Duncan Only Partially Open

[MuggyReef]

So I’m newer to saltwater and this is my first reef tank. It’s a 125 gallon about 4 months old at this point. Haven’t tested lately but about to once I get off work today. The second coral I purchased was this Duncan around month 2. It didn’t open for a few days then would open every day and all seemed well, decided to feed it some mysis and it gobbled it up then opened back up after an hour. A few days later I purchased 3 peppermint shrimp which haven’t bothered any coral except it tried to steal some of the mysis from the Duncan, stopped after 5 seconds but I noticed ever since the coral doesn’t want to fully open. The only things that have a changed are I added the peppermint shrimp, slightly upped the lighting, and added an Anthelia on its own rock about a foot away. Any ideas on what I should do first to solve the issue?

also any tips on getting coralline to grow? My Zoa frag and a few snails/hermits have some coralline. Been dosing Kent’s coralline booster for a few weeks now and it doesn’t seem to be spreading.

 

[Zach B]

Sorry to hear about the Duncan. I would absolutely test your parameters when you can with some reliable kits. The shrimp may be irritating it by taking food or picking at it if they don't have enough. Stability is key for all of our tank inhabitants, if there is a large fluctuation it will most definitely upset coral. I wish you the best of luck

 

[DE FISH]

Parameters please Duncan’s are quite hardy

 

[MuggyReef]

I’m new to coral and didn’t realize the other test kits I needed so just ordered the Salifert Calcium, Alk, Mag, and Phosphate test kits.

Using the cheap API tests I got,
dKh: 9
Ph: 8.2
No3: 3ppm
No2: 0ppm
Nh3/Nh4: 1ppm
Salinity: 1.022

raised salinity with a water change to 1.024.

I noticed the shrimp decided to steal a piece of food when I just fed the whole tank and I believe the shrimp is was caused the issue. It actually disappeared/died. Before it did though I noticed there was a hole in right about where the shrimp was stealing from. I have since purchased a new one and I noticed it Opened up right away unlike the first one. Put it up higher and slightly more flow. So far doing good day two. Tomorrow I’ll update the parameters when my tests get here.

 

[DE FISH]

I’m new to coral and didn’t realize the other test kits I needed so just ordered the Salifert Calcium, Alk, Mag, and Phosphate test kits.

Using the cheap API tests I got,
dKh: 9
Ph: 8.2
No3: 3ppm
No2: 0ppm
Nh3/Nh4: 1ppm
Salinity: 1.022

raised salinity with a water change to 1.024.

I noticed the shrimp decided to steal a piece of food when I just fed the whole tank and I believe the shrimp is was caused the issue. It actually disappeared/died. I have since purchased a new one and I noticed it Opened up right away unlike the first one. Put it up higher and slightly more flow. So far doing good day two. Tomorrow I’ll update the parameters when my tests get here.

Yeah hit us back with your more reliable test kits

 

[MuggyReef]

Alright tested with the new kits, not as bad as I thought. I like those tests a lot more! The app I use to track my parameters says my ammonia is slightly too high and magnesium is slightly too low. I’ve performed a water change, fed slightly less, and changed out filter pads since the ammonia test so I’m assuming it’s slightly lower now. Will test again this weekend. Any recommendations for raising Mg or is it good? The Kent coralline is mostly Mg with a little Ca and I’ve been dosing about every 2-3 days.

The peppermint shrimp seem to be less aggressive now about food. Also don’t have any coral on/right above the sand bed besides the anthelia which has sprouted 5 more heads. also noticed the birdsnest I purchased a few weeks ago has regained its color and looks like a new branch is starting after raising salinity. Am gonna have to top off the tank again in a few days and will use higher salinity water as it looks like the salinity is now ready 1.023.

in other good news, I picked up a yellow watchman goby when I grabbed the new Duncan and second Zoa. Was worried because it wasn’t eating anything first two days but I saw it actually take a few bites of mysis tonight.

PO4: 0ppm
Mg: 1090ppm
Ca: 415ppm

 

[MuggyReef]

An update for this thread.

the Duncan disappeared almost 100% and all I saw was a skeleton. Then a few days later some tentacles re appeared.


The peppermint shrimp was the cause of it, I have since placed the one in my HOB refugium, the other two are completely fine though. I have since purchased a new Duncan that’s doing great and this

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

my ammonia is slightly too high

Ammonia above 0 is too high in a cycled tank...

 

[MuggyReef]

Ammonia above 0 is too high in a cycled tank...

Ammonia is below readable in my tank now. Stuff happens, like adding multiple inverts and fish in a newer tank. It wasn’t at dangerous levels so no worry, gone within a few days. I’ve been in fish keeping long enough to know ammonia will spike due to something even in a cycled tank, just not frequently if ever for most.