markalot
...
Howdy,
About six months ago I obtained some Pink Anthelia and some Blue Anthelia. The pink has grown and looked happy since day 1, the blue looked happy for a month and then shriveled up and has been a tiny clump of blue dots ever since. I have read that blue is difficult so I ignored it.
Fast forward to a week ago. I'm adding some SPS corals and trying to slowly reduce any nutrient issues. I've got my nitrates down to undetectable, phosphates ... I need a better kit but I have some algae growing therefor I assume phosphates. Starting yesterday my Pink Anthelia turned more bluish and didn't really retract but the heads are smaller and the overall appearance is stressed. Naturally I'm shocked and concerned since this coral hasn't been anything but happy for 6 months.
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate = 0 (API)
Phosphate might be near 0 (API useless test)
Alk 7
Ca 420
SG 1.025
Mg 1300 (tested 3 weeks ago)
Temperature 79-81 (night / day)
I use reef crystals salt and do weekly 4.5 gallon water changes
Fish:
False Percula Clown
Six Line Wrasse
Flame Angel
Red Hawkfish
Reef Chromis
Recent Changes:
I added a JBJ Oceanstream wavemaker and two 1500GPH Oceanstream circulation pumps. Set to alternate every 20 seconds. I also have a 500GPH pump lower left to create a constant flow behind my rock and a 300 GPH lower right blowing on the Birdsnest. Overall, besides alternating current, the amount of flow over the Anthelia has been the same.
I have been dosing Instant Ocean Natural Nitrate Reducer (biodegradable plastic) for 2 months and recently has a red cyano outbreak because I failed to keep my skimmer clean. 2 weeks ago I thoroughly cleaned the skimmer and since then the red slime has been reduced to almost nothing. Nitrates dropped from 10 to undetectable 1 month after I started using it but obviously I wasn't removing the waste since the skimmer was dirty.
Some pictures.
Pink Anthelia is the big clump on the left, framed by green.
If you look on the left side of the image above you'll see a couple of stalks that are shorter and not as open. Basically the entire clump looks like that now.
My questions:
Is this Pink Anthelia? It's always acted like it.
What does this like? More light, less light, more nutrients? I have a 20 gallon skimmerless tank I can put this in if a lower nutrient tank will kill it.
Could it be growing? I've read here and elsewhere that sometimes this is a sign energy being put into growth.
Could it be aggression or chemical warfare from the GSP on either side, or a sting from the Horn Coral (green stick)?
My Flame Angel loves to pick at the Birdsnest and the occasional drive by on the Acros, which keeps their polyps on guard, but I've never seen it pick on a soft coral. They have both been in the tank the entire time so this would represent a change in behavior is she is picking.
About six months ago I obtained some Pink Anthelia and some Blue Anthelia. The pink has grown and looked happy since day 1, the blue looked happy for a month and then shriveled up and has been a tiny clump of blue dots ever since. I have read that blue is difficult so I ignored it.
Fast forward to a week ago. I'm adding some SPS corals and trying to slowly reduce any nutrient issues. I've got my nitrates down to undetectable, phosphates ... I need a better kit but I have some algae growing therefor I assume phosphates. Starting yesterday my Pink Anthelia turned more bluish and didn't really retract but the heads are smaller and the overall appearance is stressed. Naturally I'm shocked and concerned since this coral hasn't been anything but happy for 6 months.
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate = 0 (API)
Phosphate might be near 0 (API useless test)
Alk 7
Ca 420
SG 1.025
Mg 1300 (tested 3 weeks ago)
Temperature 79-81 (night / day)
I use reef crystals salt and do weekly 4.5 gallon water changes
Fish:
False Percula Clown
Six Line Wrasse
Flame Angel
Red Hawkfish
Reef Chromis
Recent Changes:
I added a JBJ Oceanstream wavemaker and two 1500GPH Oceanstream circulation pumps. Set to alternate every 20 seconds. I also have a 500GPH pump lower left to create a constant flow behind my rock and a 300 GPH lower right blowing on the Birdsnest. Overall, besides alternating current, the amount of flow over the Anthelia has been the same.
I have been dosing Instant Ocean Natural Nitrate Reducer (biodegradable plastic) for 2 months and recently has a red cyano outbreak because I failed to keep my skimmer clean. 2 weeks ago I thoroughly cleaned the skimmer and since then the red slime has been reduced to almost nothing. Nitrates dropped from 10 to undetectable 1 month after I started using it but obviously I wasn't removing the waste since the skimmer was dirty.
Some pictures.
Pink Anthelia is the big clump on the left, framed by green.
If you look on the left side of the image above you'll see a couple of stalks that are shorter and not as open. Basically the entire clump looks like that now.
My questions:
Is this Pink Anthelia? It's always acted like it.
What does this like? More light, less light, more nutrients? I have a 20 gallon skimmerless tank I can put this in if a lower nutrient tank will kill it.
Could it be growing? I've read here and elsewhere that sometimes this is a sign energy being put into growth.
Could it be aggression or chemical warfare from the GSP on either side, or a sting from the Horn Coral (green stick)?
My Flame Angel loves to pick at the Birdsnest and the occasional drive by on the Acros, which keeps their polyps on guard, but I've never seen it pick on a soft coral. They have both been in the tank the entire time so this would represent a change in behavior is she is picking.
