Clove polyp disaster!

Sharkbait19 · Nov 22, 2020

Parameters:
Nitrate - 0 ppm
Phosphate - 2.5 ppm (any ideas on how to lower this?)
dKH - 11 (196.9 ppm)
Calcium - 450 ppm
pH - 8.2

SMSREEF · Nov 22, 2020

Sharkbait19 said:
Parameters:
Nitrate - 0 ppm
Phosphate - 2.5 ppm (any ideas on how to lower this?)
dKH - 11 (196.9 ppm)
Calcium - 450 ppm
pH - 8.2

Are you certain about that phosphate?
could you take some water to the LFS to test it?
the cloves in the pic don’t look like they are deteriorating too badly. They just look mad after the trip and losing the sponge.

I bought a frag and my decorator crab decided to partially destroy it and wear some as a disguise.
My clove polyps looked like yours in the pic. Now it has quadrupled in 6 weeks and started growing on my other rocks.

if you make sure your parameters are stable I bet it recovers very quickly. Also if you see the heads poke out, feed it some reef-roids.

Yates273 · Nov 22, 2020

A good way to lower your phosphates is using GFO. Research it and see if that’s what you want to do.

Sleeping Giant · Nov 22, 2020

Snails were my clove polyps enemy, didn't matter where I placed them. The snails sniffed them out and crushed them. I feel your pain.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 22, 2020

I try to plant in crevices instead of gluing
Some fish such as rabbits and butterflies eat these.
They desire a little nitrates in the water

Sharkbait19 · Nov 22, 2020

SMSREEF said:
Are you certain about that phosphate?
could you take some water to the LFS to test it?
the cloves in the pic don’t look like they are deteriorating too badly. They just look mad after the trip and losing the sponge.

I bought a frag and my decorator crab decided to partially destroy it and wear some as a disguise.
My clove polyps looked like yours in the pic. Now it has quadrupled in 6 weeks and started growing on my other rocks.

if you make sure your parameters are stable I bet it recovers very quickly. Also if you see the heads poke out, feed it some reef-roids.

I’m not too sure about the phosphates, as I know API can be inaccurate. Seems that what has died is all the ones that were not attached to other cloves. The remaining ones are mostly opened and are looking pretty good. I’ll see how it turns out.

Sharkbait19 · Nov 27, 2020

Well, I’ve just about had it. Phosphates are high, my Xenia is angry, so I’m returning the cloves before more die.

Mike from TN · Nov 27, 2020

Sharkbait
The Fluval Evo 13.5 is a good starting point but filtration, flow and lighting could use some help. Do some research on the InTank chamber #1 media basket. Use some good floss in the top chamber, a ChemiPure in the second layer and stack a bag of carbon on top of a bag of Bio Balls in the lowest chamber. Change the floss weekly and the ChemiPure and carbon monthly. Leave the Bio Balls alone.
That tank needs a power head or wave maker to eliminate dead spots.
You should also think about upgrading your lighting at some point.
The more effective you can get your filtration, the easier it will be to get (and keep) your parameters in check.
I’m sure you will get this all ironed out. We’re all here to help you succeed!

Sharkbait19 · Nov 27, 2020

I brought the cloves back, and they let me swap it for another coral. Now, I have a colony of Yuma Mushrooms which are already doing much better than the cloves ever did. I plan to upgrade filtration soon, and will definitely get a wavemaker!!

Cristy17 · Dec 12, 2020

Hi Sharkbait19, How is your Yuma doing? I will tell you I had problems keeping fireworks clove polyps and could not get them to live. Now not only can I keep them alive, they are thriving! I have fragged out a bunch and traded them. I think if you are still at 0 nitrate that is probably too low. I think anywhere from 10-30 is a good number. Just my 2 cents worth!

Sharkbait19 · Dec 12, 2020

Cristy17 said:
Hi Sharkbait19, How is your Yuma doing? I will tell you I had problems keeping fireworks clove polyps and could not get them to live. Now not only can I keep them alive, they are thriving! I have fragged out a bunch and traded them. I think if you are still at 0 nitrate that is probably too low. I think anywhere from 10-30 is a good number. Just my 2 cents worth!

Thanks for asking! The Yuma is doing amazing, and is definitely a good replacement! There were a few cloves that wound up popping out of nowhere about a week after I traded the main colony in, and the ones that remain (about 2 or 3) are thriving very well so something must’ve changed. Thanks for the info! I’ll post pics of the yumas soon!