Very old Ducan now opening only half? Why?

[daniel_mourra]

Ive had this duncan for about 2 years now. Its always been opening up great and always in the same tank spot. But about 3-4 weeks ago, only half of it opens as usual, the other half refuses to open. Any idea why only half my coral is opening? I have never moved it. NO changes to light or flow in the last 12 months…. NO NEW FISH OR INVERTEBRATES in the last 8-10 months.

Water parameters are:

Salinity 1.022 three weeks ago; brought it up to 1.025 in 3 weeks. Now 1.024.

Dkh: 8.4-8.5 very very steady.

Ca: 420-440 steady.

Mg: 1500 (went up due to bringing salinity up. Now in the process of going down. Now at 1480).

Nitrates: 5ppm very very very steady.

Phosphate: 0.15 steady.

Temp: 25.5 C (78F)

Par: 120-180 in that spot. Its always thrive in there.

 

[mcarroll]

Salinity 1.022 three weeks ago; brought it up to 1.025 in 3 weeks. Now 1.024.

Off the top I'd have to say this at least relates to the cause....was the salinity drop a mystery or do you know what happened?

Its always thrive in there.

It looks like the downstream side of the coral is what's closed...maybe consider a flow rearrange or maybe even adding a pump?

 

[daniel_mourra]

Off the top I'd have to say this at least relates to the cause....was the salinity drop a mystery or do you know what happened?


It looks like the downstream side of the coral is what's closed...maybe consider a flow rearrange or maybe even adding a pump?

Yes i know the cause. I use chris meckleys kalkwasser method which adds alot of kalkwasser (more than evap) so it drops salinity if i am not vigilant. Every week it goes from 1.026 to 1.025 in 7 days and then i do a water change and bring it back up to 1.026 as i change with new “saltier water”.

 

[Piotrek]

Not 100% sure, but might be flow or light related due to coral growing. Maybe the closed side isn't getting enough light anymore due to the other side covering it?

 

[Jimbo327]

How often do you do water change? And how much water do you change?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Whats on the side of the closed duncan, is something maybe stinging it?

 

[daniel_mourra]

Not 100% sure, but might be flow or light related due to coral growing. Maybe the closed side isn't getting enough light anymore due to the other side covering it?

Aparently not because the closed side is actually more towrds the light…

 

[daniel_mourra]

Whats on the side of the closed duncan, is something maybe stinging it?

Absolutley nothing at all just swim area. Closest coral or rock is about is about 8 inches away.

 

[daniel_mourra]

How often do you do water change? And how much water do you change?

I change 20 gals (12%) every 7-9 days

 

[daniel_mourra]

I really need help… salinity has been very stabel jow fro about 2-3 weeks… vut the duncan is still closing… and apareently the “closed side” is exapnding…. This is so weird! Could it be some kind of bug or pest eating it? If extion spreading? Should i dip it in something? I just have SEACHEM DIP (iodine) and Coral Rx but it is expired…. Please see updated picture.

 

[jd22]

What fish do you have? Might be a nipper

 

[Piotrek]

You could order an ICP test and maybe that will show something.
Regarding the nipper, it could be the case that some fish has developed a taste for it. My Acreichthys tomentosus really enjoyed nipping on duncans polyps. It left all the other corals alone.
It might be really hard to spot this. I second the fish list request.

 

[daniel_mourra]

You could order an ICP test and maybe that will show something.
Regarding the nipper, it could be the case that some fish has developed a taste for it. My Acreichthys tomentosus really enjoyed nipping on duncans polyps. It left all the other corals alone.
It might be really hard to spot this. I second the fish list request.

Thank you! Will do ICP soon. I live in Honduras and sending the water samples is very hard… need to wait for someone to travel to the US.

Here is the list of fish:
6 Green Chromis Damsel
1 Blue Tang (Dory)
2 Clown Fish
1 Clown Tang
1 Chocolate Tang
1 Purple Tang
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Doctor Fish Tang
1 Coral Beauty
1 Bicolor Angel
1 Red Fire Cardinal (Local)
1 Red Fireshrimp
1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
2 Boxer Shrimp
4 Eufuria Starfish
5 Hermit Crab (locals reef safe).
**1 Morish Idol** he has been 2 years in the tank; he ate all the zoas at first but i havent seen him nipping at anything else after that…. He is the okny one i would blame but havent seen anything solid… and i do watch the tank alot….

ALL FISH AND SHRIMP HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MORE THANK 1 yr with NO new additions.

Also: I have a green apple goniopora that opened beautifully 6 months and its been a closed, growing not dying but not extending the polyps for about 7-8 months now…. So i really dont know…

Any ideas?

 

[Piotrek]

Keep an eye on the dwarfagels and idol. I've heard hepatus can nip as well.

 

[BryanM]

You have quite a few things in that CAN turn on corals.

Primary suspect: Dwarf Angel
Coral Beauty and Bicolor are also known to be nippers
Not all hermits are reef safe. Ask me how I know :(

Best bet is to set up a camera to record, and walk away. You'll almost never catch them in the act if you're in the room.

I see no reason NOT to dip the duncan. If its a flatworm issue or some other bug, this would be a good way to remove the issue, or the concern.

 

[Jimbo327]

Maybe you can set up a web cam to record the tank for a couple days, see if anything is nipping the corals.

Your numbers look good, and doing 12% water changes every week should be sufficient to replenish trace elements.

I would look for nippers as primary cause. Second, I would add a few drops of lugol's iodine into the tank just in case your iodine is depleted.