Help save my Favia!

[Kmore1219]

Hey everyone, so my LFS gave me this favia on Sunday and it seems to not like my tank at all. I have some zoas from the same place that are doing awesome, even grown a new head already. Im fairly new to corals so don't know what could be causing this little guy so much stress.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Have you tested parameters?
Salinity
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrates
Phosphates?

 

[Robink]

Doesn't look good...
what are your parameters? I'm gonna guess that the problem lies there....

 

[Ljaus]

As requested parameters please also what lights you are using and photoperiod. Was it placed high up in the tank or on the bottom?

 

[Kmore1219]

I can get the parameters checked tomorrow bit late right now for it, as for the placement it is on the sand bed under an arch, I was told to try and keep it out of light for awhile. The lights come on at around 10am and then turn off at around 8pm with those final 4 hours being the blues only.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thing about coral is, they depend on stable parameters. Next to nutrient testing, the three most important being Ca, Alk and mag. Those three are the building blocks for coral. If any of those elements are insufficient, the result can be death. You need to get an idea of what parameters your tank needs and focus on that. The rest will fall into place and that includes coral health. Good luck! Sometimes this stuff happens.

 

[Kmore1219]

Alright so I've got my water tested, hopefully someone can point out where I'm going wrong. Also couldn't get the magnesium, all out of that test.
Salinity-1.026
Ph- 7.8
Nitrate-0
Calcium- 420
Phosphate- 0
Alk- 12 dKH

 

[reeferfoxx]

Alright so I've got my water tested, hopefully someone can point out where I'm going wrong. Also couldn't get the magnesium, all out of that test.
Salinity-1.026
Ph- 7.8
Nitrate-0
Calcium- 420
Phosphate- 0
Alk- 12 dKH

I will say your alk is really high for little to no nutrients. That might be the problem.

 

[Kmore1219]

I will say your alk is really high for little to no nutrients. That might be the problem.

Thanks! Is there anything I should be doing to change the alk, pretty much all I do in my tank is water changes since its only 20 gal, last time I changed was sunday for 20%.

 

[reeferfoxx]

You can reduce water changes, increase nutrients, add another fish, turn off skimmer, reduce alk in fresh mix with muriatic acid, or purchase lower alk salt mix. These are just a few options.

 

[Ljaus]

Just out of curiosity did you acclimatise the acan to your water or just put it in the tank? As reeferfoxx has said your alk is high for the low to no nutrients and if your water is vastly different to the lfs water it may have shocked or burnt the acan.

 

[Kmore1219]

Just out of curiosity did you acclimatise the acan to your water or just put it in the tank? As reeferfoxx has said your alk is high for the low to no nutrients and if your water is vastly different to the lfs water it may have shocked or burnt the acan.

Yeah I acclimated it, he was good for a day and then he started going downhill.

 

[Robink]

Get your own tests so you don't have to rely on LFS. They generally use the cheap ones anyway. I use red sea. Salifert is also a good test.
If you're doing weekly water changes you only need to do 10%.
I suggest testing your own parameters weekly so you know what your tank needs. Every tank is different. FWIW I test my alk everyday and manually dose to keep my alk stable. All others I test weekly and adjust dosing from test results.
It's a learning process. Don't worry and take it slow. Everything will fall into place.
Good luck with your tank!!

 

[Breakthecycle2]

So, with low nutrient systems, ALK should be low. What about in "high nutrient" systems? Say PHO-.08 and Nitrates 10-20?

 

[reeferfoxx]

So, with low nutrient systems, ALK should be low. What about in "high nutrient" systems? Say PHO-.08 and Nitrates 10-20?

There isn't anything set in stone, but 8.5-12 would be good if nutrients were maintained. Otherwise 8.5 to 9.5 would be good if you felt like lowering no and po.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

There isn't anything set in stone, but 8.5-12 would be good if nutrients were maintained. Otherwise 8.5 to 9.5 would be good if you felt like lowering no and po.

If you get a chance, please check my other thread I just made. Thanks.

 

[reeferfoxx]

If you get a chance, please check my other thread I just made. Thanks.

What thread?