Brain coral shrinking - need advice

[91mini]

I got this piece from a member of another forum in trade and its shrinking. Can anyone tell me what's happening? Are the elevated phosphate and low alkalinry causing this? What can I do?


Temp- 78.5 (constant, no fluctuation)
Amm-0
Trite-0
Trates-40ppm (doing water changes to get it down)
Alkalinity-119ppm
Calcium-427
Ph- 8.11
Phosphate-.07
Radions at 65% on 12K for 6 hours. 10 hour total photo period. Everything else in the tank are great. Kenya, zoas, GSP, devils hand, RBTA, and Yuma.

 

[ReneeF]

I'd suggest to dip it with coral rx to weed out any possible parasites. It doesn't look bleached so light is probably fine. How much flow is it in? What have you been feeding?

 

[91mini]

I dipped it before adding to the tank. I just started feeding phytoplankton this week and dosing Alkalknity and calcium with Reef Fusion 2 part system as suggested by my LFS.

Since the Calcium is good do I need to dose the Calcium every time I dose for alkalinity?

 

[hollback]

Your Alk is at 6.6 dKH which is dangerously low, I'd suggest slowly bringing it up between 8-10 dKH or 142-178ppm.

Those appear to be blastomussa. They will need to be target fed. Are you feeding?

 

[91mini]

I've tryed to target feed mysis but I'm not seeing how the coral will eat it plus my cleaner shrimp is constantly trying to take it away. I've done this both with lights on and off.

Besides that I've dosed phytoplankton this week.

I'm doing 7ml every other day and will test every 3 days to slowly raise it. LFS recommended getting Alkalinity to 11-12 eventually and keeping it there.

 

[hollback]

IME 11-12 is too high but that's just me.

That coral does not feed on phytoplankton. It feeds on light and meaty foods. If it's hungry it will suck food down the mouth. Night is best and keeping your shrimp away is essential. You could put a container over it until it has a chance to consume the food.

 

[91mini]

I was reading the rescue thread and it appears that it would be best to cut the dead skeleton off with some bone cutters.

 

[Reefer54]

keeping consistantly stable parameters of satisfactory levels is going to be the best medicine for this coral. if it is indeed a blastomussa, it is hardy and has plenty of potential to recover. you gotta get that water right.

 

[snorvich]

IME 11-12 is too high but that's just me.

That coral does not feed on phytoplankton. It feeds on light and meaty foods. If it's hungry it will suck food down the mouth. Night is best and keeping your shrimp away is essential. You could put a container over it until it has a chance to consume the food.

I try to keep mine between 9-10. Corals start stressing out if it is too low and too high is not good either. How often are you testing alkalinity?

 

[91mini]

My original goal was 9-10 until talking with them. Ill still shoot for 9-10 and maintain.

I had not tested for a month before finding the 6.6 reading. Before that it was at 7-8 which I now know is still too low. From what I've previously read I thought 7 was low but still acceptable.

Would alkalinity also cause my zoas to not open? I have some King Midas and some orange unknown zoas on a rock. The Midas's open up nicely but for the past 1-2 months the orange ones do not seem to want to fully open. They open about half way.

And what about cutting the skeleton? Do it, don't?

 

[ReneeF]

I've tryed to target feed mysis but I'm not seeing how the coral will eat it plus my cleaner shrimp is constantly trying to take it away. I've done this both with lights on and off.

Besides that I've dosed phytoplankton this week.

I'm doing 7ml every other day and will test every 3 days to slowly raise it. LFS recommended getting Alkalinity to 11-12 eventually and keeping it there.

Try a strawberry basket to keep the shrimp from stealing the food. I'm unsure about cutting off the skeleton, seems logical though.