Newly established 5 gallon pico tank. I have thriving ricordea, mushrooms, zoas, a goni, and a candy cane. Every soft coral I've tried though has degraded and melted in a matter of weeks upon being introduced. This includes a cespitularia, nepthea, and now a kenya tree. I was thinking it could be nutrient related: my params are a pH of 8.2, Ammonia of 0, Nitrate of 0-5, and Salinity of 1.025. I do feed the crabs in the tank a couple of pellets every few days, spot feed the goni every couple of days, and do reef energy daily. I would think by now nutrients would be high enough to not be an issue.
Any other ideas? I was thinking a micronutrient deficiency but the tank is so new I would think that takes time to show up. They just start to look wilty then melt. A shame because they are my favorite and I want to start a 50 gallon system of just soft corals and mushrooms.
Any other ideas? I was thinking a micronutrient deficiency but the tank is so new I would think that takes time to show up. They just start to look wilty then melt. A shame because they are my favorite and I want to start a 50 gallon system of just soft corals and mushrooms.