Temp prob killed colt?

[kiransreef]

The last couple of days my tank temp has been fluxing about 4 degrees. Went all the way up to 84.8. First my one toadstool died...took it out and put it in 50 gal until I could give it to a friend that has a chiller on his system. Not sure if he will be able to save it...then 2 days ago my colt coral (my first coral :^( started to droop and not open anymore...so I put it down on bottom of tank away from MH and trimmed off white pieces in hopes to save it. But, it is laying all down in a heap. Left light off today in hopes to bring temp down. It is now down to 81. But, I don't think the colt is going to survive. Anybody have any suggestions or reasons that this may have happened? KR

 

[reefrubble]

What do you have in SPS corals ?

 

[gatorolsen]

What else is in the tank? Could another coral be responsible?

Check your inverts - I think if it is a temperature or salinity issue you would have some issues with them as well.

Temp swings can stress out a tank, but to be honest my 55 tank is very high in the summer and most of my corals adapt just fine, growth slows down but the 2 losses I have had were due to changes in salinity due to higher evaporation and my less than stellar maintenance.

Is your 4 degree change am to pm? Not just when lights are out, when the house cools down at night the tank might be a bit cooler then too. I set a heater in my tank to offset a large drop in temp (mine is a larger swing than 4 degrees) it keeps the tank a bit warmer than I like but I can't afford a chiller and this way I can keep the swing less dramatic

to help cool the tank you can also set a power head to disrupt the water at the surface, surface agitation will help

you can also rig up a fan to blow across the top of the tank. I know some people have bought computer or desk fans and just clip them to the top of the tank hood.

Gatorolsen

 

[kiransreef]

I think that when the toadstool was dying it let off toxins and with the temp swing (when MH during afternoon are on) is what happened. I checked it this morning and it is just coming apart in pieces so I have to get it out of there today as soon as possible...
as far as what else is in tank... I have mostly all softies, here is a list... zoas, mushrooms, a kenya, riccordia, hammer, frogspawn, several anems. everything else seems to be doing ok.... It is so sad that the colt is gone! It is my FIRST coral! Well I guess you live and learn.... Thanks for the tips Gatorolsen about fans....gonna add one that clips on to blow across water while the mh are on. KR