Are my corals dead?

[JoTaDe]

Hello, ive had this tank for about 2 months now and the fish seem to be doing great, as well as the 6 dwarf blue leg hermit crabs (they have only been here for 3 days), however I ordered zoas about a month ago and I am pretty sure they are dead. My parameters are all fine so I ordered a copper and gh test because that is the only thing I can think of. Alkalinity is around 120 mg/l ph 8.2 and all other values 0. I ordered a proper alkalinity test as this is of a test strip. I added a photo of the corals below I do not know if they are dead so J have not removed them. The gh and alkalinity test should be here tomorrow, copper should be in on friday. I tried giving them reef ab plus but it did not work lol.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

So all of your other tests are zero including nitrates. If so that could be the issue you want 5-10 ppm nitrate in your tank. What are all your parameters? If you dont mind me asking that is. Can you list out please this will help with answering your question.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, ive had this tank for about 2 months now and the fish seem to be doing great, as well as the 6 dwarf blue leg hermit crabs (they have only been here for 3 days), however I ordered zoas about a month ago and I am pretty sure they are dead. My parameters are all fine so I ordered a copper and gh test because that is the only thing I can think of. Alkalinity is around 120 mg/l ph 8.2 and all other values 0. I ordered a proper alkalinity test as this is of a test strip. I added a photo of the corals below I do not know if they are dead so J have not removed them. The gh and alkalinity test should be here tomorrow, copper should be in on friday. I tried giving them reef ab plus but it did not work lol.

Pic is extremely blue to see anything and will need to be retaken under white lights
Assure nitrate-phosphate-temperature- salinity - ca and alk isn’t elevated

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

@vetteguy53081 is extremely knowledgeable on this kind of stuff helps me all the time with questions. You got a good one commenting. NO NEED TO FEAR VETTEGUY IS HERE!!! Lol by the way thanks for all your help too.

 

[JoTaDe]

So all of your other tests are zero including nitrates. If so that could be the issue you want 5-10 ppm nitrate in your tank. What are all your parameters? If you dont mind me asking that is. Can you list out please this will help with answering your question.

0 ammonia
0 nitrates
0 nitrites
120 alk mg/l
High Gh test strip, proper test comes tomorrow
The gh might be the issue im guessing, thats why I ordered the copper test and an actual gh test to know where im at.
But if there was copper my hermits would be dead? They have only been here for a week tho…

 

[JoTaDe]

0 ammonia
0 nitrates
0 nitrites
120 alk mg/l
High Gh test strip, proper test comes tomorrow
The gh might be the issue im guessing, thats why I ordered the copper test and an actual gh test to know where im at.
But if there was copper my hermits would be dead? They have only been here for a week tho…

Salinity 1.024 I will take another pic give me a min I am a little busy

 

[Chrisv.]

These look like zoas. If so, they look closed. When zoas are dead they basically melt away.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Tank is fully cycled? Weird how you are having no nitrates shown. Should have even the slightest reading. 0 nitrates isnt a good thing. Zoas love dirty water too so having 0 nitrates isnt helping at all.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

@vetteguy53081 what do you think?

 

[Dburr1014]

0 ammonia
0 nitrates
0 nitrites
120 alk mg/l
High Gh test strip, proper test comes tomorrow
The gh might be the issue im guessing, thats why I ordered the copper test and an actual gh test to know where im at.
But if there was copper my hermits would be dead? They have only been here for a week tho…

Do you mean 120ppm alk? =6.7 dkh
Gh is (I think your saying) general hardness= alk

 

[damsels are not mean]

They need some food

 

[Dburr1014]

0 ammonia
0 nitrates
0 nitrites
120 alk mg/l
High Gh test strip, proper test comes tomorrow
The gh might be the issue im guessing, thats why I ordered the copper test and an actual gh test to know where im at.
But if there was copper my hermits would be dead? They have only been here for a week tho…

White pic is needed. I see something in the blue pic, it looks alive but really hard to tell.
I don't believe copper is an issue.
Do need nitrates and some phosphates.

 

[JoTaDe]

They need some food

gave them reef ab + did not work

 

[JoTaDe]

Do you mean 120ppm alk? =6.7 dkh
Gh is (I think your saying) general hardness= alk

the test strip I have has both alk and GH?

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

What are you using to feed? Like do you have fish in the tank? What food are you feeding them? What are you using for filtration?

 

[JoTaDe]

1 yellowtail damsel, 6 dwarf blue leg hermit crab (only been for a week)

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

What are you feeding your damsel?

 

[Dburr1014]

gave them reef ab + did not work

Food and po4 and no3 are not the same thing.

the test strip I have has both alk and GH?

Alk is gh. This is where the confusion is.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Have a trusted lfs with accurate testing available near you. Might be good to take a sample in. This will help determine the route you need to go.

 

[zdrc]

Food and po4 and no3 are not the same thing.
Alk is gh. This is where the confusion is.

I don't think so. Alk is KH or carbonate hardness and GH is general hardness. GH measures divalent metal ions (Ca and Mg) and KH specifically measures carbonates. You could have a non-carbonate source of Ca and Mg that would show up in GH but not KH. For example, my tap has about 3 dGH and 1.5 dKH. They're definitely different. For planted tanks you want low KH and medium GH.

An actual chemist would know the difference between the two better than me.