Duncan / Frogspawn help!

[ColtonMeng]

Hey all-

Long time avid reader on the forums here, first time poster. So...

I've been having issues with my Frogspawn(s) for the past 3 weeks, and my Duncan for the past month / two.

The Duncan: Nearly always fully closed, with about 10-15% extension during a small window at night, although no decrease in stalk coloring (it hasnt started dying up to the mouths.) its still green, but always closed and seemingly mad.

The Frogspawn (multiple stalks, spread across the tank): over the past 3 weeks they have gone from open fully to completely closed, and looking bad. It wasn't a dramatic open/close that would indicate an immediate issue, but drawn out one.

These are the only two things that are doing bad in the tank- fish are all doing fine with no issues (listed below), zooanthids are all open (4 different species), SPS all dandy, hydnophora doing fine, bubble coral and open brain doing fine, rose-tip anemone, etc. I'm stumped- any advice or help at all would be GREATLY appreciated. my Duncan is around 20 heads, and was absolutely gorgeous when open (if I can even remember that far back)

Tank specs:
Tank size: 220gal / 40gal sump
Lighting: 6 orphek PR-156, 11'' above water

Fish: sailfin tang, yellow tang, coral beauty, 3 clown (varying species), fire angel, chromis.

Age: almost 1 year old

Mag: 1340 (yea yea, I'll raise it back up tonight...)
Alk: 8 dKH
Ca: 410
pH: 8.3 @ 79 Deg. F
Sp. Gr. : 1.024

Temp: 79.8 (lights-on) / 79 (lights-off)

-Running dual GFO canisters swapped weekly, I don't even bother testing phosphates anymore- its undetectable.




Thanks for any assistance you can provide. I've read everything there is to read- can't find an answer :eek1:

Colton Meng

 

[chrisfont23]

Something picking at them? Change in NO3 levels? What about lights - varying intensity maybe?

 

[ColtonMeng]

lights were set to a solid 8 hour day / 2 hour dusk cycle, switched it to a 5 hour day / 5 hour dusk schedule last week because they weren't improving. I wanted to make sure that the lights weren't cooking them.

that hasn't changed much either.

 

[MondoBongo]

how long have they been in the tank?

have you changed flow recently?

are you sure your test kits are accurate?

i had an issue a few months ago where my Alk test kit was reading WAY low, 2.5 dKh low as a matter of fact. so when i thought my Alk was off, it was actually fine. got a second and third opinion and came to realize it was just the test kit going bad.

 

[Bnaum85]

my duncan and frogspawn love to eat mysis shrimp. what are feeding yours?

 

[kurt_n]

...
Mag: 1340 (yea yea, I'll raise it back up tonight...)
...

What does that mean? Raise it back up with... ?


That magnesium level for a 410ppm Ca level doesn't seem off to me. I'm wondering if whatever you're doing regarding magnesium isn't causing an issue. Just talkin' out loud.

The only other thing I can think of has already been covered... lighting. I'd be more concerned with the intensity versus the photo cycle.

{Edit: just re-looked at your stock list. I'd watch that coral beauty and fire angel close. Just because you don't see them messing with them doesn't mean they aren't.}

 

[ColtonMeng]

All great feedback...

I'm going to flashlight my fish tonight at 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM, see if they are picking.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[ColtonMeng]

Cyclops eye / Mysis, going directly in the tank.


The frogspawn don't even respond to food stimuli anymore D:

they are completely enclosed.

 

[Reef Bass]

+1 for coral beauty and / or fire angel nipping.