Help! My Duncan is not doing well

[SwiftStorm]

Hi, not sure what is going on with my duncan. It was in a biocube for a years or so, then we moved it to a 75 gallon. The 75 gallon was a combo from the biocube 29 and a nuvo 40. Most of the live rock and sand came with livestock.

The 75 is in it's 9th week of running. Parameters are all good with the exception of high nitrate level of 20-40. Hard to read, but consistent from the smaller tanks. The first month was great and the duncan really reached out. Last week I noticed 1 head was closing up. I moved it to the other side hoping it would like that location better. Now that head looks dead and another closely behind.

Any suggestions?

 

[Spare time]

What is your alkalinity at?

 

[SwiftStorm]

8.2

 

[Spare time]

Have you changed your light schedule or anything at all?

 

[SwiftStorm]

Lights were changed with new tank. Now we have radion 15s. Duncan flourished within a day or 2 with the new lights.

 

[tankstudy]

I'd check your ammonia just to be safe.

 

[SwiftStorm]

ammonia is barely .1

added a couple fish a month ago and 6 line didn't like them

 

[Spare time]

Lights were changed with new tank. Now we have radion 15s. Duncan flourished within a day or 2 with the new lights.

I would feed it if you can (and keep nitrates down if possible). Avoid moving it to much. Otherwise I am not sure unless your alkalinity is swinging too much daily

 

[najer]

How much flow is it getting, maybe try a lower flow spot.
As mentioned above they can sulk for a week or two when moved.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Moderate lighting and water flow. One thing that causes what is shown in your pics are high salinity.
Verify your salinity, even get a second opinion by taking a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test and verify the readings and compare with your tests

 

[SwiftStorm]

The second shot has lower flow than the original. My salinity is 1.025

 

[klimfish]

The second shot has lower flow than the original. My salinity is 1.025

Are you using calibration fluid for your refractometer?

 

[SwiftStorm]

No, I have a new tester coming soon for future comparisons. I will try borrowing one.

 

[jason17star]

My duncan grew way faster in slightly dirtier water.

 

[Aswswild]

My duncan grew way faster in slightly dirtier water.

Yea mine did to I could not kill it it was about the only thing that lived besides my clam

 

[klimfish]

No, I have a new tester coming soon for future comparisons. I will try borrowing one.

Good call on the new one, mine was once way off and I had no idea.

 

[SwiftStorm]

My new tester came in today and it reads very close to refractometer. Duncan is opening up again with more heads. Very cool to see those heads close up and split.

Thanks everyone

 

[Scrubber_steve]

What is your PO4 reading?