bubble corals

[hayley2684]

I have two bubble corals (Plerogyra sinuosa) that i bought 4 days ago. my system didn't have a protein skimmer so i bout one and put it on whilst i was aclimatising the corals. for the first two days the corals looked great. they would close at night, and then open in the mornings. one of them (thatwas in more flow) stopped opening two days ago. i thought that the flow might have had something to do with it, so i movd it to an area of less flow, but now neither of the bubbles are opening.

My only thoughts were-

1) to much/not enough light?.....i have a 250W 10K MH that runs for 1pm to 8pm and two 20w actinics that run from 6am-1pm and then from 8pm to 12 midnight.

2) the protein skimmer which has nothing currently in the cup stillisn't working, or is working and has taken out my trace elements. My calcium levels are at 400ppm. i don't run tests for any other trace elements, but i add RED SEA coral trace, green and iodine weekly.

I have alot of flow in my tank but not aimed directly at the corals.

other water parameters are
amonia nitrite and nitrate =0
kH 214
phosphate = .5ppm


Any ideas?

 

[hayley2684]

sorry should have also included, pH is 8.3 sg is 1.024 and temp is 25C

 

[splateee]

Bubble corals tend to do good in a very low flow areas and should be placed from the mid to lower levels. You may want to try a different location with less flow.

 

[hayley2684]

thanks

 

[RichConley]

My bubble actually gets quite a bit of flow, and likes it. He is bubbly during the day, and has tentacles at night. If its fully closing up at any time, its ****ed off. I'd bet its a nutrient issue, especially if your phosphates are that high.

 

[Amphiprion]

It could possibly be a nutrient issue. Mine is also in quite a bit of flow--but it did take it a little while to become accustomed to it.

 

[ALTI]

the protein skimmer is not going to remove any trace elements. be carefull dosing iodine. it is very toxic when overdosed, so unless you are tersting your iodine levels do not add any more.make sure u keep it in gentle flow and that there are no fish or corals touching it.

 

[Amphiprion]

I honestly wouldn't add iodine even if you are testing it for a variety of reasons (namely that fact that you can't reliably test the different predominant forms of iodine in seawater).