Corals not opening

[grantfoster02]

For the past few days my corals are not happy. They aren’t opening up and the rock flower is retreating. I have zoas a rock flower nem a Duncan and a few others. I started reef flux for GHA last Monday and was thinking that was the culprit but wanted y’all’s thoughts.

Parameters:
Ammonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0.43
Phosphate: 0.46
Salinity: 1.025
Alk: 7.05

Any ideas?

 

[A;exr54]

Do you have any spikes in temp?
Added anything to the tank recently?
How old is the tank?

 

[grantfoster02]

Do you have any spikes in temp?
Added anything to the tank recently?
How old is the tank?

Everything went into the tank around august-beginning of sept. Added reef flux to battle GHA. I don’t dose anything. Temp stays a regular 79 throughout.

 

[A;exr54]

Everything went into the tank around august-beginning of sept. Added reef flux to battle GHA. I don’t dose anything. Temp stays a regular 79 throughout.

Everything sounds normal parameters wise. I've never used reef flux so cant comment on that.
Have you checked for possible stray voltage in the tank?
Also you didn't list ph levels.

 

[mdb_talon]

I have never use fluconazole myself, but have read many mixed reviews from people saying it had no impact on any coral to many reports of corals dying.

If the issues with coral started the same time you started this treatment and you changed nothing else i would definetely be concerned that it is the culprit....again though never used it myself.

 

[Wasabiroot]

I would say it's possible it's the treatment, provided you changed nothing else. Your alk is also a bit low...if kept stable, fine, but any lower than 7 is cause for concern. Might want to s l o w l y bump that up to 8 or 8.5. Just my 2c.

 

[grantfoster02]

I would say it's possible it's the treatment, provided you changed nothing else. Your alk is also a bit low...if kept stable, fine, but any lower than 7 is cause for concern. Might want to s l o w l y bump that up to 8 or 8.5. Just my 2c.

Would it help if I did a water change despite the directions on the reef flux bottle? I’d rather maintain the GHA rather than kill hundreds of dollar worth of corals.

 

[Duncan62]

Would it help if I did a water change despite the directions on the reef flux bottle? I’d rather maintain the GHA rather than kill hundreds of dollar worth of corals.

Get a cuc and forget the chemicals. Urchins, pods, crabs and snails.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

phosphate is super high, how often do you do water changes?

 

[grantfoster02]

phosphate is super high, how often do you do water changes?

Every other week.
Was thinking that phos was high because of the reef flux. When it kills off GHA, it releases the trapped phosphates and nitrates.

 

[grantfoster02]

I just did a 10% water change and we’ll see how it goes.

 

[grantfoster02]

Wow. Um so I screwed up. I tested my alk a few days ago and it was 7.05. And that is what I was going off of. I just tested it again and it is now 6.2. How much of the Red Sea alk am I supposed to dose daily to not shoot levels up? I am stunned.

 

[grantfoster02]

Wow. Um so I screwed up. I tested my alk a few days ago and it was 7.05. And that is what I was going off of. I just tested it again and it is now 6.2. How much of the Red Sea alk am I supposed to dose daily to not shoot levels up? I am stunned.

I would need 27.2 ml of alk to bring it up where it needs to be. Just wondering how much I can dose in a day.

 

[ApoIsland]

Wow. Um so I screwed up. I tested my alk a few days ago and it was 7.05. And that is what I was going off of. I just tested it again and it is now 6.2. How much of the Red Sea alk am I supposed to dose daily to not shoot levels up? I am stunned.

I don't think low alk is the issue. My tank has never seen sustained levels over 6 dkh and I have plenty of rock flowers and others you mentioned.

Also if you want to correct water parameters then a 10% water change will not do much for you. I would do 50% if you can get fairly close to matching alk/ph/salinity.

 

[Wasabiroot]

I would caution against a large swing in alk. The ideal range for your tank will depend on a range of factors. Low alk isn't necessarily a serious issue unless your nutrients arr out of whack or you aren't dosing equally, but you will unequivocally see better growth a bit higher than 6.5 to 7.
Often a great goal is aiming to match what your salt mixes at, so that water changes cause minimal fluctuations.

Keep in mind that there are many reasons coral can look upset. It's probably easiest to cross them off the list one by one and change things minimally so you can at least glean a potential causation.
Alk instability is a very common cause for irritation in corals. The low alk combined with the medication may be the culprit. However I am not you and don't want to presume -there could be another factor at play like needing to dose more because of new growth.

 

[grantfoster02]

I don't think low alk is the issue. My tank has never seen sustained levels over 6 dkh and I have plenty of rock flowers and others you mentioned.

Also if you want to correct water parameters then a 10% water change will not do much for you. I would do 50% if you can get fairly close to matching alk/ph/salinity.

I tested the water params after I did a 10% and the p04 went down a good little bit, so I will do another 20-30% water change soon.

 

[bruno3047]

If it’s been over six months since you cleaned your sand bed, you need to clean/siphon your sand bed and replace the water with new water. And not just the surface. All the way down to the glass. Use a gravel washing tube for best results. Keep washing the gravel/sand until you remove between 35 and 40% of the water.

 

[Aiptaisia anemone]

Whats your ph

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is this a newer tank ?
Im suspecting you are getting some false readings. . . What test kits are you using ? Also assure nitrate and Phosphate arent elevated

 

[ZoWhat]

4 areas to look at as usual suspects:

* irritation by excess no3 and/or po4
* irritation by excess flow
* irritation by excess light
* irritation by smthg nipping on them