Please Help! Having issues with polyp extension

[Txcowboy22]

Last week I noticed that on a few acros my polyps just were not extended as usual. So I started testing everything and I just can't figure it out. Everything seems to be in check.

Alk 8
Cal 450
Mag 1300
Phos. .03 (hanna meter)
nitrate 0
Amonia 0
nitrite 0


I do bi weekly water changes with topic marine bioactive and I maintain my tank very well. I did have an issue with my tak heating upto 88 degrees due to a bad temp probe but it was only that high for a max of 1 hour. I didn't lose anything and that has been a week ago and the polyps are still not extending. Some color is fading out as well. There is really nothing elseI can think of. I have done about 3 water changes since I noticed this and ran a bunch of carbon but its still the same. Can anyone give a good suggestion as to what to do.

Here is a picture of my tanka couple days before the issues. Now it looks faded and not good PE

 

[Znut Reefer]

I would think the heat spike is what has caused the problem. Not much else you can do at this point. Just wait and see how everything recovers. I would raise the alk to 9.0 slowly unless you run it 8.0 for dosing vodka etc.

 

[iap]

How important is it to keep alk and calcium balanced? And if it's off just a bit will it have huge adverse effects? I ask because I keep my alk at 9dkH and the calculator said calcium should be 425 to have a balanced system. Well here he has 8dkH and 450 calcium, will those levels cause the corals any problems? Or is that small of an imbalance ok?

 

[cwegescheide]

I think it was the 88 degrees... I agree with the other post. Ya just gotta ride it out now. Best of luck. The effects of the high temp probabably take a few days to manifest itself.

 

[Znut Reefer]

How important is it to keep alk and calcium balanced? And if it's off just a bit will it have huge adverse effects? I ask because I keep my alk at 9dkH and the calculator said calcium should be 425 to have a balanced system. Well here he has 8dkH and 450 calcium, will those levels cause the corals any problems? Or is that small of an imbalance ok?

You are fine.

 

[jsousa]

I agree. Probably the temperature.

Couple of questions...in case the temp is not the issue. Not sure how long your temp was off.

Do you feed? I feed Reef Nutrition Oyster Feast and RotiFeast. Helps quite a bit with PE.

Have you checked for any type of "evil" critters? 2 weeks ago I was taking macro photos of my corals and I found I had Red Bugs. Those bastards, over time, did the same exact thing to my corals that you described. Dosed with Interceptor and now everything is coming back. Will be doing another dose next week to ensure they are dead and gone.

Do you have any bite marks on your corals? Acro Eating Flatworms can also be an issue that cannot be overlooked. I actually have them in my tank but they are not that big of a deal if maintained. Weekly, I blow off all my SPS with a small powerhead. Seems to do the trick.

What are you dosing? Any aminos, Potassium, etc.?

Do you run a ULNS? If so, what are you using? Swinging alk and high alk is very dangerous when running this type of system.

What kind of lighting rig do you run? And how long since they have been changed?

Not to drag this discussion on but just want to cover all bases. I've assumed too much in this hobby and paid for it. But I wouldn't want it any other way.

BTW, beautiful Watanabes. I'm looking to get a pair - they're on order - but they're not that easy to catch.

 

[Txcowboy22]

Oh thanks I love my angels. They NEVER bother any coral

I maintain alk with Drews doesrs and my alk/calcium have been maintained at 8 and 450 for 5 plus months. I mix up 5 gallons at a time and its been holding thing stable for a while now.

I run 2x400 w 20k helios. I was running gfo/carbon and I do remember adding extra gfo a couple days before these issues but I doubt that was it. Now I have started Ecobak and my phosphates are lower than ever at .03 so I don't run any gfo but I am still running carbon.

I honestly don't know exactly how long it was that hot but my halides kick on at 3 and I got home at 6 and I am pretty sure they just cooked the tak. my fans didn't kick on and the witch to turn off my halides didn't go off b/c the probe was reading 81.

Also, I did use some red slime remover at 1/2 dose before this. Maybe that did it? I am just wondering what I should do next? More water changes? More carbon? Run the gfo? decrease light cycle? OR just leave it alone for a few weeks and whatever happens happens.