Frags not opening

Royce White · May 24, 2017

I have frags not opening, some as long as 2 months. They may open partially. When new they may remain open 1 week to two weeks but then close. I have moved them from middle of tank to the bottom, 3 weeks ago. Water checks out to be fine. Cut lighting from 216 watts to 108 watts of LED lights. Older corals are doing fine. frags are frogspawn, hammer coral, duncan coral and others.
any suggestions.

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 24, 2017

What are your parameters? They tend to like lower flow moderate lighting.

melypr1985 · May 24, 2017

Can you post pictures and the numbers for your water parameters? Alk, Ca, Mg as well? Flow is important as mentioned above. They won't like strong flow and will stay closed up to protect their tissue from damage.

Royce White · May 25, 2017

Thank you for your reply. The parameters are right where they are supposed to be as per my test and the test at the LFS/ I will cut back on flow to 400 GPH and see if that helps. All frags are now on the bottom of the tank and I have cut lighting back to 108 watts from 216 watts. The Duncan corals are partly shaded and blocked from strong current I am fairly new to saltwater, 1yr. so any advice I can get from people that know is greatly appreciated. Thank you again and I will let you know the results.

Mr.Rocc · May 25, 2017

I would get some numbers so we can see exactly where the parameters are at. Could be a phosphate spike if your over feeding. I ran into something like that and it closed up some of my corals. But try to give us as many details as you can.

Royce White · May 25, 2017

Thank you. Salinity 1.023-1.024, - Ammonia 0 - PH 8.4- nitrite 0-nitrate o- Ca 400+- Mg checked fine at the LFS. ALK 143.2. Temp 77 -78.
I will send pictures tomorrow, battery dead. They just look like tightly closed up frags.

Royce White · May 25, 2017

Phosphate .023- sorry about that

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 25, 2017

Corals do feed off nitrates but that wont stop them from opening.

Royce White · May 25, 2017

Do you suggest that I lat nitrates come up a little?

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 25, 2017

At least 10 to 15

Zack K · May 25, 2017

Your corals are starving. LPS and especially euphyillia need nitrate and phosphate to survive.

Best Fish-Jake · May 26, 2017

I keep my nitrates and phosphates undetectable and my euphyllia do amazing. Pictures will definetly help.

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 26, 2017

Best Fish-Jake said:
I keep my nitrates and phosphates undetectable and my euphyllia do amazing. Pictures will definetly help.

What kind of test do you use and are you testing for low range?

Best Fish-Jake · May 26, 2017

Shaddow_wolf169 said:
What kind of test do you use and are you testing for low range?

Salifert as well as an occasional API(both less than 1 yr old). On these kits, I consistently receive an undetectable reading (although the kits have a hard time displaying anything less than 2 ppm) obviously I have a steady production of nitrates as my tank is full of livestock, but nearly all of it is constantly being used up, and skimmed out, giving me a reading of "like none" for free floating nitrate.

Royce White · May 27, 2017

Here are the pictures I promised. You say that I need to increase phosphates and nitrate so that means that I should remove the bag of purigen I have in the sump?