Euphyllia deflating

Froof · Dec 19, 2019

I’ve had three hammers and a frogspawn that we’re doing great and splitting new heads for two years just start to look like they are deflating then separate from the skeleton. No changes in lighting, routines or coral additions. It’s not brown jelly, they’re just deflating and dying. Other sps, shrooms, palys and zoa and softies doing fine. Any thoughts? I use RODI and Fritz for a 50% water change weekly. Spot feed reef roids once per week in an old 14 gallon bio cube with a tuna blue a80. Can’t figure out what changed any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

jordan9095 · Dec 19, 2019

alk & ca?

MERKEY · Dec 19, 2019

Ya I'd wonder if numbers changed...

Any metal leaking into the tank??

DSC reef · Dec 20, 2019

IMO after 2 years of growth with softies and other corals I would suspect coral warfare and softies can use allelopathy as a defense. 14 gallons is not much volume and in 2 years could yield a lot of growth and competition going on. I would start adding/increasing carbon in the tank.

Retro Reefer · Dec 20, 2019

Nitrate & phosphate numbers? Several people also recently posting problems with their tanks because of Fritz salt mix.

Froof · Dec 21, 2019

I did an extra water change and new carbon as well as dosing 2 part. Things look to have stabilized a little so hoping the remaining two heads on my oldest hammer make it. Hammering a lucky horseshoe over the tank and a four leaf clover in the sump area seems like a solid option at this point.

Froof · Dec 25, 2019

MERKEY said:
Ya I'd wonder if numbers changed...

Any metal leaking into the tank??

Checked all of my equipment and can’t find anything metal that could be getting into it.

Froof · Dec 25, 2019

jordan9095 said:
alk & ca?

Haven’t checked ca I’d alk is hovering around 7.8 to 8

Magellan · Dec 25, 2019

DSC reef said:
IMO after 2 years of growth with softies and other corals I would suspect coral warfare and softies can use allelopathy as a defense. 14 gallons is not much volume and in 2 years could yield a lot of growth and competition going on. I would start adding/increasing carbon in the tank.

+1 for carbon, also are you dosing anything with Manganese in it? Euphyllia really loves and needs that, and iodine as well.

Froof · Dec 25, 2019

Magellan said:
+1 for carbon, also are you dosing anything with Manganese in it? Euphyllia really loves and needs that, and iodine

Im dosing Kent A&B. It has manganese but not iodine.
PS. Got a Red Sea Reefer 250 this am so hoping that I can keep things alive for a few months while I get it going. Hopefully, the massive increase in volume will help me keep it more stable. Merry christmas!

45ZoaGarden · Dec 25, 2019

We need pics...

45ZoaGarden · Dec 25, 2019

And what is your cal, alk, mg, nitrate, phosphate, phosphorous, and sg?

Froof · Dec 25, 2019

45ZoaGarden said:
We need pics...

Froof · Dec 25, 2019

45ZoaGarden said:
And what is your cal, alk, mg, nitrate, phosphate, phosphorous, and sg?

Not sure. I’ve only tested alk. ( hovering around 8)I quit testing and just used big water changes because I’ve never had issues until now and only with hammer and frogspawn. Even sps doing just fine.

DSC reef · Dec 25, 2019

45ZoaGarden said:
And what is your cal, alk, mg, nitrate, phosphate, phosphorous, and sg?

Why would one need phosphorus and phosphate to be tested and can you please elaborate on how to test both..

DSC reef · Dec 25, 2019

Froof said:
Not sure. I’ve only tested alk. ( hovering around 8)I quit testing and just used big water changes because I’ve never had issues until now and only with hammer and frogspawn. Even sps doing just fine.

Don't let things get to complicated. Tests you need to measure and need consistent are salinity, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. Keep an eye on nitrate and phosphate as well.

45ZoaGarden · Dec 25, 2019

High phosphate=dead coral. Low phosphate= dead coral. Phosphate effects coral color. Ph is also major. If it is way too low, your stuff will die

DSC reef said:
Why would one need phosphorus and phosphate to be tested and can you please elaborate on how to test both..

DSC reef · Dec 26, 2019

45ZoaGarden said:
High phosphate=dead coral. Low phosphate= dead coral. Phosphate effects coral color. Ph is also major. If it is way too low, your stuff will die

I get it, been doing this a long time. Just curious how you differ in testing between phosphorus and phosphate, that was my question you still did not answer. In over 18 years I never tested PH either. Before that I chased every number I could, I don't recommend that now.

45ZoaGarden · Dec 26, 2019

DSC reef said:
I get it, been doing this a long time. Just curious how you differ in testing between phosphorus and phosphate, that was my question you still did not answer. In over 18 years I never tested PH either. Before that I chased every number I could, I don't recommend that now.

I never said he had to chase a number. I never test mine (I trust the apex probe enough). I’m just curious as to what the number is. Maybe he’s up north and his house has been shut up for months. Maybe the tank doesn’t get a lot of fresh air. You never know. That’s why I asked

Froof · Dec 26, 2019

45ZoaGarden said:
I never said he had to chase a number. I never test mine (I trust the apex probe enough). I’m just curious as to what the number is. Maybe he’s up north and his house has been shut up for months. Maybe the tank doesn’t get a lot of fresh air. You never know. That’s why I asked

the tank gets fresh air. In CO But it’s been warm so shouldn’t be an issue since weve Been able to keep the windows open. All of the euphyllia are officially dead. My biggest question is why only they died and every other coral in the tank looks great. Just doesn’t make sense