GSP Coral Question

[SeaHorseQueen]

Hi, my GSP coral isn’t opening up. What might be going on with it? I’ve had it a couple of weeks. Tank is almost two years old (May) so it’s not brand new. Any ideas? I did a lot of serious tank cleaning today with a water change so it should help if something is off in nutrition wise. I don’t have a magnesium, cal/phos tests.

This was when I got it

 

[Homewrecker]

Have you tested your water? What fish do you have in there

 

[Jekyl]

Rocks seem pretty clean for a 2 year old tank. Have proper lighting? Using RODI? Parameters?

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

Have you tested your water? What fish do you have in there?

A pair of clownfish, a yellow watchman, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs and snails. I have to test the water yet. I pulled some from the tank before I did the water change and cleaning.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi, my GSP coral isn’t opening up. What might be going on with it? I’ve had it a couple of weeks. Tank is almost two years old (May) so it’s not brand new. Any ideas? I did a lot of serious tank cleaning today with a water change so it should help if something is off in nutrition wise. I don’t have a magnesium, cal/phos tests.

This was when I got it

Assure its getting medium flow and moderate light. Additionally assure phos level not elevated.
Addition of iron and manganese often perks them up

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

Rocks seem pretty clean for a 2 year old tank. Have proper lighting? Using RODI? Parameters?

I use RODI water with Fritz salt. It has a Coralife light. I’ll be testing the perimeters here in a moment. I have a thread on the tank if you want to see the tank’s journey. I’ve added two dry rocks but it’s been running since May 2022. Shrimp, crabs, and snails are happy.

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

Assure its getting medium flow and moderate light. Additionally assure phos level not elevated.
Addition of iron and manganese often perks them up

I moved it tonight for better flow. I’m hoping it’s not too high for the lights though.

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

This is with the light on just before posting. Is this a good spot?

 

[Homewrecker]

I think you need a little more flow in there

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is with the light on just before posting. Is this a good spot?

light should be adequate

 

[EricR]

I think you need a little more flow in there

Agreed...
To the OP, I don't see anything in the picture for any type of water movement, just two bubblers with sponge for aeration?
If so, you probably need at least one powerhead / wavemaker if you want to start adding corals.
*unless I just missed something in the picture

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

I think you need a little more flow in there

I’ve been going back and forth on a small wave maker. It used to have an hob filter but it died so I had to improvise. This is the current flow above but I think if I get a wave maker I could angle it between the middle to top?

 

[EricR]

Even a cheap wavemaker mounted on the side of the tank would get some flow going around your rockwork. *I doubt those bubblers are doing much of anything in terms of flow for the GSP on your rock

For thoughts, maybe post:
- tank size
- coral expectations, like are you planning to add more corals or was the GSP just something to try to see if it worked with your current setup?
- budget for wavemaker -- more $$$ = more options but I'm assuming you're looking for something cheap at this stage

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

Even a cheap wavemaker mounted on the side of the tank would get some flow going around your rockwork. *I doubt those bubblers are doing much of anything in terms of flow for the GSP on your rock

For thoughts, maybe post:
- tank size
- coral expectations, like are you planning to add more corals or was the GSP just something to try to see if it worked with your current setup?
- budget for wavemaker -- more $$$ = more options but I'm assuming you're looking for something cheap at this stage

They’re actually sponge filters. I’m looking to upgrade to a 46g this year (already have the tank). I’m just trying out this one and see how it goes in keeping them. Currently it’s a 20g H.

 

[DD Corals]

It could be possible if you didn't acclimate it to your tank correctly, it will stay closed for a little bit while it adjusts to your reef system.

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

Ok, so I have api kits. I know they’re not the best.

Before cleaning and WC:

Salinity: 0.025
Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 160 ppm

After 20% WC:

Salinity: 0.024
Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 160 ppm

I added prime before I took out the new water so I probably have bad readings for that but I’ll do a daily water change to lower the nitrates without crashing it. I can’t believe the nitrates stayed the same though.

 

[Roatan Reef]

Op...

You definitely need a wavemaker.

Bubble sponges ain't cutting it. Also, the Coral Life light needs to be upgraded too.

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

This is a question about soft corals, not for the SPS section.

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

It started to open up today.

So, this morning I retested before and after the water change. This morning, I did a 20% WC.

Before WC:

Salinity: 0.024
Ammonia: 0.5ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: sitting between 80 & 160. It’s a little lighter than last night but not quite 80.

Again, I dosed prime & stability last night so there could be some inaccuracy being it’s API tests as well

 

[SeaHorseQueen]

Op...

You definitely need a wavemaker.

Bubble sponges ain't cutting it. Also, the Coral Life light needs to be upgraded too.

What do you suggest for a 20g and 46g?