HELP I'M LOSING MY CORALS!

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

I need to ID this. I have been battling high phosphates and low nitrates for some time now which has caused some hair algae. Everyone looked happy enough but then this white stuff came up and both of my hammers and my frogspawn are very unhappy and seem to be dying. I do have some flow issues I have been trying to fix could this be a fungus? It is very soft and when I remove it looks like cotton. It does have the appearance of a worm in some areas but it does not move and fall apart when brushed off. It is spreading like wildfire and I fear if I can't control it will kill everything.

WisReef · Apr 4, 2022

Can you tell us more about your tank and your parameters. How long have you had this coral? Other than your hammer/frogspawn, is anything else acting different?

WisReef · Apr 4, 2022

You could try pulling the coral and doing an iodine dip. Are you running any carbon?

SlugSnorter · Apr 4, 2022

xdcbenoitxd said:
I need to ID this. I have been battling high phosphates and low nitrates for some time now which has caused some hair algae. Everyone looked happy enough but then this white stuff came up and both of my hammers and my frogspawn are very unhappy and seem to be dying. I do have some flow issues I have been trying to fix could this be a fungus? It is very soft and when I remove it looks like cotton. It does have the appearance of a worm in some areas but it does not move and fall apart when brushed off. It is spreading like wildfire and I fear if I can't control it will kill everything.

params, tank age, I don't think this is a hitchhiker issue

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

My salinity is 1.025
My phosphate is about .025
nitrates are always about 0 have been having to dose
magnesium about 1360
dKH 8
calcium 360
pH ranges between 7.8-8.2 Need a better test this one is hard to read
I do believe I have some flow issues
This was someone else's tank and figured out the hard way that she had many hitchhikers.
My Zoas, Duncans, blastomussa, xenia and GSP are doing just fine.

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

WisReef said:
You could try pulling the coral and doing an iodine dip. Are you running any carbon?

I did a coral RX dip and yes I am running Carbon

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

SlugSnorter said:
params, tank age, I don't think this is a hitchhiker issue

My salinity is 1.025
My phosphate is about .025
nitrates are always about 0 have been having to dose
magnesium about 1360
dKH 8
calcium 360
pH ranges between 7.8-8.2 Need a better test this one is hard to read
I do believe I have some flow issues
This was someone else's tank and figured out the hard way that she had many hitchhikers.
My Zoas, Duncans, blastomussa, xenia and GSP are doing just fine.

The tank is about 6 months old

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

WisReef said:
Can you tell us more about your tank and your parameters. How long have you had this coral? Other than your hammer/frogspawn, is anything else acting different?

My salinity is 1.025
My phosphate is about .025
nitrates are always about 0 have been having to dose
magnesium about 1360
dKH 8
calcium 360
pH ranges between 7.8-8.2 Need a better test this one is hard to read
I do believe I have some flow issues
This was someone else's tank and figured out the hard way that she had many hitchhikers.
My Zoas, Duncans, blastomussa, xenia and GSP are doing just fine.

Surfandturf · Apr 4, 2022

Calcium is pretty low.

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

Surfandturf said:
Calcium is pretty low.

I know I was gone for a week and the babysitter didn't dose it by accident. I'm gradually working it up

WisReef · Apr 4, 2022

Your pH really isn't too bad; especially if its not having big swings in a 24 hour period. As mentioned above, you Ca is low and then the 0 nitrates is a problem. Either increase your feedings or decrease your skimmer time/turn it off for a while to see if it makes a difference.

Since you've already dipped it, I'm not sure how much there is left for you to do other than make sure your parameters are ideal. I'm not sure that all the heads will be salvageable but hopefully you can keep them from getting worse.

What kind of flow issues are you having?

MaxTremors · Apr 4, 2022

xdcbenoitxd said:
My salinity is 1.025
My phosphate is about .025
nitrates are always about 0 have been having to dose
magnesium about 1360
dKH 8
calcium 360
pH ranges between 7.8-8.2 Need a better test this one is hard to read
I do believe I have some flow issues
This was someone else's tank and figured out the hard way that she had many hitchhikers.
My Zoas, Duncans, blastomussa, xenia and GSP are doing just fine.

What test kits are you using? If your phosphate is 0.025, it’s actually low, if it’s 0.25, it’s high. Based on the number you gave, I’m assuming you’re using API. If that’s the case I would recommend getting some more accurate, higher resolution.

reeftankdude · Apr 4, 2022

MaxTremors said:
What test kits are you using? If your phosphate is 0.025, it’s actually low, if it’s 0.25, it’s high. Based on the number you gave, I’m assuming you’re using API. If that’s the case I would recommend getting some more accurate, higher resolution.

What are the best phosphate kits. Thanks

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

WisReef said:
Your pH really isn't too bad; especially if its not having big swings in a 24 hour period. As mentioned above, you Ca is low and then the 0 nitrates is a problem. Either increase your feedings or decrease your skimmer time/turn it off for a while to see if it makes a difference.

Since you've already dipped it, I'm not sure how much there is left for you to do other than make sure your parameters are ideal. I'm not sure that all the heads will be salvageable but hopefully you can keep them from getting worse.

What kind of flow issues are you having?

I can't seem to get it right. Either I am blasting the corals or there is not enough. My xenia was struggling so I have been going on the low side since this seems to be what they're happy with but now I have dead spots everywhere

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

MaxTremors said:
What test kits are you using? If your phosphate is 0.025, it’s actually low, if it’s 0.25, it’s high. Based on the number you gave, I’m assuming you’re using API. If that’s the case I would recommend getting some more accurate, higher resolution.

Hi you're right it is API I am going to order a hanna checker but can't seem to get them down to make a differance. I used GFO but it comes back. I think I may need a switch in food.

Surfandturf · Apr 4, 2022

xdcbenoitxd said:
I can't seem to get it right. Either I am blasting the corals or there is not enough. My xenia was struggling so I have been going on the low side since this seems to be what they're happy with but now I have dead spots everywhere

So here is the deal with the whole flow thing. Don't try to adjust the flow in a tank for just one coral. Unless its the only one you have. It has been my experience that you will do this to the detriment of all other living things in the tank. The same can be said for lighting. Move the coral that is unhappy to a different location until you find a spot that works.

Macdaddynick1 · Apr 4, 2022

xdcbenoitxd said:
I need to ID this. I have been battling high phosphates and low nitrates for some time now which has caused some hair algae. Everyone looked happy enough but then this white stuff came up and both of my hammers and my frogspawn are very unhappy and seem to be dying. I do have some flow issues I have been trying to fix could this be a fungus? It is very soft and when I remove it looks like cotton. It does have the appearance of a worm in some areas but it does not move and fall apart when brushed off. It is spreading like wildfire and I fear if I can't control it will kill everything.

That's just a sponge. Harmless one. Check your parameters.

xdcbenoitxd · Apr 4, 2022

Surfandturf said:
So here is the deal with the whole flow thing. Don't try to adjust the flow in a tank for just one coral. Unless its the only one you have. It has been my experience that you will do this to the detriment of all other living things in the tank. The same can be said for lighting. Move the coral that is unhappy to a different location until you find a spot that works.

That's what I tried originally but could not find a happy spot. I may have to move it to my quarntine and rehome it.