Corals not opening

[grantfoster02]

Okay so a little update: I got ticked off and took out all of the sand. Waited a day and checked p04. It had gone down significantly. Did a water change and the p04 is within good levels. Water is looking great. Duncan is still hiding. And my rock flower nem is tucked away in a rock and I can only see it’s foot. I have a good bit of biological filtration in my sump so I wasn’t worried about messing that up. My zoas, pallys, and Goni are back open again. Just waiting to see how the others do.

 

[grantfoster02]

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

The tank was setup at end of July/ beginning of sept.

 

[grantfoster02]

Oh and a side note: my GHA is gone. Seems that reef flux works. Just gotta be careful of p04 spikes

 

[bruno3047]

Okay so a little update: I got ticked off and took out all of the sand. Waited a day and checked p04. It had gone down significantly. Did a water change and the p04 is within good levels. Water is looking great. Duncan is still hiding. And my rock flower nem is tucked away in a rock and I can only see it’s foot. I have a good bit of biological filtration in my sump so I wasn’t worried about messing that up. My zoas, pallys, and Goni are back open again. Just waiting to see how the others do.

I do a complete sand bed cleaning with a gravel washing tube every six months replacing about 35% to 40% of the water. I don’t do any other water changes. I dose Essential Elements for traces. It’s worked well for me. This is the one I use:

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/python-no-spill-clean-n-fill-replacement-gravel-tube-36-%28large%29-3028674

PS Your Duncan will be out in a few days.

 

[grantfoster02]

I do a complete sand bed cleaning with a gravel washing tube every six months replacing about 35% to 40% of the water. I don’t do any other water changes. I dose Essential Elements for traces. It’s worked well for me. This is the one I use:

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/python-no-spill-clean-n-fill-replacement-gravel-tube-36-%28large%29-3028674

PS Your Duncan will be out in a few days.

Thanks with all the help. Will definitely do the sand cleaning.

 

[bruno3047]

Thanks with all the help. Will definitely do the sand cleaning.

What probably happened is that after you treated your tank to kill the algae, all that dead algae material went right into your sand bed. The same thing happens when you clean your front glass. Very little of that algae material is filtered out of the tank. Most of it settles right onto your sand bed and because of it’s small size, sinks down into the sand bed and rots there. That’s why it’s important to clean your sand bed regularly if you want to have a sustainable long-term reef. Good luck.

 

[bxclent]

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?

Alk ltoo ow and Nitrate & Phosphates too high?

 

[bxclent]

What probably happened is that after you treated your tank to kill the algae, all that dead algae material went right into your sand bed. The same thing happens when you clean your front glass. Very little of that algae material is filtered out of the tank. Most of it settles right onto your sand bed and because of it’s small size, sinks down into the sand bed and rots there. That’s why it’s important to clean your sand bed regularly if you want to have a sustainable long-term reef. Good luck.

I clean my sand bed once a month