Why are my coral frags languishing?

[Brieninsac]

My tank is about 3 months old with one Clownfish, 7 coral frags and a cleanup crew. So a pretty low bio-load for my new system. I've added some coral frags over the last 3-4 weeks. They are a Duncan, Candy cane, Favia and Zoanthids. They all did good for about the first coupe of weeks but have begun to look faded and are closing up when the lights are on.

My water parameters are pretty decent although my Calcium is a little high and my Alkalinity is a little low.

Temp 79
Salinity 1.025
Ammonia and Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2ppm
Alkalinity 6.5dkh
PH 8.2
Calcium 470
Magnesium 1320ppm

If it's not the water then I'm thinking it could be my lights. I'm learning they're very strong and have been manually operating them since day one. Right now they're probably at 50% power and mid range in spectrum. I will be installing a Kessil Controller tomorrow so that will help with my light management.

Any ideas on why they're not looking so good?

 

[bundybear1981]

Your alkalinity is extremely low and I'd say where your main issue is. You should be up about 8.3 dKH. I would start dosing bicarb soda mixed with RODI water (NOT baking power) to raise you alk level. Just remember not to raise it too fast or you'll have more issues.

 

[Mark9]

+1, kh is way too low, if it's correct.
Go to Petco and pick up a bottle of Kent Tech-cb part B and follow the instructions to raise kh.

 

[Brieninsac]

Thanks for the info. I ordered a bottle of Seachem Reef Builder. Hopefully that'll help turn things around.

 

[ptreef]

what salt are you using?
WC should help too

 

[Brieninsac]

what salt are you using?
WC should help too

Red Sea Coral Pro

 

[Coral_Freak350]

What are you mixing your salt to? Are you dosing?
I have used the Red Sea Coral Pro and alk was always up in the 9's mixing to 1.026
Best of Luck on raising it but that is definitely the issue

 

[Brieninsac]

What are you mixing your salt to? Are you dosing?
I have used the Red Sea Coral Pro and alk was always up in the 9's mixing to 1.026
Best of Luck on raising it but that is definitely the issue

I'm using RO/DI water and mixing it to 1.025. My kh was fine for the first month but has been gradually declining since.

 

[ryeguyy84]

did you do a water change on 10/26? what caused the spike?

 

[Brieninsac]

I don't recall if I did a water change around 10/26, but was doing around a 15% water change weekly for the first 6-weeks.

I tested my water on 11/14 prior to a 30% change. It was 6.5 dkh and it was the same a week later on 11/20.

 

[heathlindner25]

I would think your chart would help you understand you need to start dosing alkalinity

 

[ptreef]

Thats a heck of a drop in 2 weeks especially with virtually no corals....let alone no sps or any clams

 

[ryeguyy84]

A few coral wouldn't use that much alk in a 70g tank. What test kit are you using?

And I thought Red Sea coral pro mixed closer to 11dkh alk?

 

[Giants13]

whats is ur phosphate at?

 

[CStrickland]

I've had some new corals just suck the alk out of my water. Idk, I guess they got hungry on the long trip to my house.
I'd confirm the test before you start dosing anything, maybe your lfs can double check for you, a lot will for free

 

[Brieninsac]

I'm using the Red Sea Marine Care test kit. I don't have a phosphate test kit.

I added 4 coral frags on 11/1 and 4 more on 11/11.

On 10/31 I was at 9dkh

11/6 I was at 7dkh

11/14 dkh was 6.5 and has been holding steady since.

So yes it appears the addition of these few frags has cause my alkalinity to drop a lot.

 

[Brieninsac]

Why are my coral frags languishing?

After dropping to 5.5dkh I brought it back up to 7.5dkh after administering Seachem Reef Builder over two days. Today I'm at 8.5dkh after a 30% water change yesterday. I will monitor my Kh daily and administer the Reef Builder as necessary.

How long will it take to see my corals open back up and get color again?

 

[BrickFishHouse]

That will vary dependent on more issues than can be covered in a post, BUT...

It could take a few days before you see signs of them getting happy (or more, or less).

If your lights are very strong, I'd bring them down to really low levels and adjust upward from there. Corals seem to do better going too dark to the right brightness, rather than bleaching from too bright going to the right brightness.

Hope this helps!