Frogspawn stuck in semi-shriveled state for months

[el_pinguino]

It was fully extended and normal-looking at the store. It has been about 3 months since I introduced it to my tank, hoping that it would eventually acclimate. The polyps stay short so that the oral disc and mouth are visible.

Recently, I placed it on a makeshift frag rack so I can move it up and down relative to the light fixture. Still no change. It seems to be frozen in a state of discontent.

Lighting: I would qualify as moderate. Flow: I would qualify as low.

Tanks Specs:

Capacity: 10 gallons
Age: 10 years
Lighting: DIY Cree LED 30W: 50/50 CW:RB, dimmed to about 50%
Filtration: Prizm Skimmer, Granular Ferric Oxide
Additives: B-ionic two part

Temp: 79 F
Specific Gravity: 1.024
Calcium: 410 ppm
Alkalinity: 8 dkH
Magnesium: ?
Nitrates: < 5 ppm

Advice or commiserations appreciated.

 

[l8_apex_it]

I know they don't need it but have you tried feeding it? Could you be stripping too much phosphates out?

 

[el_pinguino]

I don't have a phosphate test kit, but I'm guessing the levels aren't completely depleted since I periodically add phosphate in the form of pellet food for the fish (1 ocellaris clown, 1 azure damsel).

My other corals exhibit rapid growth and good health:
- xenia, gsp, clove polyps, zoas: grow like weeds
- ricordeas :slowly growing but look healthy
- birdsnest: rapid growth

I did consider allelopathic effects due to all the softies, so I have been alternating between activated carbon and GFO.

I will try feeding it when I get home. I have some Fauna Marin LPS food that I can use.

 

[organism]

Weird, you usually see that with low alkalinity, but yours looks pretty ok... Might wanna see what happens if you bump it up a bit but who knows. Are you measuring your salinity with a refractometer calibrated with 35 PPT calibration fluid?

 

[el_pinguino]

I use a floating hydrometer calibrated for 75 degrees F, so I add .001 to the measurement. I assumed if there were a small systematic error, the frogspawn would have been able to acclimate by now.

I use a Salifert titration kit for Alkalinity so I am fairly confident about that number. I'll try to bump it to 9.

 

[SPotter]

how long have you had the leds? None of my frogspawn liked the leds and I had to put them in very shaded areas or the corners before they started to fill out again. I eventually ditched the leds and went back to t5's and now they look amazing again.

 

[el_pinguino]

I have had LEDs for a year or so. I did notice one of the problems with them is that they are a highly directional, point-source type of lighting so they create hot spots (evidenced by bleached coralline at those spots). But I have added diffuser optics well before adding the frogspawn and this frag was under LEDs at the store so it's not impossible for them to be happy under LEDs.

I wish I had a PAR meter. Best I can do is a Lux meter app on my phone. But I just try to visually match the store's lighting intensity.

 

[chrisfont23]

I have 72 Ecoxotics and a stunner strip on my tank and at full power it looks like a supernova exploded in my living room. Simply put, I am finding my LEDs are ridiculously bright.

Even at 50% capacity, underscoring the intensity a ton, the moon beam, directional light is just too much. In ur case, had that happen to a 30 head hammer when I didn't have my LEDs on dimmers [triple ouch].

In the long haul, I think research and quantitative (yet somewhat anecdotal analysis) is going to prove that while the LEDs are cost effective, they're simply too powerful en mass for certain corals.

 

[icecool217]

Have to tried moving to different spots in the tank? Pretty strange considering your tank is quite established!

 

[organism]

I just noticed you said the flow was low, have you tried putting it under moderate flow? They really like to sway in the breeze with water movement.

 

[el_pinguino]

So I tried feeding it last night and it did have a healthy feeding response (grabs pellet and brings it towards the mouth). Unfortunately, my coral banded shrimp came over to steal the food before I had the chance to brush him away. The frogspawn closed up after that.

Anyone want a free coral banded shrimp?

 

[el_pinguino]

I just noticed you said the flow was low, have you tried putting it under moderate flow? They really like to sway in the breeze with water movement.

Flow in the tank comes from a Hydor Koralia nano (240gph) plus whatever the HOB skimmer makes. The frogspawn is halfway up the tank but out of direct flow. The tentacles don't sway much at all. I'll try to find a better location.

 

[el_pinguino]

It has been two more weeks now of trying appease this frogspawn with little success.

I did some more research and happened upon discussions of euphyllias with similar symptoms. A few describe a parasite, appearing as mobile white dots, that targets frogspawns. Upon close inspection of my frogspawn, I did see some barely visible white specs moving around. They are too small for me to photograph or positively identify them as either malevolent "white bugs" or harmless copepods.

Anyway, the usual prescription seems to be something called Interceptor (milbemycin oxime). I have some dip solution at hand called Coral ReVive (ingredients unknown). But I'll try it when I get a chance.

 

[chrisfont23]

I have a problem w my torch coral...same family (Euphylia). I am using Seachem Reef Dip to try to revive it.

 

[trinidiver]

have you tried raising your Alk to about 9 and your Cal up to about 460. Its not much but who knows, I had problems with similar readings