Flowerpot behavior

[Michael Brown]

I am trying to understand Flowerpot behavior. I am used to a very happy outstretched flowerpot. But i see unusual behavior when I try to direct feed (I'm trying to be awesome). I tried Red Sea Reef Energy A&B - Coral Nutrition - and my flowerpot and toadstool retreated to looking dead for about a week then luckily they came back. In my mind I thought it was a bad product. All was well again then decided to try Photo Feast "Live" - the flowerpot has been flat for nearly a week.
So now I am wondering... are they flat because they have a full belly and the outstretched arms were seeking food? But whats the point of a flowerpot that doesn't show off. Based on past behavior Im anticipating it will come back to its former glory. But its being stubborn.
Thoughts?

Water levels very consistent
Temperature 76
Salinity 1.022
pH 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
kH 9
O2 6

 

[Triggreef]

Looks pretty ticked off. I wouldn't suggest the foods listed above for a goni. I would try goni power or reef roids. Also if spot feeding those they may have been too strong, like they burnt it a little. Kind of like over fertilizing your lawn. Your water may even be a little too clean if nitrate is truly at zero. Add a fish!

 

[Triggreef]

Also there is quite a bit of recession on the skeleton. How long have you had it? You haven't listed Ca or Mg in your parameters. Do you test for those? If Ca drops under 370 for any period of time, it can stop growth altogether, and may even cause significant damage.

Why is your salt so low? Do you test with a refractometer? Normal ocean is 1.026 so that is where it should be in a reef. It will make it easier to maintain Ca and Mg. Understand that most local fish stores keep it as low as 1.019 but this is in effort to save money on salt as it won't have a short term negative impact on the fish and corals they sell.

Sorry its a bunch of questions but all very relevant.

 

[Michael Brown]

Thank you! Interesting I wouldn't have thought I was burning them with food. (I'm relatively new). Started the tank in November and have 8 fish, plus snails, crabs, etc. It's been interesting my results have been the same most of the time - even confirmed with aquarium stores.
Mg i haven't tested. Ca according to my API test kit is at 16. Salinity I was told for my someday seahorse/reef tank to keep it in a range 1.022 - 1.026 - I use a refractometer and per my eyes looks like 1.022 ish. So while I have RO standing by, I have yet to have use for it.
Blast - aquarium shops told me to use the above products. I'll gently try your suggestion. I hope that it will bounce back again. Now on to the mystery of disappearing firefish. Always something...
THANK YOU

 

[Triggreef]

Thank you! Interesting I wouldn't have thought I was burning them with food.

On this, that particular supplement is quite concentrated so I mean it depends how your doing it, but instructions say keep it refridgerated after opening. So that said I'm picturing you turning off your pumps, pouring some of this concentrated mix into a cup and blasting the goni with a turkey baster. That IMO would be bad. Anything else wouldn't be too bad but I believe it says to dump that into a high flow area of the tank.

Good on the refractometer, I'd still slowly bump to 1.026. API is an okay test but many say the results fluctuate quite a bit. I prefer Red Sea test kits for everything and feel quite comfortable with saying they are extremely accurate for hobby grade test kits.

Not really sure what the reading of 16 is for the Ca. It's generally measured in PPM and 370 or under would be bad. In the API kit I believe there is a page that tells you how to convert the number of drops into PPM.

API doesn't really have a low range test for Nitrate (no3) so you'll need a red sea kit to tell where it is, but with 8 fish, I doubt it is zero. Your corals would be pretty pale if it were zero.

 

[Roy 9121]

I am trying to understand Flowerpot behavior. I am used to a very happy outstretched flowerpot. But i see unusual behavior when I try to direct feed (I'm trying to be awesome). I tried Red Sea Reef Energy A&B - Coral Nutrition - and my flowerpot and toadstool retreated to looking dead for about a week then luckily they came back. In my mind I thought it was a bad product. All was well again then decided to try Photo Feast "Live" - the flowerpot has been flat for nearly a week.
So now I am wondering... are they flat because they have a full belly and the outstretched arms were seeking food? But whats the point of a flowerpot that doesn't show off. Based on past behavior Im anticipating it will come back to its former glory. But its being stubborn.
Thoughts?

Water levels very consistent
Temperature 76
Salinity 1.022
pH 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
kH 9
O2 6

Salinity is kind of low.

 

[anthonys51]

Your salt is low. Corals like 1.026. Also Goni are a hard coral to keep. To be honest we don't really fully understand why. Plus they are collected from any different area so each Goni might like different conditions. I would advise not feeding your corals. Most new people in the hobby have trouble with nutrients not trouble with corals dying from starvation. Also if your using API test kits to test your levels throw them out. I would use salifert or Hanna for alk.

 

[O'l Salty]

I don't feed mine at all. They are doing great and expanding. Green and red.

 

[PJS]

I would like to suggest that you only raise your salinity by 'a point an hour', raising too fast can be hard on the fish.
Good luck!

 

[Triggreef]

I don't feed mine at all. They are doing great and expanding. Green and red.

I don't feed mine at all either but I only would call success and growth with one at this time, a nice pink one that has doubled since last year. I also jsut recently got a sweet hot pink one with blue centers looking nice and happy so far.

I would like to suggest that you only raise your salinity by 'a point an hour', raising too fast can be hard on the fish.
Good luck!

Great point I should have mentioned. My suggestion for raising the SG would be to use regular salt water in your top off water for a week or so. Assuming you have an ATO. If not, invest in one even if its a cheap gravity feed one like I use.

 

[jd371]

Your salt is low. Corals like 1.026. Also Goni are a hard coral to keep. To be honest we don't really fully understand why. Plus they are collected from any different area so each Goni might like different conditions. I would advise not feeding your corals. Most new people in the hobby have trouble with nutrients not trouble with corals dying from starvation. Also if your using API test kits to test your levels throw them out. I would use salifert or Hanna for alk.

This could explain why one has great PE and the other none at all, both on the same rock.

 

[Reef Nutrition]

I am trying to understand Flowerpot behavior. I am used to a very happy outstretched flowerpot. But i see unusual behavior when I try to direct feed (I'm trying to be awesome). I tried Red Sea Reef Energy A&B - Coral Nutrition - and my flowerpot and toadstool retreated to looking dead for about a week then luckily they came back. In my mind I thought it was a bad product. All was well again then decided to try Photo Feast "Live" - the flowerpot has been flat for nearly a week.
So now I am wondering... are they flat because they have a full belly and the outstretched arms were seeking food? But whats the point of a flowerpot that doesn't show off. Based on past behavior Im anticipating it will come back to its former glory. But its being stubborn.
Thoughts?

Water levels very consistent
Temperature 76
Salinity 1.022
pH 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
kH 9
O2 6

Phyto-Feast Live is not an appropriate food for LPS corals. Our Oyster-Feast would have been a better choice. Since you have the algae, you can broadcast feed it to your tank, but be VERY conservative. The algae will feed the zooplankton and other soft corals in the system.

Chad

 

[Michael Brown]

Phyto-Feast Live is not an appropriate food for LPS corals. Our Oyster-Feast would have been a better choice. Since you have the algae, you can broadcast feed it to your tank, but be VERY conservative. The algae will feed the zooplankton and other soft corals in the system.

Chad

Thanks Chad - had two stores recommend it. Now when I tell them the flowerpot is 90% dead and still dwindling - they say its "impossible" for that to have happened and that I must have something else wrong. <grumble>

So i thought I was smart about it. I only did 5 drops, diluted it in a scoop of water, put it in a turkey baster, gave it a shake, left current moving - and did a few small drive by puffs. Im shocked that one of my favorite pieces could just go that easily. Sad - but I'm learning. I'll try out what folks suggested here. Pretty much scared now to feed corals. My toadstool is doing amazing (see my pic). I am leaving him alone.

 

[anthonys51]

I would feed your corals. It's almost like humans taking vitamins. Don't really think it does anything but make expensive urine. 20 years ago when I kept corals there was no food for them. And they grew and lived

 

[Reef Nutrition]

Thanks Chad - had two stores recommend it. Now when I tell them the flowerpot is 90% dead and still dwindling - they say its "impossible" for that to have happened and that I must have something else wrong. <grumble>

So i thought I was smart about it. I only did 5 drops, diluted it in a scoop of water, put it in a turkey baster, gave it a shake, left current moving - and did a few small drive by puffs. Im shocked that one of my favorite pieces could just go that easily. Sad - but I'm learning. I'll try out what folks suggested here. Pretty much scared now to feed corals. My toadstool is doing amazing (see my pic). I am leaving him alone.

Sorry to hear the stores gave you that recommendation. We send them feed charts so that they can use them for reference, but some don't look at them or post them in their store.

Chad

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

Try increasing the flow a bit for him.. maybe start using 'phytoplex' as a good source for your filter feeders... I've been keeping a red goniopora for the past few months in stellar condition. I've got him on my sandbed with med/high flow with medium lighting