Tank is in a funk, need some ideas.....

[rovster]

He is constantly picking at everything, just never seen him pick at any piece of coral. I've been tempted to try and catch him and throw him in the sump for two weeks to see if that does anything.

 

[Wazzel]

I had a rusty angle that picket at every thing. When I got it out of the tank things improved in a week.

 

[rovster]

Ok, just saw him nipping out in the open. What a ballsy punk. That has to be the reason. Now, how do I catch the sly devil?!?!?!?

 

[Wazzel]

Fish trap would be my first choice, if you can get your hands on one. I used a baited large mouth jar. When the angle swam in I netted the opening.

 

[dg3147]

How is it going now? Do you think the NO3 helped? Water changes help at all?

 

[rovster]

I think nitrate helped. I ran into another problem, but fortunately not a huge deal. Tank was humming along and continuing to improve. Colors were looking really good and there was obvious growth/encrusting on almost all pieces. All of my "ravaged" pieces were improving.

Phos was pegged at 0 or barely readable, and NO3 was very low despite me adding some twice a day. Then it happened.....My chaeto that was growing awesome hit a wall and started to die. Then my nutrients started to creep. I removed the withered/melted stuff, and a few days later all of it was mush. I ended up removing all of it and I had a nutrient spike. Not crazy, and did not cause a LOT of issues, but I could notice a small difference in some corals, but nothing like before.

Now I've backed off on the feeding and nutrients are slowly coming down again. I did not realize how much the chaeto was helping! Anyway, I would say things look good now with the exception of the NO polyp extension. My buddy is going to lend me his fish trap so I can get the angel out. He picks at everything, and does it in plain sight now. Little bastage! Can't wait to get him out!

Maybe in a few weeks I'll post some pics. I did up the waterchanges and Prodibio a bit until I can get my nutrients in check again. Colors are intense and deep!

 

[ssdawood]

I don't know if this is helpful or not. But when you lower light intensity alkalinity consumption also drops.

It is like less light is making corals grow less and use less alkalinity.

I have noticed this in tow different instances. So when you play with intensity of light you have to keep eye on alkalinity.

 

[rovster]

I don't know if this is helpful or not. But when you lower light intensity alkalinity consumption also drops.

It is like less light is making corals grow less and use less alkalinity.

I have noticed this in tow different instances. So when you play with intensity of light you have to keep eye on alkalinity.

Good point, and that goes for EVERYTHING! In my experience any time you change ANYTHING, you will see a "stall" in consumption. This goes for light change, nutrient change, even when I started vinegar dosing in my previous tank. Takes a few days for the corals to "adjust" and I agree you need to watch alk like a hawk, or just stop dosing altogether for a day and restart and reset as needed.

Tank is doing good guys. I have a few corals that look like they are about to take off with growth. I know it sounds cliché, but I've got nubs sprouting all over the place. I have a stag that has sprouted a ton of new nubs and I'm noticing colored tips starting to appear everywhere. Maybe I'll snap some pics this weekend.