First Corals...All Drooping

[BigEZ77]

Here's the story...these are my first corals ever. Last Saturday I got a Kenya Tree (KT) and a Devil's Hand (DH). The Saturday before I got a Toadstool (TS).

The TS was open at first but drooping, then he closed up after a couple days...he does look slimy so I'm guessing he is shedding but not once has he stood up straight. I had him about midway up when first in the tank then put him on the sand bed. Now he's about a 3rd of the way up.

The KT was up straight at the LFS, the DH was drooped at the LFS. The KT is up sometimes in my tank and other times drooping. The DH has been drooped the entire time.

When I say drooped, I don't mean a bit, they are laying on the rock. Currently the KT is on the sand bed, the DH is about 2" above and the TS is 2-3" above that.

My params are good with the exception of Cal and Mag which are both quite high. I have ordered a non-reef salt mix and will do some water changes shortly to lower both. Any other suggestions? I'm worried that I'm doing something wrong with these guys.

Thanks,

Russell

 

[BigEZ77]

Here's a pic. They're not staying in that location, just keeping them low to get used to the light.

 

[Ryan1190]

What kind of lights?

What are your parameters - the actual values?

 

[BigEZ77]

Using a Kessil A160WE. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Iodine and Phosphates appear to be at 0. pH at 7.9, Alk 10.5, Cal around 550, Mag around 1450, Alk 10.5. The last two were done with the Red Sea kit and the color of the water changed as the solution was emptied so hard to guess a specific number since the cards don't go that high.

 

[BigEZ77]

Forgot to mention that I'm using ReelReef rock in my system. I've read that this could be the reason for the high Cal and Mag.

 

[BigEZ77]

Bumpity bump bump...Still drooping.

 

[Sk8r]

Run carbon, if you aren't. Softies spit at each other. Carbon removes the spit.

 

[BigEZ77]

10-4. Have a carbon reactor but didn't think I should run it until the tank was more full and mature. Will do.

 

[DSMreefer]

+1 on the carbon. I've had a devils hand for a little over a month now and when I first put it in the tank it took awhile to acclimate to the light. It also shed like crazy in the beginning. Now it has nice PE and gets really big, so big I had to remove it from the tank. I've heard they're pretty tough and can withstand a lot ( would have to be for it to survive in my tank with all my noob mistakes) I wouldn't be too worried.