Cyphastrea Bleaching Please Help!

[Dark_Knightt]

@nereefpat @Bleigh Update time: So I did the 2 gallon water change, but i replaced to 2 gallons of saltwater with 2 gallons of freshwater. I let it be in the tank for a bit and then I tested it but it was still like 1.030 or a bit higher. I tasted the water a bit just to see how salty it is and its very fresh. Like not salty. What do you think?

 

[SMSREEF]

@nereefpat @Bleigh Update time: So I did the 2 gallon water change, but i replaced to 2 gallons of saltwater with 2 gallons of freshwater. I let it be in the tank for a bit and then I tested it but it was still like 1.030 or a bit higher. I tasted the water a bit just to see how salty it is and its very fresh. Like not salty. What do you think?

Your tongue is gonna be a bad tester and not very accurate. The only time to taste the water is when you accidentally suck some in when you start a siphon;Vomit. Our water could have some pretty nasty bacteria in it.

I would leave everything alone today. Try to get to the LFS and have water tested or order a refractometer and calibration fluid for Black Friday.

Edited: the water change tomorrow out. Its better to just check first.

 

[Saltyreef]

You should really go get yourself a refractometer. Calibrate it. Then test your water.
Your salinity should be the baseline all your macro parameters are set around.
If your salinity is 1.030 and your alk is 6.7dkh then that is your issue why the cyphestrea is losing flesh.

Otherwise were just guessing.

And as said above, top off water should be pure DI water no salt, no nothing.
(Unless trying to RAISE salinity, which you shouldnt be)

 

[Dark_Knightt]

You should really go get yourself a refractometer. Calibrate it. Then test your water.
Your salinity should be the baseline all your macro parameters are set around.
If your salinity is 1.030 and your alk is 6.7dkh then that is your issue why the cyphestrea is losing flesh.

Otherwise were just guessing.

Ill try and head down to the LFS tomorrow (well its not really local its 45mins away) and get a refractometer and get my water tested, maybe get some more CUC if the problem isnt that hard to fix. How much are refractometers usually?

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Also does anyone know at what point does the salinity get too high it starts killing everything off? Ive noticed that my bubble is starting to shrink to the point its falling off the rock. (Also the salinity is now at 1.031 about so i think another 2g water change should help.)

 

[Jib]

Ill try and head down to the LFS tomorrow (well its not really local its 45mins away) and get a refractometer and get my water tested, maybe get some more CUC if the problem isnt that hard to fix. How much are refractometers usually?

I would get your water parameters under control before adding anything else. You can get a refracometer for around $25 where I'm at.

 

[SMSREEF]

Take it slower now, sudden changes are worse than slower. you got it down a good amount today. Give everything a chance to adjust.

Getting the refractometer and calibration solution will be good. BRS has them on sale now. But you probably need to get one quicker. Make sure to take a water sample with you to the store. And see if they can show you how to calibrate it and use it.

 

[Saltyreef]

Also does anyone know at what point does the salinity get too high it starts killing everything off? Ive noticed that my bubble is starting to shrink to the point its falling off the rock. (Also the salinity is now at 1.031 about so i think another 2g water change should help.)

I ran my reef for years at 1.030 without any major issues.
Somethings will be harder to keep alive....
Was using a coralife swing arm hydrometer too lol.

Alternatively, if you have an ATO, you can remove a gallon or so of water throughout the day and let your ATO replenish with fresh water.
You wont go through so much salt this way...

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Take it slower now, sudden changes are worse than slower. you got it down a good amount today. Give everything a chance to adjust.

Getting the refractometer and calibration solution will be good. BRS has them on sale now. But you probably need to get one quicker. Make sure to take a water sample with you to the store. And see if they can show you how to calibrate it and use it.

Ill make sure I do that. Yeah ill probably go to my LFS, buy this, get them to show me how to use it. Were having plenty of Black Friday deals up in Canada too so they should have some on sale right now.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I ran my reef for years at 1.030 without any major issues.
Somethings will be harder to keep alive....
Was using a coralife swing arm hydrometer too lol.

Oh man maybe i have been running my reef at too high salinity. Ok ill make sure it gets back down and keep it down. I should try and get an auto top off reservoir or something like that for my tank to be 100% it doesnt get high. (I want to upgrade my tank and the one I want comes with a built in top off reservoir but I should make sure I can keep this tank at the good levels with everything doing to until/before I upgrade.)

 

[Saltyreef]

Oh man maybe i have been running my reef at too high salinity. Ok ill make sure it gets back down and keep it down. I should try and get an auto top off reservoir or something like that for my tank to be 100% it doesnt get high. (I want to upgrade my tank and the one I want comes with a built in top off reservoir but I should make sure I can keep this tank at the good levels with everything doing to until/before I upgrade.)

Yup.
Easy way without the ATO, mark the max water level in your return chamber on the glass with tape or a sharpie....
Refill to that level everyday with fresh water.
Your salinity wont deviate unless you forget or mix your water chsnge water differently.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Yup.
Easy way without the ATO, mark the max water level in your return chamber on the glass with tape or a sharpie....
Refill to that level everyday with fresh water.
Your salinity wont deviate unless you forget or mix your water chsnge water differently.

Its a 20g tank with a powerfilter to the tank doesnt exactly have a return chamber. But yeah I should put a mark on the glass at least. In a bigger tank I would have a sump with return chamber where i can mark it.

 

[Saltyreef]

Its a 20g tank with a powerfilter to the tank doesnt exactly have a return chamber. But yeah I should put a mark on the glass at least. In a bigger tank I would have a sump with return chamber where i can mark it.

Xp aqua sells a sumpless ATO i would look into if i were you. I use the XP aqua duetto without issues.
The ATO will help keep your tanks salinity stable in the long run and remove a very confusing variable for a new reefer to figure out.

 

[Bleigh]

Okay. I believe your tank is 20 gallons. I would start by changing out about 2 gallons and replacing with 2 gallons of RO water, not saltwater. See if you can get a reading on the tank after that.

Even better idea!! And keep doing that for the next few days. Keep us updated!

 

[Bleigh]

@nereefpat @Bleigh Update time: So I did the 2 gallon water change, but i replaced to 2 gallons of saltwater with 2 gallons of freshwater. I let it be in the tank for a bit and then I tested it but it was still like 1.030 or a bit higher. I tasted the water a bit just to see how salty it is and its very fresh. Like not salty. What do you think?

Glad you got it down some. Once the salt levels are under control, we can do more problem solving if you’re still having issues. I would trust the refractometer. If you were topping off with salt water, then there’s no way around it, your salt levels would start to creep up. Amazon also sales refractometers. Sometimes next day delivery, which would save you a drive. I’ve seen them range anywhere from $15-$40. Higher end was at a lfs.

Refractometers are really simple. You put a few drops of your water on the slide. Close the lid and make sure there’s no bubbles. Hold it to a light and wherever the line is, is your salinity. You do have to calibrate them pretty frequently. I had an issue early on where my salt got too low cause my refractometer got off a bit.

lots of good advice! Hope we can make a successful life time reefer out of you! No rush on any of it. You have plenty of time to spend all your money on corals.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

@Bleigh @nereefpat @SMSREEF @Saltyreef UPDATE 26 NOVEMBER: I did another water change and removed 2gallons of tank water and replaced it with 2-3 gallons of freshwater, currently my tank water is currently at 1.028sg. Ill do another one tomorrow which should bring it down to 1.026-1.025. Im noticing the change in one of my torches which hasnt been expanding as much lately, has started expanding its polyps/tentacles more. Its just the beginning, I'll post another update tomorrow.

 

[Saltyreef]

@Bleigh @nereefpat @SMSREEF @Saltyreef UPDATE 26 NOVEMBER: I did another water change and removed 2gallons of tank water and replaced it with 2-3 gallons of freshwater, currently my tank water is currently at 1.028sg. Ill do another one tomorrow which should bring it down to 1.026-1.025. Im noticing the change in one of my torches which hasnt been expanding as much lately, has started expanding its polyps/tentacles more. Its just the beginning, I'll post another update tomorrow.

Id plan to lower it to 1.026 over the course of a week vs a few days.

 

[SMSREEF]

Id plan to lower it to 1.026 over the course of a week vs a few days.

I agree, I would go slower now too.