down. As a consequence, I skipped a water change that I should not have. However, corals looked healthy when we left.
On our return, we found the tank in bad shape. Alkalinity really came down a lot to below 4.5, and simultaneously had a brown algae bloom (diatoms?). The coral all looked unhappy, including the GSP being fully retracted.
We immediately did a ~10% water change, incoming water had 12 dkh (in hindsight, probably too aggressive - I thought the 0.5 maximum change was for supplementing only...)
The next day, coral looked worse. The torch was still extended, but looking skinnier.
Alkalinity was up to 5. We did nothing further that day.
The third day, we did another 20% water change, again with ~12dkh. Alkalinity up to 6.3.
The fourth day, the coral started to look a bit better. we supplemented to increase by 0.5.
Morning of fifth day, alkalinity of 6.7. Corals looking a tiny bit better, including torch. GSP is back, though not at 100%.
This afternoon, torch looked a lot worse, and withdrawn. Alkalinity still 6.7.
Current parameters:
Alk: 6.7
ph:8.3
Ca:47
Mg:1520
Ammonia:0
Nitrates:2
Phosphates:0
I'm torn between continuing supplementing to push alkalinity to at least 7, or giving them a day of rest and supplementing every other day. I would go slowly, but it looking worse this afternoon has me spooked, and 6.7 is still low. From reading different threads, it's not unreasonable to expect coral to look worse before things get better again (i.e., damage from low alk may take time to show)- is that right?
Am I better of giving the corals more time, or getting it back to 7 more quickly?
Corals: acropora, birdsnest, montipora, GSP, (all smaller frags)
stylophora (bigger frag)
torch coral
Stylo isn't happy either (mostly retracted), birdsnest and montipora seem fine.
