Something is wrong but I don't know what

[tanyamikephil]

All of a sudden my Zenia and Devils Hand have closed up and won't open as of yesterday. Ive had them both for a couple of months with no problems. Can anyone tell me what the problem might be please?

My calcium was low but not bad at all and I've already been treating that to correct the issue. My Nitrate was also up but again not bad, and this is being corrected too, however I don't think this is the issue because i have been working on these 2 levels to correct them for the past couple weeks and zenia and devils hand were fine up until yesterday.

I recently added a frogspawn and a long tentacles anemone to the tank, but I have made sure they are not able to touch anything to sting it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[thegrun]

#1 suggestion: list all your known water parameters. "Not bad at all" tells us absolutely nothing! We need something to help diagnose your problem, the more information you provide the better. List all known water parameters, equipment you are using, any dosing you are doing....
Give us something to work with.

 

[scooter31707]

The Devils Hand which is a leather that closes up from time to time to shed their skin. This process can last from a day to a week, IME. I don't have any experience with Zenia. What are the results for Alk? What fish are in the tank, are they nipping? More info..

 

[nuttyd]

Have you noticed that the anemone has changed locations at all?

 

[Sk8r]

Good advice.
Alkalinity is a must to track with any coral. s/b 7.9-9, and 8.3 is a good middling figure.

Mixing stony with softies is difficult for beginners. Get your parameters stable, and put all softies 'down current' of the stonies, plus run carbon habitually; change that out at least monthly or it may saturate and start releasing problems.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

What are you doing to reduce nitrates? I have never had Xenia, but heard that the like some nitrates.

 

[tanyamikephil]

If alkalinity is the same thing as carbonate hardness then that is fine and within normal levels. To reduce nitrate we are doing a 20% water change every 2 weeks using RO/DI water, have put in a new carbon filter, and bought a Purigen product that we added to the sump to help reduce it. For the low calcium I am treating with Aquavitro calcification twice a week until the levels come up, as per instructions. I am also making sure that Im not overfeeding. I have 2 test kits, saltwater and reef. The nitrate is coming in at 10ppm and the calcium 340. All of the other levels, ph, kh, phosphate, nitrite are fine. The anemome has not changed locations.
Equipment wise we have a sump pump on the back of the tank and a protein skimmer, both highly rated.

 

[Sk8r]

If your calcium is holding at 340, it is low, and likely so is your alk and magnesium. Set your parameters as per my sig line and the situation may improve, but carbon will uptake the toxic spit that softies give off to discourage stonies.

 

[tanyamikephil]

Getting a tank established is very stressful

 

[Deefish714]

stressful at times yes. but the outcome is def worth the stress involved.

 

[tanyamikephil]

it's kinda taking the fun out of it

it's kinda taking the fun out of it

stressful at times yes. but the outcome is def worth the stress involved.

 

[Sapelo]

There is no magic wand to reefing, it takes time and patience and both in abundance.

 

[heathlindner25]

If your calcium slipped I know your alkalinity did..... Coral hate alkalinity swings

 

[tanyamikephil]

If your calcium slipped I know your alkalinity did..... Coral hate alkalinity swings

Thank you. I hope that's it and things will improve with treatments

 

[tanyamikephil]

There is no magic wand to reefing, it takes time and patience and both in abundance.

well i intend to figure this out and then eventually can relax and enjoy