How bad is this?

E

Engloid

New member
I have had a couple AOG palys that aren't doing well, a colt coral also. One night, the colt and one AOG frag went into pretty bad shape. Not sure if they got attacked by something or what. The colt just looked like it's unhappy, but the AOG I'm not so sure about...thought maybe it got eaten or something. They were next to each other.

I noticed today that another AOG frag isn't looking as well as it did yesterday or even this morning. A couple other zoas are not looking bad, but not as good as usual. For the most part, other things are looking great.

I tested alkalinity and in checking my logs, I have had some swings in alkalinity that are about the same as what I have had in the last day or so, but not sure if it's enough to be a problem. I know it's not good though...just not sure how bad.

Part of the problem is that my calcium reactor "went down" yesterday, and I didn't notice it for a while until the pump started making noise. It was the valves that got out of adjustment and some CO2 accumulated in the top (part of the problem I addressed in another thread, and a problem I'm working on solving.)

Here's what my kH has done over the last month:
8/30/2010 8.0
8/31/2010 9.0
9/1/2010 10.2
9/1/2010 9.0
9/13/2010 9.0
9/18/2010 10.9
9/28/2010 10.8
10/2/2010 11.6
10/12/2010 10.8
10/17/2010 10.6
10/18/2010 9.6
 
Gotta love those CaRX, one of the reasons I ditched mine years ago. Too finicky, dosing with peristaltic pumps is so much easier and exact. I doubt those alkalinity swings are the culprit.
 
cee said:
pH, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. You didn't post your tank pH.
Click to expand...

Those Alk swings aren't good, but they shouldn't kill things. Now what is your tank's pH? I take it that other things are stable? Some palys are good indicators that there is an issue. Some of the AOGs i had were good for that, and so is my rainbow yuma now.
 
cee said:
Gotta love those CaRX, one of the reasons I ditched mine years ago. Too finicky, dosing with peristaltic pumps is so much easier and exact. I doubt those alkalinity swings are the culprit.
Click to expand...
In English, that means what? :hmm3:

cee said:
pH, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. You didn't post your tank pH.
Click to expand...

That's good. The pH stays VERY steady at 8.0. I know that's a touch low, but it is so stable and stuff seems to do fine with it, so I hate to go screwing with it.

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate are all at 0.
 
Engloid said:
In English, that means what? :hmm3:



That's good. The pH stays VERY steady at 8.0. I know that's a touch low, but it is so stable and stuff seems to do fine with it, so I hate to go screwing with it.

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate are all at 0.
Click to expand...

I only speak English (and a little German). It means I don't like calcium reactors. If the pH is stable that is good so you can rule that out. There are many other possibilities that aren't related to chemistry.
 
I'd keep a close eye on that colt coral. From what I've read softies in that family can collapse quickly and when they do, they release a plethora of toxins into your system that can damage or kill many other corals and fish. Their toxins are especially hard on the LPSs and SPSs.

In fact one book I have recommends that any time you suspect that they may be in trouble to move them to a quarantine tank.

The palys go though stages where they look bad and then will give off a bunch of slime or waxy coating. This is their way of ridding themselves of accumulated fecal matter, sediments and other toxins that may have accumulated. This is normal behavior and may last for several days during which they may only partially open or not open at all.

I wouldn't worry too much about them unless you see some distinct signs of degradation/decomposition. One thing I have noticed in my tank is that they don't seem to like a lot of light. Many of my palys and zoas were looking poorly and were loosing their color. I moved them into a more shaded indirect light area and they have improved and regained thier color. You might try moving them around.

Steve W

24 gallon nano with 150w MH and 2-14w actinics
 
cee said:
I only speak English (and a little German). It means I don't like calcium reactors. If the pH is stable that is good so you can rule that out. There are many other possibilities that aren't related to chemistry.
Click to expand...
I hope you didn't take that offensively. I wasn't criticizing your post, grammar or anything...I just didn't know some of the words you used. :lolspin:
 
The first AOG frag has gone to nearly nothing. The second one had one polyp open up well yesterday...and none today. The colt coral isn't back to normal, but seems a little better.

Surprisingly enough, my duncan that has stayed at 3 heads for about 6 months has sprouted the beginnings to 2 extra heads (tentacles on the side of the stems) in the last couple weeks... maybe a coincidence, but just a couple weeks, I did my first addition of any salt other than Crystal Sea... by doing a 25g water change with Reef Crystals.
 
macclellan said:
Do you mean that you're not easily offended? That's very different! :uzi: :beer:
Click to expand...

Typing on an iphone justifies brevity, even if the true intent of the poster is not properly conveyed.

Engloid, maybe you need a different skimmer LOL. Seriously, do you run carbon in that tank?

Dave
 
No, I don't run carbon. What are your thoughts on it? If I do decide to use some, what would the advice be to keep the cost down as much as possible? When you run about 220g tank and 55g sump, you gotta look at the cost of things you have to continue to buy over and over. You probably have been there before.
 
I'm there everyday. I would run it and see what happens with your "problem". I've run carbon for years and would never consider otherwise.
 
Last edited:
BRS carbon for me. Buy in bulk and it should last. I run mine in my media reactor. Looking to get a BRS media reactor too.
 
cee said:
I'm there everyday. I would run it and see what happens with your "problem". I've run carbon for years and would never consider otherwise.
Click to expand...
And with this statement Dave single-handedly starts a run on carbon at the local reef stores... :D
 
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