Why is my Kenya tree falling
- Thread starter Vcntv
- Start date
Yes I have a sump with some old protein skimmer and filter socks, 4t5 bulbs it was healthy and fine nothings changed equipment wise last I checked phos .2 nitrate 50 ish I think I messed the test up tho 0 ammonia nitrite 0
Alk 6.1
I don’t have mag test I lost the calcium test
Phosphate and nitrate are pretty high. Phosphate should be 0.01-0.03. Nitrate should be 1-10.
Alkalinity is a bit low, it should be 8-12 dKH.
How long have you had the coral and how long was it in the tank before it started acting like this.
How long has the tank been setup?
What other inhabitants do you have?
Sorry for all the questions, but I’m trying to narrow this down to what the cause could be. I’ll also ask for help from some others @kharmaguru @Reefing102 @shred5 @Timfish
Alkalinity is a bit low, it should be 8-12 dKH.
How long have you had the coral and how long was it in the tank before it started acting like this.
How long has the tank been setup?
What other inhabitants do you have?
Sorry for all the questions, but I’m trying to narrow this down to what the cause could be. I’ll also ask for help from some others @kharmaguru @Reefing102 @shred5 @Timfish
No dont be sorry, ive had the coral since early august tank since early july and its been acting like this since like decemeber
ive got one clown one firefish and one blue tang and a bunch of inverts
Take things slow, don’t make any drastic changes until we can figure this
out.
Also, could you post a full tank shot (“FTS”) of the tank.
Thank you, ive had some heater issues ive replaced them yesterday. could temperature instability be an issue? the water did get some cold im not sure how low tho cause i have no thermometer . i dont think its gotten too cold if i had to guess maybe like 72
Temp should be 76-80. I’ve had tanks get a bit cool before and corals definitely can react to that. I’d suggest getting a thermometer (but you probably realized this already) as you can’t always rely on a heaters setting being accurate. A lot of us use temp controllers with our heaters as a precaution.
Okay and yeah I had thermometer but I dropped it in the tank
thank you
Wait, you dropped the thermometer in the tank? Did it break? If so, you probably have a toxin in the tank. Thermometers have either mercuryOkay and yeah I had thermometer but I dropped it in the tank
or alcohol in them. If that’s the case, water changes and run carbon and/or chempure.Nah it was the digital kind none of the chemical stuff and it was a while ago I’ve just been using the infrared fever one and that kinda worksWait, you dropped the thermometer in the tank? Did it break? If so, you probably have a toxin in the tank. Thermometers have either mercury
Hmm it could be a phase but 2 months is a long time.
I would try to get the parameters closer in range with water changes.
Did you recently change your bulbs for the T5?
Did you remove the thermometer? Not trying to sound dumb but are you talking like legitimate digital thermometer (like has a temp probe and stuff) or one of the stick ons? I ask as the stick ons still technically have some chemicals in them or if it’s a true digital thermometer it could be rusting.
On the subject of rusting, check around your equipment for rusting anything - magnets, cracked cords, screws, etc. This can cause a chemistry imbalance.
You say you also had a heater issue. While this could be it, if your tank wasn’t being heated, it likely fell to right around whatever your room temperature is. So if you keep your house colder (like 65 or so) it likely went that low.
Have any chemical sprays, aerosols, candles, etc been used on or near the tank? That may be a thought to consider.
Beyond that, I’d first start with running carbon to aid in removing any impurities that may be in the water.
I would try to get the parameters closer in range with water changes.
Did you recently change your bulbs for the T5?
Did you remove the thermometer? Not trying to sound dumb but are you talking like legitimate digital thermometer (like has a temp probe and stuff) or one of the stick ons? I ask as the stick ons still technically have some chemicals in them or if it’s a true digital thermometer it could be rusting.
On the subject of rusting, check around your equipment for rusting anything - magnets, cracked cords, screws, etc. This can cause a chemistry imbalance.
You say you also had a heater issue. While this could be it, if your tank wasn’t being heated, it likely fell to right around whatever your room temperature is. So if you keep your house colder (like 65 or so) it likely went that low.
Have any chemical sprays, aerosols, candles, etc been used on or near the tank? That may be a thought to consider.
Beyond that, I’d first start with running carbon to aid in removing any impurities that may be in the water.
Yeah totally digital and I took it right it out it was like 3 months ago. Magnets are rusting on one of the wave pumps on the outside so I doubt that has any affect and I changed the bulbs in August when I got the coral. I’ll try to do a few small water changes over the coming days
Yea, exterior rusting isn’t a concern, it’s the ones that are in the water to be concerned with.
I'll reiterate a full tank shot and add a list of the other corals and how they look. Regarding PO4 .2 mg/l isn't going to be an issue for it. Nitrates @ 50 mg/l is high and needs to come down but Kenya tree should tolerate that level. Alkalinity should be raised, I wouldn't consider 6.1 to be an issue in a mature system that would have stuff generating alkalinity but, and correct me if I'm wrong, it looks to me like your system was set up with just maybe bacteeria and not with maricultured or wild live rock.
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