First LPS and not sure if it's dying... help me!

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

OK so I'm very new to this saltwater tank thing but I'm obsessed. It's only been like 2 weeks w my tank. It's going great though. I bought a Frogspawn and the first day it was awesome. And it's been a couple days and it's like it's dying?

My tank stats are
45 gallon tall
+Nitrate 0
+Nitrite 0
+Ammonia 0
+Calcium 520 is (high I know but I don't know how to bring it down!)
+Alk (not sure the exact number on top of my head but is in the right range)
+PH 8
Salinity 1.022-4 (fluctuates some)

I already did a water change yesterday. I watch my levels.. no spikes. It's like it doesn't extend like it did, near the base of the tentacle things some look almost black and withering almost. It seems somewhat retracted too. Here's a photo of it the day I got it and now.

Is it dying? Or am I'm just over worrying and this is normal?
Thanks everyone

ethridge78 · Jun 9, 2014

It looks fine to me.

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

The middle pic is the first day.

Is it normal for them to shrink up so much and have really dark almost blackish areas towards the root?

HiddenUser · Jun 9, 2014

Based on the middle picture this looks more like a Torch not a Frogspawn, but it looks fine to me. I'd be concerned if it was constantly retracted for multiple days in a row.

Hopefully you dipped it in some Revive or Coral-Rx before adding it.

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

It does! Hmm, the aquarium store I git it from said otherwise. It retracts at night and take a while to un-retract and when it does its not fully. Very spotty.

Thank you for taking y'alls time to look and share your thoughts!

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

And I didn't dip it in anything. Was I suppose to? I wasn't never informed to do so! Is it to late?

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

ChukeeR said:
Based on the middle picture this looks more like a Torch not a Frogspawn, but it looks fine to me. I'd be concerned if it was constantly retracted for multiple days in a row.

Hopefully you dipped it in some Revive or Coral-Rx before adding it.

And I didn't dip it in anything. Was I suppose to? I wasn't never informed to do so! Is it to late?<br/>

HiddenUser · Jun 9, 2014

Hurley009 said:
And I didn't dip it in anything. Was I suppose to? I wasn't never informed to do so! Is it to late?

Always dip new corals before adding them to your display. It'll help with removing pests / hitchhikers. I personally use Revive, but Coral-Rx works and some others use a Bayer product. If there were pests it may be too late now, but it wouldn't hurt to dip it at this point...

Since you just got it, it might be a little stressed. They will usually close up and night and start to open up as the lights come back on.

clownfitch · Jun 9, 2014

Make sure your alkalinity is in the acceptable ranges and you should also really try to keep your salinity in the 1.024-1.026 range. The more stable that number is the better also.

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

ChukeeR said:
Always dip new corals before adding them to your display. It'll help with removing pests / hitchhikers. I personally use Revive, but Coral-Rx works and some others use a Bayer product. If there were pests it may be too late now, but it wouldn't hurt to dip it at this point...

Since you just got it, it might be a little stressed. They will usually close up and night and start to open up as the lights come back on.

Do you think the high calcium has any part in this?
I don't know how to get it to go down and I don't understand why it's so high! Is it a danger for my Torch or fish?
(Clown fish-lawnmower blenny- cleaner shrimp- emerald crab)

miyags · Jun 9, 2014

looks like a torch, do you have it where its getting a nice flow?

Hurley009 · Jun 9, 2014

clownfitch said:
Make sure your alkalinity is in the acceptable ranges and you should also really try to keep your salinity in the 1.024-1.026 range. The more stable that number is the better also.

Is it normal for the salinity reader to just bounce up and down? Like i can't get it to stay completely still. It might be from my fans inside the tank blowing inside the thing a bit.. I've kept it in the safe zone on the reader as best i can.