Torch coral

[sawdonkey]

Just borrowed my buddy’s test kit. Everything I tested so far is spot on. He has refractometer and Hanna test kit. Only thing. My hydrometer said 1.024. Was really almost 4.0

Is that a typo? What is 4.0 salinity? 1.04?

 

[ScottR]

Is that a typo? What is 4.0 salinity? 1.04?

1.040 was what I was assuming...

 

[Roachbeef19]

Moved him to the corner. Way less flow. After a couple minutes he started to open up a little bit

Hows it going?

 

[Mike Robinson]

Good old salinity problems. At least that’s easy to fix. I’m glad you caught it. Keep us updated.

Got salinity where it should be. 1.023. It’s starting to look worse. All other parameters are where they were earlier. Now my alk is at 12.6. After almost a 50% water change over the course of 24 hours my alk only went down a hair

 

[Mike Robinson]

1.040 was what I was assuming...

No not 1.04. It was reading HI. Which the tester stopped at 3.0

 

[ScottR]

Got salinity where it should be. 1.023. It’s starting to look worse. All other parameters are where they were earlier. Now my alk is at 12.6. After almost a 50% water change over the course of 24 hours my alk only went down a hair

I’d bring salinity up a tad to at least 1.025

 

[Mike Robinson]

I’d bring salinity up a tad to at least 1.025

Will that help lower alk?

 

[Mike Robinson]

Hows it going?

Changed some parameters but still having a problem

 

[Mike Robinson]

Update on what it looks like

 

[ScottR]

Will that help lower alk?

No. It will most likely raise alk slightly but salinity is more important than alk.

 

[Mike Robinson]

No. It will most likely raise alk slightly but salinity is more important than alk.

Got it. Started raising it. Gonna do it kind of slow though

 

[sawdonkey]

No not 1.04. It was reading HI. Which the tester stopped at 3.0

I’m not sure what scale your using, but I’ve never heard of 3.0 salinity? Do you mean 1.030? Now you over corrected to 1.023 and youre trying to try to get it back to 1.027 or so?

I’m just a little confused about where you’re at?

Given that the white flesh over the skeleton is gone, I think your torch is likely a goner. Just work on getting your alk to 8.0-9.0 or so and get your salinity to 1.27 or so and try again another time. Are your other corals looking ok?

 

[Mike Robinson]

I’m not sure what scale your using, but I’ve never heard of 3.0 salinity? Do you mean 1.030? Now you over corrected to 1.023 and youre trying to try to get it back to 1.027 or so?

I’m just a little confused about where you’re at?

Given that the white flesh over the skeleton is gone, I think your torch is likely a goner. Just work on getting your alk to 8.0-9.0 or so and get your salinity to 1.27 or so and try again another time. Are your other corals looking ok?

Trying to get it back to 1.025

 

[Mike Robinson]

I’m not sure what scale your using, but I’ve never heard of 3.0 salinity? Do you mean 1.030? Now you over corrected to 1.023 and youre trying to try to get it back to 1.027 or so?

I’m just a little confused about where you’re at?

Given that the white flesh over the skeleton is gone, I think your torch is likely a goner. Just work on getting your alk to 8.0-9.0 or so and get your salinity to 1.27 or so and try again another time. Are your other corals looking ok?

Trying to get it back to 1.025

Ya it’s a goner. The little guy started losing its tips

 

[Pazil]

Try raising your phosphate level... My torches are happiest around 0.08

 

[Mike Robinson]

Try raising your phosphate level... My torches are happiest around 0.08

Too late. All the tips fell off

 

[Mike Robinson]

So just for future reference. I don’t want this problem again. This is the only coral I can not keep. What are ideal parameters for it?

 

[ScottR]

So just for future reference. I don’t want this problem again. This is the only coral I can not keep. What are ideal parameters for it?

Just focus on salinity first. Don’t chase po4 and no3 too much. I’ve kept them in various lighting, nutrient levels, etc. but salinity must always stay stable. The two biggest parameters are temperature and salinity. Corals aren’t as forgiving when these aren’t kept in line. Alk, Ca, Mg, po4, no3 can be all over the place (kept stable of course) and they can survive (within reason) but you can’t play with temp and salinity.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Just focus on salinity first. Don’t chase po4 and no3 too much. I’ve kept them in various lighting, nutrient levels, etc. but salinity must always stay stable. The two biggest parameters are temperature and salinity. Corals aren’t as forgiving when these aren’t kept in line. Alk, Ca, Mg, po4, no3 can be all over the place (kept stable of course) and they can survive (within reason) but you can’t play with temp and salinity.

That’s what I thought. Can’t believe everything else survived with no signs of stress

 

[ScottR]

That’s what I thought. Can’t believe everything else survived with no signs of stress

It’s odd like that. I’ve had every malfunction known to man in my tanks. There are always going to be stragglers.