Acanthastrea mad before water changes

[Stelioshah]

I have an acanthastrea which gets "mad" over the course of a few days (about 14 days usually) after water changing. By mad I mean that it retracts completely in its skeleton.

After water changing, within a day it always puffs up completely again. What could this be indicating? A lack of trace elements? Whatever measurable, NO3 PO4 Ca Mg alkalinity salinity, are all stable within my desired levels.

It is the only coral that acts like this, when it retracts I know its time to do a waterchange.

 

[blaxsun]

I know a few folks that would kill for a coral like this, lol...

I honestly couldn't even begin to guess what's up with it. Do you test any of your water parameters between water changes?

 

[IKD]

I have an acanthastrea which gets "mad" over the course of a few days (about 14 days usually) after water changing. By mad I mean that it retracts completely in its skeleton.

After water changing, within a day it always puffs up completely again. What could this be indicating? A lack of trace elements? Whatever measurable, NO3 PO4 Ca Mg alkalinity salinity, are all stable within my desired levels.

It is the only coral that acts like this, when it retracts I know its time to do a waterchange.

Any chance the new water has a different water temp and it’s reacting to the temp change after dumping the new water in?

 

[Stelioshah]

Any chance the new water has a different water temp and it’s reacting to the temp change after dumping the new water in?

I believe you did not get me, it does not retract after water changing, in fact it gets happy really fast after a water change. It retracts before water changing. By that I mean that it might be retracted for a good 3-4 consecutive days, but after water changing, the next morning it is completely puffed up again extending feeders.

I have another acanthastrea which just stays puffed up 24/7, never retracts. But this one, it seems like it needs something. Why would it otherwise become drastically happier after water changing?

I had recently stripped my nutrients and as a result I had many mad corals, but I managed to get them back up (5ppm nitrate, 0.03-0.06ppm phos). That still wouldn't explain why the acan gets happier after the water changes but gradually retracts over the course of a few weeks. Because by water changing I lower the nutrients..

I have been noticing this behaviour for a few months already.

 

[IKD]

I believe you did not get me, it does not retract after water changing, in fact it gets happy really fast after a water change. It retracts before water changing. By that I mean that it might be retracted for a good 3-4 consecutive days, but after water changing, the next morning it is completely puffed up again extending feeders.

I have another acanthastrea which just stays puffed up 24/7, never retracts. But this one, it seems like it needs something. Why would it otherwise become drastically happier after water changing?

I had recently stripped my nutrients and as a result I had many mad corals, but I managed to get them back up (5ppm nitrate, 0.03-0.06ppm phos). That still wouldn't explain why the acan gets happier after the water changes but gradually retracts over the course of a few weeks. Because by water changing I lower the nutrients..

I have been noticing this behaviour for a few months already.

Ah, misunderstood. I suspect there’s elements on your new water that your acantho is seeking that deplete over time between water changes, or you are removing something from the old water that is building up

 

[Cell]

I have an acanthastrea which gets "mad" over the course of a few days (about 14 days usually) after water changing.

I think you need to edit your original post. This reads as, it gets mad AFTER a water change.

 

[Stelioshah]

I think you need to edit your original post. This reads as, it gets mad AFTER a water change.

Yes you are correct I see how that can confuse people.

Edit: Unfortunately it is too late now... I can't change the post anymore..

 

[Cell]

It looks good after a water change then slowly declines over the next two weeks then perks back up after another water change.

Have you checked your nutrient levels before and after water change?

How much water are you changing?

 

[Stelioshah]

It looks good after a water change then slowly declines over the next two weeks then perks back up after another water change.

Have you checked your nutrient levels before and after water change?

How much water are you changing?

Phosphates usually don't drop at all, given the readings of my hanna checker. Nitrates might have a small reduction (0.5-1ppm). I usually change ~20% of the water.

 

[IKD]

Phosphates usually don't drop at all, given the readings of my hanna checker. Nitrates might have a small reduction (0.5-1ppm). I usually change ~20% of the water.

I suspect then you’re getting some trace elements in the new water that the coral wants. Do you dose anything?

 

[Stelioshah]

I suspect then you’re getting some trace elements in the new water that the coral wants. Do you dose anything?

The only thing that I dose currently (appart from alkalinity additives) is amino acids. It seems that they have no effect for me though (probably because I hand feed my corals regularly). Would you recommend some trace element additive? I would give it a shot and observe the reaction, I have never tried any such additive yet.