Favites is dying

[maxemorris]

I have had this coral since March and it was doing amazing. It began to have one dark spot on one part of it, and over the last week or so it’s now starting to recede from the edges and on the top. It’s not bleaching, and still has its colors from when I first got it. I’ve fed phyto and Red Sea AB+ directly almost every day, and yesterday I did a light scrubbing around the edges and dipped in coral revive.

The only change I have made was I began to dose All For Reef whereas I used to only do weekly water changes. None of my other coral have had a reaction to the dosing, so I don’t necessarily think that’s it. I test frequently, and my DkH is between 8-9 every time.

What should I do? Any other reasons you can think of?

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

What are all your levels and what test kit do you use?

 

[maxemorris]

This is from tuesday from a Spin Tester at my LFS. Currently I have the API master kit for pH and the ammonia cycle, and a Hannah Alkalinity checker. BRS said I only need to test DkH and the rest would follow.

 

[maxemorris]

Again it could be my levels but none of my other 20+ LPS coral are in bad shape at all except one blasto that got stung by my torch lol

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don't know what other corals you have, but favia in my experience is picky about water quality and doesn't like changes. Your tank seems very nutrient-high, .5 phosphate is very high, mag and calcium are slightly off. But more important than what you show, is how much have the parameters changed in the past few weeks?

 

[maxemorris]

I don't know what other corals you have, but favia in my experience is picky about water quality and doesn't like changes. Your tank seems very nutrient-high, .5 phosphate is very high, mag and calcium are slightly off. But more important than what you show, is how much have the parameters changed in the past few weeks?

I have also heard the same. I have had a dragon soul favia that looks healthy but has not grown in almost 6-8 months. To be honest I would say my parameters are changing rather quickly now that I started dosing, and once I get it under control things should get better. Correct?

 

[maxemorris]

I also started feeding pellet foods instead of frozen. I’ll do a big water change today as well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is from tuesday from a Spin Tester at my LFS. Currently I have the API master kit for pH and the ammonia cycle, and a Hannah Alkalinity checker. BRS said I only need to test DkH and the rest would follow.

According to spin test which i rarely trust do to false readings on some of the parameters, your calcium is slightly low , ammonia elevated slightly and the placement of coral is too close to sand which can irritate it. Mine is in area of medium flow and light and my alk at 8.8 with feedings 2-3X a week.

 

[maxemorris]

What is a good DkH for a LPS tank? I have heard 8-9 but more specifically is 8.5 good? High? Low? This is my tank

 

[maxemorris]

Would it be smarter to stop dosing All for Reef and go back to weekly water changes? I use Red Sea Pro salt.

 

[MrGisonni]

Your calcium and mag are a little low. It will take a bit to get your AFR tuned in. When your alk is stable between 7.8 and 9 you are good. If you are there with alk and a mag supplement and a calcium supplement to get them up. Then the AFR will maintain them between water changes. Get that favia out of the light a bit. The ricordia behind it looks great. They can take more light than the favia IMHO. My dragon soul is next a Duncan far away from the light less than 100 par

 

[maxemorris]

Your calcium and mag are a little low. It will take a bit to get your AFR tuned in. When your alk is stable between 7.8 and 9 you are good. If you are there with alk and a mag supplement and a calcium supplement to get them up. Then the AFR will maintain them between water changes. Get that favia out of the light a bit. The ricordia behind it looks great. They can take more light than the favia IMHO. My dragon soul is next a Duncan far away from the light less than 100 par

Thanks, I’ll give that a shot!

 

[maxemorris]

Your calcium and mag are a little low. It will take a bit to get your AFR tuned in. When your alk is stable between 7.8 and 9 you are good. If you are there with alk and a mag supplement and a calcium supplement to get them up. Then the AFR will maintain them between water changes. Get that favia out of the light a bit. The ricordia behind it looks great. They can take more light than the favia IMHO. My dragon soul is next a Duncan far away from the light less than 100 par

@MrGisonni Just to be clear you are saying I should move my favia and favites to lower light? They’re both near the sandbed of my stock biocube getting around 100par maybe 60-80 on the sandbed based on the diagram they give you.

 

[MrGisonni]

Sometimes less is more. It doesn't look happy where it is right now. A little less light and maybe a direct feeding may help imho