Frogspawn puffing but not extending

[cambowrin]

Hi everyone I am new to reefing and got a frogspawn roughly 3/4 months ago. When I bought it from the lfs it was fully extended and happy for about 2/3 months and has recently just began to puff. My parameters are still in a ideal range:
Salinty: 1.026/35ppt
Ammonia/Nitrite :0/0
Nitrate: 0ppm
Phosphate: 0ppm
Ph:8.0
Calcium:440ppm
Alk:13
Im using Reef crystals as my salt and as such I have a higher alkalinity. I have also had a green hair algae problem and have removed it with a tooth brush for now. Which probably explains the 0 nitrates/phosphate. Any tips to help this frogspawn?

 

[Djordan719]

What's the temperature?

 

[CoralB]

Test again but your nitrates and phosphates need to not be zero !,!!
Nitrates should be between 10-15 ppm and phosphates should be between 0.05 and 0.1 once you get these parameters up you must never let them zero out again as not only will it harm your coral but will bring on Dino’s. You can dose nitrates and phosphates

 

[cambowrin]

What's the temperature?

The temp is at 79 f

 

[cambowrin]

Test again but your nitrates and phosphates need to not be zero !,!!
Nitrates should be between 10-15 ppm and phosphates should be between 0.05 and 0.1 once you get these parameters up you must never let them zero out again as not only will it harm your coral but will bring on Dino’s

So should I dose nitrate and phos even with the gha?

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Your alk is high if it is at 13 dkh. I suggest slowly lowering it over the next couple weeks to between 8-10 dkh. I use Reef Crystals as well, alk is around 10 at 1.026 sg.

 

[cambowrin]

Your alk is high if it is at 13 dkh. I suggest slowly lowering it over the next couple weeks to between 8-10 dkh. I use Reef Crystals as well, alk is around 10 at 1.026 sg.

Would I have to change salts? As the reef crystals produce 13 dkh normally. I haven’t found in articles finding issues with the brand either which makes it very confusing.

 

[CoralB]

You have rid the gha .tuxedo urchins , Mexican turbo snails and manual removal works but as long as your phosphates and nitrates are at complete zero you are asking for more trouble . Even cutting your lights out for three days can help , total black out .

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Would I have to change salts? As the reef crystals produce 13 dkh normally. I haven’t found in articles finding issues with the brand either which makes it very confusing.

I would double check your salinity. Also, what are you using to test salinity and alk?

 

[cambowrin]

I would double check your salinity. Also, what are you using to test salinity and alk?

My salinity is at 1.026/35ppm. My hyrdometer and refractometer are giving the same reading

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

My salinity is at 1.026/35ppm. My hyrdometer and refractometer are giving the same reading

Ok. That's strange it mixes that high. It is always around 10 dkh for me. Is it always that high?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would not make drastic changes. Maybe raise it a little to get more light. I agree with reefermatt to try to lower the alk, 13 is too high IMO. I would monitor the phosphate and nitrate carefully, but again, don’t make drastic changes. Only slow slight changes. The leather up front looks good so your tank can handle corals, probably just a slight tweak is needed.

 

[cambowrin]

Ok. That's strange it mixes that high. It is always around 10 dkh for me. Is it always that high?

Yes its always around that level for me, its what the tank has been running on for a year. Heres also a chart that shows the difference between salts I found
https://images.app.goo.gl/w98vHwYN2c1vF23LA

 

[cambowrin]

I would not make drastic changes. Maybe raise it a little to get more light. I agree with reefermatt to try to lower the alk, 13 is too high IMO. I would monitor the phosphate and nitrate carefully, but again, don’t make drastic changes. Only slow slight changes. The leather up front looks good so your tank can handle corals, probably just a slight tweak is needed.

Is there anyway of naturally lowering the Alk without lowering my salinity?

 

[CoralB]

Water changes with a salt mix of lower alk values

 

[CoralB]

Ok. That's strange it mixes that high. It is always around 10 dkh for me. Is it always that high?

In some cases settling during shipment can make for uneven parameters in salt . Try mixing the salt before or when opening a new container to get a more uniform parameter results

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Would I have to change salts? As the reef crystals produce 13 dkh normally. I haven’t found in articles finding issues with the brand either which makes it very confusing.

My IORC Alk is around 11 freshly mixed. I would check your alkalinity with another test.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

In some cases settling during shipment can make for uneven parameters in salt . Try mixing the salt before or when opening a new container to get a more uniform parameter results

^^^ This

 

[cambowrin]

My IORC Alk is around 11 freshly mixed. I would check your alkalinity with another test.

^^^ This

I will try shaking the bucket to see if I test a different alk, I will probably switch to red sea (blue bucket) from now on to have a lower alk range. My tank isn’t as nearly stocked with corals as I see others, just a couple of soft corals, lps frags and one sps coral. I probably should be aiming around 7/8dkh for my system

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Hi everyone I am new to reefing and got a frogspawn roughly 3/4 months ago. When I bought it from the lfs it was fully extended and happy for about 2/3 months and has recently just began to puff. My parameters are still in a ideal range:
Salinty: 1.026/35ppt
Ammonia/Nitrite :0/0
Nitrate: 0ppm
Phosphate: 0ppm
Ph:8.0
Calcium:440ppm
Alk:13
Im using Reef crystals as my salt and as such I have a higher alkalinity. I have also had a green hair algae problem and have removed it with a tooth brush for now. Which probably explains the 0 nitrates/phosphate. Any tips to help this frogspawn?

That does not look like a frogspawn to me...