bubble, aint bubbly

[scbasser5]

I have a nice green bubble coral, that just doesnt seem to be happy. Not as bubbly as it first was. It is in the bottom third of the tank, about 18 inches below a 150 watt 20K MH. There is flow not too rough but enough to move the bubbles around .

All tank parameters test ok. I supplement with trace elements, iodine, mag and stratonium weekly.

It has been eating ok, half a silver side every three or four days.

My question is do they just go through moods?

 

[Amphiprion]

Can I convince you to stop using the trace elements, iodine, and strontium? Do you dose calcium in addition to these? Do you know if you even need magnesium? I would ease off on these except for calcium and continue feeding it. Yes, sometimes they can get a bit 'moody' (if you want to assign emotions to a polyp).

 

[scbasser5]

Yes, I have a calcium reactor running, CA test 440 to 460.

In your opinion, the supplements are not needed? I understood that they were.

 

[Amphiprion]

Do you test for alkalinity? The only extra one I would recommend is the magnesium--even then, only if you can test for it. I highly recommend a magnesium test kit to keep an eye out. The reason I don't recommend adding any others is because:
1. 'trace elements' are impossible to test for and can easily reach toxic levels.
2. there is no way at the moment to test for the various forms of iodine in seawater--only total iodine. One level can easily get out of hand, especially if you feed often.
3. there is little evidence for the usefulness of strontium. If you do decide to add it, do not let levels get too far above those of natural seawater (certainly not much more than double, which is the level found in a few popular salts).

Those and other reasons are why I don't recommend it. Besides, adding them simply means more testing and more that can potentially go wrong. If you perform reasonably regular water changes, that will more than keep up with demand in most cases.

 

[scbasser5]

Interesting observations. I change 15 to 20 gallons almost weekly in my 150 so water changes shouldnt be an issue. Yes alk has been high at times, never low that i have tested 140 to 180 ppm.

I will stop the supplements for a few weeks any way and see if she improves. Thank you.