Coral growing but melting?

[phishy]

I have clove polyps and xenia in my 6 gallon tank. The clove polyps have spreaded 4-5 polyps on the rockwork but at the same time the frag on the frag plug has melted/gotten smaller. Same with the xenia, the xenia has grown into the edge of the plug but the middle of it has disappeared. Nitrate at 0ppm Amm 0 Nitrite 0, are the nutrients too low for clove polyps and xenia? Duncan opening and fat, GSP has grown a lot, finger leather and toadstool are open and happyz

 

[Timfish]

Sounds like they're just migrating to me. What are your phosphates? I would worry more about PO4 than nitrate (I never trest for nitrite) corals prefer Nitrogen in the forms of urea, amino acids and ammonia and may have simbiotic diazotrophs that can convert N2 (free Nitrogen) into nitrates if needed.

 

[phishy]

Sounds like they're just migrating to me. What are your phosphates? I would worry more about PO4 than nitrate (I never trest for nitrite) corals prefer Nitrogen in the forms of urea, amino acids and ammonia and may have simbiotic diazotrophs that can convert N2 (free Nitrogen) into nitrates if needed.

i don’t have a phosphate test kit ye
t

 

[phishy]

Sounds like they're just migrating to me. What are your phosphates? I would worry more about PO4 than nitrate (I never trest for nitrite) corals prefer Nitrogen in the forms of urea, amino acids and ammonia and may have simbiotic diazotrophs that can convert N2 (free Nitrogen) into nitrates if needed.

all my corals are open i’m just worried about my toadstool and finger leather melting those are my favorite, i didn’t know they migrate

 

[Uncle99]

Softies enjoy higher nitrate and phosphate systems.
Zero nitrate starves everyone including those who feed corals. Some believe the imbalance triggers Dino or other pest algaes and bacteria.
I’d bump nitrate to 5-10ppm and ensure phosphate is available and stable at 0.05-.15ppm.

 

[phishy]

Softies enjoy higher nitrate and phosphate systems.
Zero nitrate starves everyone including those who feed corals. Some believe the imbalance triggers Dino or other pest algaes and bacteria.
I’d bump nitrate to 5-10ppm and ensure phosphate is available and stable at 0.05-.15ppm.

so this is the reason my xenia and clove polyps are melting?

 

[phishy]

Softies enjoy higher nitrate and phosphate systems.
Zero nitrate starves everyone including those who feed corals. Some believe the imbalance triggers Dino or other pest algaes and bacteria.
I’d bump nitrate to 5-10ppm and ensure phosphate is available and stable at 0.05-.15ppm.

My mag is 1100 and alk is 7 is that finev

 

[Uncle99]

My mag is 1100 and alk is 7 is that finev

MG should be 1350-1400ppm.
Alk 8-12dkh and very stable

 

[Uncle99]

so this is the reason my xenia and clove polyps are melting?

Likely starving.
Nitrate and phosphate in trace amounts is a must.
Without, not just corals starve, everything.