What would you try next?

[Cari]

Hi all,

Need some help. I am struggling with Chalice, Torch and Duncan coral.

Tank = 90 gallon
Refugium = 20 gallon - small led light on 24/7, skimmer, Chemi pure elite

12/15. 12/22. 12/27

pH. 8.15 8.07 8.08
Calc. 491 453 434
Alk. 8.2 8.2 8.9
Phos. .16 .24 .18
Nitrate. 20.2 18.4 18.6
Temp. 78 78 78
Sg. 1.025 1.025 1.025
Mg. 1415 1425 1400

Time of testing 8-9 am. I started dosing 17ml of AFR on 12/22. Torch coral heads seem inflated and happy, but white flesh is receding. The ones on flat plugs, standing straight up seem happiest. Duncan lost most heads, small piece left, don’t know if it can be saved. Chalice I can’t make happy no matter what I do. It keeps receding, has never been puffed up since seeing it in store.
Flow is set to LPS with Hydros controller. Torch are on bottom, I don’t think the flow is too much. Duncan is on bottom. Chalice has been on bottom, shaded and is currently half way up. I have 2 Kessil Ap9x about 10” above water. Have not run Kessil over 40% intensity.
Coral that are happy are zoas (bottom), Clove Polyps (1/3 way up), Mushroom rock (spans bottom 1/3 to 1/2 way up). Gorgonians are open and full, span up to 1/2 way. RBTA - 2 of them 1/2 way.
Fish- Hippo Tang, Yellow Tang, Melanurus Wrasse and Potter’s Angel. Various snails and crabs.

I feed Rod’s, PE Mysis, coral nutrition pellets sometimes. I’ve tried Acropower, ab+ and LPS pellets.

Sorry for long post, I’d like to save these corals any help appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

As descriptive as your post is, pics are very helpful, it really helps if we can see instead of read a description.

 

[Cari]

Here’s what I have so far. The first one is of chalice today, the next three chalice pics is from 12/14. The torch closest to snail is now gone.

 

[FUNGI]

Might just be the blue color, but looks very dark in your tank........sure you have enough light....

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all,

Need some help. I am struggling with Chalice, Torch and Duncan coral.

Tank = 90 gallon
Refugium = 20 gallon - small led light on 24/7, skimmer, Chemi pure elite

12/15. 12/22. 12/27

pH. 8.15 8.07 8.08
Calc. 491 453 434
Alk. 8.2 8.2 8.9
Phos. .16 .24 .18
Nitrate. 20.2 18.4 18.6
Temp. 78 78 78
Sg. 1.025 1.025 1.025
Mg. 1415 1425 1400

Time of testing 8-9 am. I started dosing 17ml of AFR on 12/22. Torch coral heads seem inflated and happy, but white flesh is receding. The ones on flat plugs, standing straight up seem happiest. Duncan lost most heads, small piece left, don’t know if it can be saved. Chalice I can’t make happy no matter what I do. It keeps receding, has never been puffed up since seeing it in store.
Flow is set to LPS with Hydros controller. Torch are on bottom, I don’t think the flow is too much. Duncan is on bottom. Chalice has been on bottom, shaded and is currently half way up. I have 2 Kessil Ap9x about 10” above water. Have not run Kessil over 40% intensity.
Coral that are happy are zoas (bottom), Clove Polyps (1/3 way up), Mushroom rock (spans bottom 1/3 to 1/2 way up). Gorgonians are open and full, span up to 1/2 way. RBTA - 2 of them 1/2 way.
Fish- Hippo Tang, Yellow Tang, Melanurus Wrasse and Potter’s Angel. Various snails and crabs.

I feed Rod’s, PE Mysis, coral nutrition pellets sometimes. I’ve tried Acropower, ab+ and LPS pellets.

Sorry for long post, I’d like to save these corals any help appreciated!
Thanks!

Assure you have moderate light and flow plus sufficient nutrients as well as seeing your phos is slightly elevated.

 

[MrGisonni]

The AFR has not really stabilized yet. There is a lag in measurable calcium due to the formula and it's synthesis by bacteria, and your alkalinity is seemingly still rising. Can't say what was happening before but that is what may be causing the coral stress now. Be patient with the AFR. Once your alk is stable between 8-9 IMHO your pretty much done for now. Continue that dose and testing of course. Your calcium and magnesium should be in line. Also your phosphates are a bit high, shoot for .03 to .1 Nitrates are ok but between 2-15 is probably better. Check the specs on your lights to see what par they are producing. My chalice and Duncan's are in low light 50-75 par and growing. Euphelia corals in my tank don't do well FWIW. All those coral foods are probably what's causing your nutrients issue......Use them sparingly.

 

[Cari]

Thanks for the inputs. The lighting is Kessil AP9x (2). Everything I see about them says you basically dial the color in where you like/want and the tank still gets the spectrum it needs? The tank sits on a peninsula fairly high up in the room, so I don’t have it turned up to a real bright white. I had kessil AP700’s for years and only had to worry about the intensity. But since trying different corals, been struggling a bit on where to land with intensity. The goal is LPS dominant.

I have a par meter and had the chalice in 100 and below but still the receding and no puffing. Maybe it wasn’t the lighting, could be phosphate?

I‘m assuming with phosphate higher than should be, I have too much nutrients in tank?

What‘s the best way to lower phosphate/nitrate?