Why are my corals mad!?!?

[rynosaurus]

I downloaded an app to help take pics. It works ok, but here are my corals still not so happy.

 

[EMeyer]

From what I have read 11dkh is within range? Is there something I don’t know. As I stated earlier I raised the alk higher as a result of watching a BRS experiment that showed higher growth rates and better color from corals. What would be a good goal to hit, if they are wrong.
@Birddog61 the improvements did happen even before I had pulled those palys. This week I plan to do my water change and will be rechecking water quality, and comparing that with how my coral are feeling.

Its within the range of what reefers use. The ocean is nowhere near 11 dkh. 7 to 7.5.

I struggled with SPS for years because I kept listening to reefers and salt manufacturers instead of trying to match the ocean. After a month or so of stable, natural alkalinity (7.0) my SPS went from dying to thriving. And I havent had any major SPS problems in the year + since I made the switch.

I wouldnt view this as "me vs BRS". I'd view this as "BRS vs the ocean". Corals prefer natural alkalinity.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I will agree with keeping parameters closer to the ocean. More natural.
Now, if you have corals that were aquacultured and used to high levels then they may react differently.
I had sps for years and always kept DKH around 8 or so. Never high and everything grew great. I know they use higher DKH to increase growth rates on sps, but I have never read the full analysis of how long, etc.
Those pictures do not look too bad. Clam looks good.

 

[Birddog61]

11 dkh is not exceptionally high . Some of the salt mixes push over 11 at 1.o25 & 1.o26 salinity. however it is unnessary for softies and most lps .where dosing dkh could cause issue is if your getting percipitation/excessive percipitation. When dosing. Visable by ca drop after dosing

 

[rynosaurus]

So here’s the latest.
another water test just performed.
ALK 11.1
Nitrate 0? Pic attached
Phosphate .25? Pic attached
I have increased feedings to my corals hoping to increase health. With the changes I’ve made so far I have seen some improvements but not everyone is happy yet. My zoas, bubble, and toadstool, and green star polyps all just not happy.
Planning to do a water change in the next two days and will do another test. During this water change I’m going to add dry rock to the tank( not enough currently in the tank, looks a little empty.)
Once my water is mixed I’m going to test phosphates as suggested and now alk. I have not dosed anything to increase alk in quite some time now and it has not decreased.
Happy corals-

 

[rynosaurus]

Not so happy corals-

 

[Birddog61]

How long have the happy corals been in the tank

 

[rynosaurus]

Frogspawn has been in tank for 2 weeks and is happy.
toadstool has been in tank since I first moved corals over. I think 8 months now.
the yellow zoas have also been in since the beginning.
I have new and old coral doing good and vise versa.

 

[rynosaurus]

I just realized I forgot to upload pics of water tests .

 

[DeniseAndy]

Toadstool looks fine. Just ticked. Mine stayed closed over 3 months when I worked in tank alot. The rest are mad, give them time. Keep feeding and doing water changes every week or two. Good luck!

 

[EMeyer]

11 dkh is not exceptionally high .

For this comparison, I like to convert these to concentration (ppm) since dKH is such an un-intuitive and non-linear scale.

7 dKH (the ocean) = 125 ppm
11 dKH = 197 ppm

Thats about 60% higher. For comparison, if Ca raised by 60% it would hit 670 ppm... if Mg raised by 60% itd be 2080 ppm. Its a pretty big difference.

The use of odd units can hide large differences.

 

[rynosaurus]

So for anyone still reading, I’ve got no answers.
currently I’ve added dead rock hoping to increase the amount of beneficial bacteria. Once I added the rock a had a brown algae outbreak that I’m currently fighting but that’s no big deal.
most corals are still mad at me and will not open.
mom switching salts slowly Thinking maybe something in the salt is irritating them.
I did notice one thing. I have many vermatin worms everywhere, but I only see shells I have yet to see any mucus from them. Attached I have another critter I found. No clue what is is but at night I can see them everywhere and when traces to it’s base they appear to come straight out of the rocks. Does anyone have any ideas what these are.

 

[YMRreefer]

Digitate Hydroid | Melev's Reef

It takes a keen eye during late night hours to notice this particular creature. The first one I ever saw was in my refugium, and was a little thicker than a hair and about 1.5" in length when fully extended. If you watch Digitate hydroids for any length of time, you'll realize this is a thinking...

www.melevsreef.com

 

[rynosaurus]

Well I think the problem has been solved!!!
however I’m not entirely sure what did the trick.
since my last post I have more than doubled the amount of live rock in the system, installed a I’ve sterilizer, installed media cups in place of filter socks. I was also given a sponge from the sump of a very helpful friend of mine. All this being done within a few weeks and slowly but surely everything is coming back!!!!
I’m so excited and love for the aquarium has been reignited again!
All the brown algae that we were unable to identify is almost completely gone, and the tank is looking 10 times better.
I do still have zoas that are not fully extended, including my green star polys (grass as I call it). They appear to be getting better but still not quite there. It is not clear what resolved the issue but truth is I’m not sure I care, I’m just happy to have a beautiful tank again! If I had to guess I would say it was either the rock or the UV sterilizer.