Torch Coral, please help!

[NanoReefer25]

New Tank- set up in Feb

Current water tests:
Alk 7.8, Nitrate 3.9, Phosphate 0.06, Salinity just under 1.026

I have a new torch coral, probably had for 3-4 weeks now. It has been looking fairly happy and healthy until the last couple days. One of the two heads, the tentacles are deflated (actually flat looking) and retracted, the other head is still looking happy. I moved and rotated slightly so now flow is coming across the agitated head more than flowing into it like it was.

I have also been fighting dinos for about 2 months. Nutrients bottom out and i increased feeding, lot of manual cleaning. It had been cleared up mostly but has recently been slowly reappearing despite raised nutrient levels. I have been hesitant to go full blackout with the 4 corals I have in there. Could the bacteria be causing this or is it irritated from too much flow?

Any help is appreciated. I have read and learned a lot from this forum already, thank you all!

 

[NanoReefer25]

Forgot to mention I have 2 hammers and a brain coral that are higher up on the rocks and all very happy. Torch is obv down in the sand with a stand from printed reef. No fish currently just snails for CUC.

 

[Shirak]

Highly unlikely it's too much flow. They can take A LOT as long as it isn't constant from only one direction. Your nutrients are still low on the nitrates.

You mention the others higher up looking better. What's the par where the torch is?

 

[bubbgee]

Highly unlikely it's too much flow. They can take A LOT as long as it isn't constant from only one direction. Your nutrients are still low on the nitrates.

You mention the others higher up looking better. What's the par where the torch is?

Yeah, it seems to be flow issue to me because it looks like it's coming from one direction.

 

[Shirak]

OP if you are concerned about flow, take a short video and post it.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Can you upload a video of the torch? Post it as a youtube video

 

[NanoReefer25]

The tank is a small cube (<15 gal), I have a Sicce 425 GPH wave maker. The flow does "circulate" around mainly in one direction. With the tank's shape/ size I've had a hard time setting flow up any other way. The corner I had it in (opposite wave maker) has some turbulent flow so the tentacles were swaying around all directions.

I just pulled the torch out of the tank to scrape off the skeleton and make sure no buggers are on there bothering it. It cleaned up alright and no sign of pests. I am not sure about the par i have never measured it (dont have a meter), but only 1 of the 2 heads was upset so that's why it led me to believe flow. When i put it back in I placed it up top with the other coral to see if it is happier up there. It is shriveled right now from being cleaned but i can take a video of it in a bit if it opens back up, in the new location. Sorry if this makes it more difficult to figure out, it has been continually declining so I didn't think leaving it there would help it.

 

[NanoReefer25]

The lighting is a Nicrew 100W running blue/violet only, I have peak at about 50%, 13h total light time

 

[bubbgee]

The tank is a small cube (<15 gal), I have a Sicce 425 GPH wave maker. The flow does "circulate" around mainly in one direction. With the tank's shape/ size I've had a hard time setting flow up any other way. The corner I had it in (opposite wave maker) has some turbulent flow so the tentacles were swaying around all directions.

I just pulled the torch out of the tank to scrape off the skeleton and make sure no buggers are on there bothering it. It cleaned up alright and no sign of pests. I am not sure about the par i have never measured it (dont have a meter), but only 1 of the 2 heads was upset so that's why it led me to believe flow. When i put it back in I placed it up top with the other coral to see if it is happier up there. It is shriveled right now from being cleaned but i can take a video of it in a bit if it opens back up, in the new location. Sorry if this makes it more difficult to figure out, it has been continually declining so I didn't think leaving it there would help it.

Yes, cubes are near impossible to flow for torches, I learned that the hard way losing torches to BJDs. What worked for me (in my old WB20 cube) is setting up a nero 3 on the other side of the return below the overflow and pulse it so there's some way to break the constant flow from the return.

What would also work is the hygger mini gyre mounted sideways to flow the water the opposite way of the return (front left of the display). I've done that previously as well.

 

[NanoReefer25]

I've tried both the regular hygger wave makers along with a couple others, seems like not many of them like to go low enough flow for a tank this size. I thought the gyre style look interesting but I was worried they'll be too strong like the others I tried, will look at those again. I have not tried the wave maker flowing against the filter return either. Thank you for the advice!

 

[NanoReefer25]

Quick video in the new location now it is opening up. I adjusted the return flow to a different angle to break up the single direction flow a little. Pretty low flow area where it is now but I figure try to see if the angry side bounces back at all. So far it has opened a bit but is still deflated.