Noob... how to tell if all is lost?

[SKurj]

I was given 3 small sps frags this past summer. All 3 showed some life, but due to my poor maintenance nitrate levels rose in the tank, and now only 1 is showing any sign of life, its even been growing at nitrate levels of 80+.

As for the other 2 they never bleached, just activity stopped and they developed a green tinge from algae.

Is there any slim chance that they might come back once I correct my chemistry or is that very unlikely?

 

[celamb89]

If there is live tissue on them they can recover but with nitrate levels of 80+ dont know how ur gonna pull it fast enough, how is the PO4 level?

Remember not to do any drastic changes to the water which will cause more problems... Personally I would do 3x 30% water changes every 3 or 4 days, add GFO and start dosing carbon... Cut down on the feeding and keep up with the monthly 25% water changes...

 

[SKurj]

Thanks for the response.

I have always kept carbon and a phosphate removing product (API Phos-Zorb) in the fuge, I change the bags every month or so.

To reduce the nitrates: Yesterday I did my second 25% water change in a week, and I will be doing another this coming weekend. Then I will check the nitrate levels again and evaluate whether to keep doing the larger frequent changes or if I can go to a weekly change.

My PO4 is undetectable on my API test kit.

Going to work on easing up the feeding.

 

[ebacon]

Water changes are good but they treat the symptom not the disease. Plus if you Chang weather to drastically the simple stability and consitincy drop out coul stress the coral even more... I'm not saying don't do them, just be reasonable and figure out the cause....

 

[Guygettnby]

what test kits are you using? i know in the past i got false readings in the past with cheaper test kits.

 

[SKurj]

Salifert for MG, CA, ALK
API for PH, Nitrates, phostphates

My question though really is if I am wasting my time with these corals and should toss them away or .. I'd hate to throw them away only to find out that there is a chance there is life in there.

My question is, how can you tell with these hard corals if they are well and truly dead?

 

[Dexters Reef]

If they are dead the skin peels off and they become a white skeleton. Do they have any polyps that come out? Can you post some pictures?

 

[Guygettnby]

^^ +1

OP, API test kits used to always give me bad readings when it came to nitrates in the past. i had switched over to all salifert test kits. the api nitrate test kit said my nitrates were super high. every other test kit i used said my nitrates were fine. i had used 3 seperate API nitrate test kits. they all said the same thing, that i had super high nitrates.

 

[SKurj]

Well as far as my nitrates go, I know I have super high nitrates I have been very lax on my water changes until recently and I don't do anything besides that to reduce them. I think one look at the tank and you would agree. Though I should get a different kit.

My old camera has been acting up, but my boxing day sale prezzie arrived tonight! forgot to order a memory card with it... so might not be until the weekend before I get pics.

The corals aren't a big deal (well the one that is growing is!) they were given to me just to try. I would like to have some success though, just not sure I am up to the maintenance levels I may need for them. I'll get some pics up as soon as I can, and then we can see what my options are.. have a few thoughts for the future of this tank I'd like some advice on as well, but need pics for that.

 

[Reef Bass]

Pictures would help us help you.

 

[SKurj]

Ok here are the pictures, first a FTS

Now the one that is growing:

One that I think may not be totally gone...

There is another but I have to relocate it before I can get a better picture but it is the furthest gone of the lot.

While we are here.. the light is a 4 tube Aquaticlife T5, with ATI bulbs, 2 Blue + 1 Coral + 1 Purple + . The tank is only 16" deep could I get away with raising that light 4-6" ?
(going to buy a hanging kit, i hate having to remove the light to do maintenance)