Help coral newbie with trumpet question

[AC0DX]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I really don't want to kill a coral. Is this normal for a trumpet coral? Both heads on it are splitting, but what is going on at the base of them?

 

[Birddog]

It's a little hard for me to tell with the photos, but they look fine. They're a great beginner coral and are pretty resilient. One of my first coral purchases when I first started reefing 9+ years ago. Their health and growth can really be accentuated by feeding. I fed mine mysid shrimp every other day and it went from two heads to 50+ in what seemed like 6 months or less.

 

[Softhammer]

Solid advice there. It looks fine, once they adapt they grow like weeds. As stated above they are voracious eaters. Feed them!

 

[DirtMcGurt]

If you're talking about the white patch, in the 1st pic, then it could be tissue necrosis. It's hard to say since I can't really see the line. If there is one. The heads look ok tho and the other members gave some good advice.

 

[AC0DX]

If you're talking about the white patch, in the 1st pic, then it could be tissue necrosis. It's hard to say since I can't really see the line. If there is one. The heads look ok tho and the other members gave some good advice.

It almost looks like it is pulling the tissue apart as the corals "stretch"

 

[AC0DX]

It's a little hard for me to tell with the photos, but they look fine. They're a great beginner coral and are pretty resilient. One of my first coral purchases when I first started reefing 9+ years ago. Their health and growth can really be accentuated by feeding. I fed mine mysid shrimp every other day and it went from two heads to 50+ in what seemed like 6 months or less.

I have target fed them Reef Roids every other day.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Reef roids are great. That will definitely help them. Do you have any other LPS coral in your tank? If so, how do they look?
Also, how old is your tank?

 

[Birddog]

I have target fed them Reef Roids every other day.

Nothing wrong with feeding Reef Roids, they're awesome and I use the product multilple times per week mostly for my SPS. Mysid shrimp are a little more substantial / meaty for LPS

 

[AC0DX]

Reef roids are great. That will definitely help them. Do you have any other LPS coral in your tank? If so, how do they look?
Also, how old is your tank?

I don't have any other LPS. I have a frag of GSP and Colt Coral. They look fine. The tank is over a year old.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

How do your nutrient levels look? Like, your Nitrate and Phosphate levels.

 

[AC0DX]

How do your nutrient levels look? Like, your Nitrate and Phosphate levels.

I will measure them tonight and post them

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Ok. I ask because I was having a lot of trouble with my coral, mostly LPS, and it was because my P04 and NO3 were out of balance. It caused tissue necrosis and the most of the coral wouldn't open up all the way

 

[AC0DX]

Ok. I ask because I was having a lot of trouble with my coral, mostly LPS, and it was because my P04 and NO3 were out of balance. It caused tissue necrosis and the most of the coral wouldn't open up all the way

I really appreciate that. I did a 25% water change earlier, so I want to let the system settle a bit and then I am going to take all my readings. I was not successful with coral my first go round. But I also let my system get out of whack. I let the tank just run with a couple of fish for the last 4 months. So this is my second attempt.

 

[AC0DX]

I really appreciate that. I did a 25% water change earlier, so I want to let the system settle a bit and then I am going to take all my readings. I was not successful with coral my first go round. But I also let my system get out of whack. I let the tank just run with a couple of fish for the last 4 months. So this is my second attempt.

ALK 11
CAL 500
Mag 1500
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Salinity 1.025
Temp 78.5

 

[DirtMcGurt]

You'll want to get the N03 and P04 up a bit. My parameters looked like yours and the low nutrients were keeping my corals from thriving. You can try to feed more but I could never get my P04 up enough like that. I had to start dosing P04 and even N03 from time to time. It really made a difference in my tank.

 

[AC0DX]

How do you dose? What product?

 

[DirtMcGurt]

I used Brightwell's Neophos and Neonitro. There are other brands and there are also some diy solutions but I have never tried anything else. A lot of people say it works just as well. Any kind of measurable N03 and P04 is better than zero but typically between 2ppm and 10 ppm for Nitrate levels. For Phosphate shoot for levels between 0.02 ppm and 0.08 ppm. Be sure to use accurate test kits and dose manually. Also, remove any GFO if you're using any. There needs to be a balance between N03 and P04. I've found that each tank is different so your levels may or may not match others.

 

[AC0DX]

I used Brightwell's Neophos and Neonitro. There are other brands and there are also some diy solutions but I have never tried anything else. A lot of people say it works just as well. Any kind of measurable N03 and P04 is better than zero but typically between 2ppm and 10 ppm for Nitrate levels. For Phosphate shoot for levels between 0.02 ppm and 0.08 ppm. Be sure to use accurate test kits and dose manually. Also, remove any GFO if you're using any. There needs to be a balance between N03 and P04. I've found that each tank is different so your levels may or may not match others.

What test kits do you like?

 

[DirtMcGurt]

I started out with an API because of its price but its not that great in my opinion. I now use Red Sea tests. From what I've heard, others like NYOS for testing Nitrates and Hanna for Phosphate. If you get a Hannah check make sure you're getting the correct one. There is a Phosphate test and a Phosphorous test. I believe the Phosphate kit comes in high and low range as well. Many people love Salifert too. They are affordable and accurate. I use Red Sea for the cost and the color comparator with the N03 and P04 tests.