Balances???

[99trev]

I need a point in the right direction.

My tank was set up in September, and I have been adding things very slowly (120 gallon, about 80lb of live rock, and 50lb of lace rock).

 In November I added 2 pieces of Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens).  One had 3 "branches" on it. The other had 4. In January 2 of the branches "split" (on the coral that had 3 branches) and was looking really nice. Well the end of February, one of the split branches stopped extending, and the tips started disappearing back into the trunk little by little, until the branch completely died.   On the other Torch, one of the branches did the same thing.  Since then none of the branches are extending out much at all.  The "polyps" before would extend out about 3 to 4 inches.  Now not more that 1/2".  My maintenance has stayed about the same, with the exception changing half of the media in my canister every 2 weeks (and cleaning the other half with  water from my water change).   Before I was changing all of the filter media every 4 - 6 weeks, and cleaning the media with fresh water.  I am using the same media (supply).   I am concerned that I will be loosing another branch again, since it is not extending at all (just like the one that died did).

My levels (I check them once a week, and they do not change much)

pH 8.2
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 12 (This drops to less than 5 after my water change, and have seen it as high as 15)
Ammonia 0
Sg 1.025
Cal 390  (I have seen this down to 360 before my water change, and about 420 after water change).

Is there something else that I should be checking???

I also have a green brain coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi), Green Button Polyps (Protopalythoa), and Green Hairy Mushroom (Rhodactis indosinensis). All of these seem to be doing very well.  The green button polyps are expanding their colony, the brain opens and closes when fed (looks really cool), and the mushroom is growing (hairs are getting longer). 

In March I added a frag of Montipora Capricornis (Orange). It was about the size of a quarter.  It "lasted" about 3 weeks, and is now no longer the orange that it started out as (very pail, and sections are now void of any color at all).  I am sad about the "loss" (it being my first attempt at a frag), but I am now thinking that I have something going wrong, but not sure where to look.

Any suggestions, ideas, or additional information is needed please let me know. 

Thanks.




 

[Bergy]

hey trev... welcome back...

sorry to hear things are kind funky right now...  it almost seems like your description is suggesting that the change in maintenance is connected to the issues with the couple corals... (instead of monthly or dual monthly to a bi-monthly)

except for the fact that the nitrates arent really changeing due to the change in maintenance...

Also, you dont say how often or how much you change water, or where you get your saltwater from???  although i think you probably change water every two weeks when you cahnge the filter media..

btw is the filter media the foam pads and stuff???  in a cannister filter ????


btw:  you shouldnt have to check nitrites anymore, unless you have a problem that might be related to cycling... usually an ammonia increase would suggest / promote a nitrite test

but typically, once you get to zero nitrites, you are done with that test kit...

what type of lighting do you have??? how many power heads or what type of circulation...

typcially the capriconicus is a uber hardy/safe coral to have in a tank.. orange being the easiest of easy...

BUT,  your calcium level is LOW...

shouldnt be low enough to kill off stuff but low enuf to not let stuff grow llke they should...


If you are changing water every two weeks, and you dont seem to have a big coral/calcium demand, would suggest a crappy salt mix...

make sure the salt water you use has at least 440ppm calcium to start off...

you should get some calcium additive to get the calcium up to 440+ and you should be testing for ALKALINITY? and make sure it is as the right level... let us know what test kit you have as different test kits measure differently/different scale...

you should read up on dosing of calcium/alkalinity, (typically done together as they are directly related)


read up on TWO PART SOLUTIONs on www.bulkreefsupply.com 

or


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php  (this is the specific article for two part dosing)


but for a more introduction into reef chemistry, you should read this


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php  (first in a series of three)

[Bergy]

btw:  i updated the LINKS button/category up above...


i would appreciate everyone updating that link so we can all have access to this links without having to remmber... which Im not good at

[99trev]

hey trev... welcome back...

sorry to hear things are kind funky right now...  it almost seems like your description is suggesting that the change in maintenance is connected to the issues with the couple corals... (instead of monthly or dual monthly to a bi-monthly)

except for the fact that the nitrates arent really changeing due to the change in maintenance...

Also, you dont say how often or how much you change water, or where you get your saltwater from???  although i think you probably change water every two weeks when you cahnge the filter media..

> I try for every two weeks, about 15% change (I take out /put in 15 gallons) Not quite 15% but my opinion is  (120 gallon tank, MINUS rock/sand/etc) is less than 120 of actual water.  (I have three 5 gallon buckets that I use). Use Instant Ocean (Sea Salt). My last water change, I used Red Sea (ran out of the Instant Ocean).... Sure hope changing salt does not cause any issues... did not think about that, but the problem started before the change.

btw is the filter media the foam pads and stuff???  in a cannister filter ????

> Yes foam pads (3 various sizes) with bio balls, and charcoal (reef safe blend) in a canister filter.

btw:  you shouldnt have to check nitrites anymore, unless you have a problem that might be related to cycling... usually an ammonia increase would suggest / promote a nitrite test

but typically, once you get to zero nitrites, you are done with that test kit...

what type of lighting do you have??? how many power heads or what type of circulation...

> T5's 2 Marine-glo, 2 Power-Glo ("Day Lights") - 2 PoweBrite (460nm) ("night lights")

typcially the capriconicus is a uber hardy/safe coral to have in a tank.. orange being the easiest of easy...

BUT,  your calcium level is LOW...

shouldnt be low enough to kill off stuff but low enuf to not let stuff grow llke they should...

If you are changing water every two weeks, and you dont seem to have a big coral/calcium demand, would suggest a crappy salt mix...

make sure the salt water you use has at least 440ppm calcium to start off...

> I will check the calcium level of my salt mix (before adding it to the tank).  I also have ordered some calcium additive, and should have it later this week, and will start "dosing"

you should get some calcium additive to get the calcium up to 440+ and you should be testing for ALKALINITY? and make sure it is as the right level... let us know what test kit you have as different test kits measure differently/different scale...

> I will order an Alkalinity test kit (don't have one).  What range should it be?

you should read up on dosing of calcium/alkalinity, (typically done together as they are directly related)


read up on TWO PART SOLUTIONs on www.bulkreefsupply.com 

or


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php  (this is the specific article for two part dosing)


but for a more introduction into reef chemistry, you should read this


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php  (first in a series of three)

Thanks for the links, I will dig through them.  Do you think the lack of calcium would cause the torch's to not "extend"? I was thinking it would affect the growth...

[Bergy]

yea i kinda said that somewhere in the middle of that message... I would not expect death or recession from low calcium, in as much as 360 is low, which is not REAL REAL  low, just regular kinda low...

I am thinking thre is something else...

OR, as discussed in a different thread... some people rather, some corals just dont grow for some people...  we all seem to have a coral or two that for some reason, just dont take...

maybe this is your can not keep coral???

[psykokid]

it really depends on the persons tank honestly on what they can and cannot keep. We've all got our stuff that we've found just wont for whatever reason survive in our particular tank. Before bill couldnt keep xenia or acans in his big 180g display, now with his smaller 60g display he has no problems keeping them. I cant seem to keep Ricordea florida mushrooms alive, they just melt on me. Now their pacific cousin, the Ricordea yuma i have no problem growing, and growing well for that matter..

[99trev]

it really depends on the persons tank honestly on what they can and cannot keep. We've all got our stuff that we've found just wont for whatever reason survive in our particular tank. Before bill couldnt keep xenia or acans in his big 180g display, now with his smaller 60g display he has no problems keeping them. I cant seem to keep Ricordea florida mushrooms alive, they just melt on me. Now their pacific cousin, the Ricordea yuma i have no problem growing, and growing well for that matter..

Well that makes me feel a little better (that I am not a complete failure).  I know I have a lot to learn, and expect some losses, just hate to think of things suffering at my expence.  Thanks again for the help!!!

[Bergy]

yea, still not sure what hte causae or issue is, but like stated before, it appears that some people just cant keep some things, while others can with no problems....

we all seem to have specific corals that for some reason just dont seam to work for everyone....


maybe that is the case for you???   i would maybe try again in a year and see if they can survive longer????  if you can get them cheap that is... i would hate to spend real money just to confimr that you cant keep them alive... hehehehehe