Torch/frogspawn in AP?

[FTony]

Anyone keeping LPS in a standard AP? If so, where are you putting them. I keep trying to keep them but they slime to death with in a few days. I'm starting to get depressed about the whole thing. My tank is 4 months old and the parameters are as follows: SG 1025, ammon 0, nitrate 0, ph 8.2, nitrite 0, ca 640, ak 12.5 dkh or 4.4 meq/L and temp 82 degrees. I also use a sapphire skimmer.
Any ideas welcome. I've also posted in the LPS forum. Would really like to figure out what I'm doing wrong and be able to keep these guys. Thanks.

 

[drummereef]

The calcium is way high. Alk is borderline, but on the high side. If you are dosing I'd lay off for a bit to let those params come down a bit. 7-11dkh for alk and 400-450 for calcium.

 

[FTony]

I know...I am not actually dosing anything. Those are the parameters my tank gets just from weekly water changes. I am using coralife salt, same as the LFS but will probably try to change to something else.

 

[reefsafe]

i keep both a torch and frogspawn in my 12 gallon aquapod. i dose kents nano reef parts a and b. both are doing well in there.

 

[tiburone9162003]

i dont does and my frogspawn looks good

 

[FTony]

Anyone know why they would turn to slime with in two days? Seems to happen each time I try to put one in.

 

[stealle]

My 8 headed torch is doing great in my BC8.

I think drummereef gave you a good answer.

However, what are you using to test? That calcium seems to high to be accurate. I think your water would be very cloudy with a Ca of 640 and a dkh of 12.5 I don't think it's possible to have a Ca level that high with water changes alone (no dosing). Your pH would probably have trouble staying about 8.0 with a Ca that high as well. I think you should test with a different kit to make sure. I don't beleive those numbers. I wouldn't do anything until you test with a different kit. Try salifert testing kits for the most accuracy.

Do you have other corals? How are they doing? How did you acclimate your torch?

 

[FTony]

Steve:
I am using a Salifert kit. I've tested my both my tanks and fresh mixed salt water and get similar readings. I will look into getting my LFS to test for me.
For a while my ph was chronically low. I added a sapphire skimmer and it jumped back up to normal range 8.0-8.2 am to pm. Crazy thing is it's not cloudy at all and I have little precipitate on my heater, etc..
For other corals:I have several zoas, a pearl bubble, a candycane and some ricordia in there now. They all look good, nice polyp expansion.
To acclimate I usually float the bag in the tank about 15 min to get temps the same and then place the coral where I want it to go. Do you think I need to drip them like I do with fish and mobile inverts? thx

 

[kaserpick]

Shoot I drip all my corals, sometimes not all softies. I'd definitely start dripping those guys. As you know though, calcium is pretty high. If it's your salt, you should probably consider using different salt slowly. Just because it works at your LFS doesn't mean that it'll work for you. Besides, usually LFS are doing something wrong.

 

[stealle]

I think you should acclimate them for at least an hour. It won't hurt just to be safe.

Also, my salifert Ca test only goes to a max of 500. How are you getting a number >500 with a salifert test kit?

 

[saltman123]

I keep frogspawn, pulsing pom pom xenia, mushrooms, and zoos in my 12 gallon aquapod. I do not dose, and don't even use any filtration other than filter floss and live rock rubble I plan to use chemi-pure or carbon here or there since I've used it right after cycling.

I don't drip acclimate, but do try to temp and water acclimate. I take a small container and just keep adding tank water to it for 10 minutes or so. I'll usually use some salifert flatworm exit and lugols at this stage based on what I am dipping/acclimating. After that, its into the tank they go. Seems to work for me.