Dying duncan

[ConnorG]

I have had my Duncan coral frag for about 2 weeks and ever since I have gotten it, its tenticles haven't been expanding and all yesterday the mouth has been wide open. Yesterday I tried feeding it some mysis and it didn't move......The other heads are fine but theone main one is getting worse. My torch frag has also not been expanding for the past few days and I fed it yesterday and it ate it but it's not opening.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20
Cal. 480
Phosphate 0
kH 8

Here is a picture....

 

[SomeDude12]

From the pictures, I wouldn't suggest that the duncan is dying. Try placing the frag in a less lit area. Duncans most often like low lighted areas with lower flows.

 

[philosophile]

Nitrates are high. The gaping mouth is definitely a bad sign. Water change to get the nitrates lower. Your rocks are pretty green too, so even though your phosphates are 0, its probably because the algae is taking it all up. You're probably overfeeding.

 

[Psirex]

to me they look a little bleached, did you light acclimate? Nitrates are a little high but won't kill the corals...

 

[jgsensor]

I second the lower flow lower lighting. Try moving it to the sand bed out of direct flow. I have high phosphate in my tank I am fighting but my duncan seems to like it and is thriving.

 

[mc-cro]

I think your nitrates are too high. my duncans have problems when the nitrates get excessive like that.

fwiw, my duncans love high, indirect flow

 

[ConnorG]

i was doing weekly water changes but when i went to my lfs they told me to stop them and do them biweekly because of my algae problem. i have cut back on my feeding a lot.... i will try moving it lower. Thanks for the replies.

 

[sqwat]

light shock !duncans if acclimated can take most kind of lighting but if put under very bright lighting after beeing in darkness or a lightly lit tank to a bright one is certain bleaching and im sure as they are suffering high nitrates cant help it along even though it wouldnt effect the coral if it was acclimted.find a cave or overhang and dont feed or touch for a week.then feed if hungry and slowly pull him to the light.if you are haveing nitrate spikes do more water changes less feeding or get a refugium.gl

 

[al0ha]

+1 on the lower flow and lower light. give it a chance to come out

 

[Agu]

fwiw, my duncans love high, indirect flow

That's been my experience also ......

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

fwiw, my duncans love high, indirect flow

+2 I would say my duncans have one of the spots with the most flow (indirect) out of my whole tank, and are pretty large and healthy