Frogspawn - any ideas why it is shrinking?

[reddogf5]

this coral was put in this tank about a month ago, and has been sort of shrinking the last two weeks. The nearly gone head facing the camera used to be the size of the one on top. Any ideas what I should look for?
the other pieces of this coral are in another tank and doing very well. Primary difference is the other tank has more light and is a bit warmer. I don’t test this tank a lot, but it gets half gallon water changes weekly (tanks is ~2.7 gallons). It gets fed 3 times a week with a little reef chili and coral chili

98125-E79-6-F19-4-BAF-93-F2-B092-DA6116-E3 hosted at ImgBB

Image 98125-E79-6-F19-4-BAF-93-F2-B092-DA6116-E3 hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

 

[Nem1clownfish2]

Are your water parameters good?

 

[RedReefer]

From the picture it looks like some of the heads are dying. Tell us a little about your tank. Water?

 

[LeftyReefer]

Gonna be hard to offer any help when nobody knows the water parameters in this tank.
Testing the water would probably be a good place to start.

 

[Rubberfrog]

That frog looks like its about to croak.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[Nem1clownfish2]

Please post you water prams.

 

[reddogf5]

SG 1.027
Nitrates 0
Ammonia 0
Ca 450
Alk 5.4-5.6 dkh

Not sure why the alkalinity is so low, until Tuesday the only thing in the tank was the one coral. Baking some baking soda to raise the alk, but where is it going? The salt mixes up at 8.1 dkh at 1.026 SG

 

[Nem1clownfish2]

Your water prams are OK. I don't know way your frogspawn is shrinking I would just what it out and see what happens. Tell us if it gets worse.

 

[reddogf5]

Your water prams are OK. I don't know way your frogspawn is shrinking I would just what it out and see what happens. Tell us if it gets worse.

LOL, thanks for being honest.
Sometimes I wish someone would post a list of which water parameters at what levels cause which issues.
I did a water change yesterday and added a little sodium carbonate, alkalinity is at 8.6, coral still looks sad.

 

[JosephM]

I would work on getting your alk to at LEAST 7. And euphyllia likes the water a little dirty so the zero nitrates is a little concerning. Do you have a test for P04?

 

[reddogf5]

I would work on getting your alk to at LEAST 7. And euphyllia likes the water a little dirty so the zero nitrates is a little concerning. Do you have a test for P04?

It's up to 8.6 now, I have no idea what made it drop. I can test for Phosphate, what level would you say is optimal? The tank this coral came from runs 0.0 - 0.5 ppm nitrates and 0-0.018 ppm phosphates, and the are all doing very well.

 

[JosephM]

It's up to 8.6 now, I have no idea what made it drop. I can test for Phosphate, what level would you say is optimal? The tank this coral came from runs 0.0 - 0.5 ppm nitrates and 0-0.018 ppm phosphates, and the are all doing very well.

That’s a good alk number. 0.5 is okay, some people like to run low nitrates. I run mine higher because I have overpowered export methods and a mixed reef with a lot of softies. .018 is a good number too just be careful not to zero out on either of those.

 

[Frogspon]

SG 1.027
Nitrates 0
Ammonia 0
Ca 450
Alk 5.4-5.6 dkh

Not sure why the alkalinity is so low, until Tuesday the only thing in the tank was the one coral. Baking some baking soda to raise the alk, but where is it going? The salt mixes up at 8.1 dkh at 1.026 SG

Your salinity is way too high and the alk is way too low.

Mine will BLOSSOM when I dose Alk or top off with RO. I aim for 1.025 and 8-9 alk

Slowly move them. One at a time. SLOWLY

 

[JumboShrimp]

Welcome to R2R. You will get good help here.

 

[JosephM]

Your salinity is way too high and the alk is way too low.

Mine will BLOSSOM when I dose Alk or top off with RO. I aim for 1.025 and 8-9 alk

Slowly move them. One at a time. SLOWLY

Salinity is not way too high. NSW is 1.0264 (I run my tank at this)

 

[Frogspon]

Salinity is not way too high. NSW is 1.0264 (I run my tank at this)

Doubt it was wild caught. The tank it came from was probably 1.024 max.

 

[JosephM]

Doubt it was wild caught. The tank it came from was probably 1.024 max.

It’s a possibility. Everyone has their own opinions, my LFS runs their coral tanks at 1.026.

 

[Frogspon]

It’s a possibility. Everyone has their own opinions, my LFS runs their coral tanks at 1.026.

idk. i've picked up corals from the LFS and when I checked the salinity it was 1.019 yikes

 

[John A!10]

35ppt or 1.026 seems to be the most common salinity.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Anything else stressed out coralwise? How are lighting and flow?

Not a single question regarding magnesium? Your alk in bouncing around which typically means an imbalance.