creativesmurf
New member
Hey guys, really need some help here.
My corals have zero polyp extension with the exception of one, here's a breakdown:
Tank: 29g
Light: 1x250 HQI Geisseman, 12" above tank
Equipment: phosban, Precision Marine skimmer
Alk/Calc: slow drip fully saturated limewater + RH 2 part
~7-8dkh/350-400 ppm. I dose about 50-60 ml of the RH 2part daily. (the one that uses the baked baking soda)
Mg: unknown but I am dosing along with the 2 part
pH: 7.8-8.1
Temp: 79-81F
Salinity: 35ppm/1.025 (instant ocean with calcium supplement for water changes)
I am using multiple test kits (3 refractometers, 3 temperature sensors/Pinpoint monitor), Pinpoint pH probe + ph test kits, 3 different alkalinity tests, down to 1 calcium test kit. Phosban media and skimmer changed/cleaned monthly.
Happy:
New colony of green zoos at the bottom of the sandbed
Established birdsnest a the top of the tank
Orange Monitopora capricornis, three colonies, all have polyp extension
Sad:
Established tricolor, slow RTNing at the base
Established Tort Colony, advanced RTNing
New frag at bottom of tank, no polyp extension
Established Yellow scroll near top of tank, no polyp extension
Small Neon green slimer, small frag but beautiful and growing, no polyp extension
It has been like this for a long time, with no polyp extension, but now the RTN has been advancing up in the last 2 weeks. It's very slow but advancing. I had some really bad hair algae issues that affected some of my SPS but now the hair algae problem is much improved - but there's still some sticking to the body of the sps colonies. Hair algae alone has claimed like 25% of my tort colony.
I was dripping LW for a while and recently started supplementing 2 part because my alkalinity and calcium was constantly low. I think I might have not been gradual enough in my dosing and maybe the alkalinity swing kind of kicked the RTN in faster. I just pour it in slowly 2x a day (25-30ml per dose) into the tank. I know people say alkalinity swings cause RTN, and this is easily a 1.5-3dkh/day alkalinity swing.
I also have a pygmy angel that likes to nibble on the tort (but nothing else, for some strange reason) He's been doing that for a year. I'm thinking of having to get rid of him.
Any advice on next steps? Should I lower the alk/calc back down to where it was (5-7dkh/280-300ppm?) Get rid of the angel? More water changes? Argh...
Thanks for any help in advance.
My corals have zero polyp extension with the exception of one, here's a breakdown:
Tank: 29g
Light: 1x250 HQI Geisseman, 12" above tank
Equipment: phosban, Precision Marine skimmer
Alk/Calc: slow drip fully saturated limewater + RH 2 part
~7-8dkh/350-400 ppm. I dose about 50-60 ml of the RH 2part daily. (the one that uses the baked baking soda)
Mg: unknown but I am dosing along with the 2 part
pH: 7.8-8.1
Temp: 79-81F
Salinity: 35ppm/1.025 (instant ocean with calcium supplement for water changes)
I am using multiple test kits (3 refractometers, 3 temperature sensors/Pinpoint monitor), Pinpoint pH probe + ph test kits, 3 different alkalinity tests, down to 1 calcium test kit. Phosban media and skimmer changed/cleaned monthly.
Happy:
New colony of green zoos at the bottom of the sandbed
Established birdsnest a the top of the tank
Orange Monitopora capricornis, three colonies, all have polyp extension
Sad:
Established tricolor, slow RTNing at the base
Established Tort Colony, advanced RTNing
New frag at bottom of tank, no polyp extension
Established Yellow scroll near top of tank, no polyp extension
Small Neon green slimer, small frag but beautiful and growing, no polyp extension
It has been like this for a long time, with no polyp extension, but now the RTN has been advancing up in the last 2 weeks. It's very slow but advancing. I had some really bad hair algae issues that affected some of my SPS but now the hair algae problem is much improved - but there's still some sticking to the body of the sps colonies. Hair algae alone has claimed like 25% of my tort colony.
I was dripping LW for a while and recently started supplementing 2 part because my alkalinity and calcium was constantly low. I think I might have not been gradual enough in my dosing and maybe the alkalinity swing kind of kicked the RTN in faster. I just pour it in slowly 2x a day (25-30ml per dose) into the tank. I know people say alkalinity swings cause RTN, and this is easily a 1.5-3dkh/day alkalinity swing.
I also have a pygmy angel that likes to nibble on the tort (but nothing else, for some strange reason) He's been doing that for a year. I'm thinking of having to get rid of him.
Any advice on next steps? Should I lower the alk/calc back down to where it was (5-7dkh/280-300ppm?) Get rid of the angel? More water changes? Argh...
Thanks for any help in advance.
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