Help with Frog Spawn

[SudzFD]

Hey guys, this is one of my first posts, but I have been reading for a while now and love the advice.

My frogspawn has been unhappy lately. It seems like it is about a third the size it used to be and it closes up a lot more. I did just add a Jaebo WP25 wave maker to my tank. ITs been about 5 days and I expected a transition, but it seems to be taking a while now. I have the Jaebo on the lowest setting making waves (W1, S3) and I also have the wave maker off at night returning to just return filter flows like the tank used to have.

I have the powerhead aimed up and it seems to be creating just a gentle surge and not any direct batting of the corals. My grape bubble coral and pulsing xenia, were not happy for a couple days, but seems back to his old self fully inflated, but the frogspawn is not so open.

My parameters:

Ammonia, 0
Nitrite, O
Nitrate 0-10
ph 7.9 (A little low???)
Calcium, 475
Temp 79
Salinity 1.028

Here is a before pick when I had very low flow in the aquarium (its on the left between the flowers and the green stars):

And after I added the wave maker:

 

[Tab28]

PH is a bit low and salinity a bit high. What is your alk. I find euphyllia sensitive to my salinity level. I have a wp as well. The 40 and a 25 as well as a red sea wavemaker with 6 power heads on a 150 gallon. That setting is not that high unless it is a nano tank. How far away is the WP from the coral? I am guessing you are referring to the Bubble coral, physogyra, and not the grape coral euphyllia. Physogyra is more tolerate to changes than euphyllia.

 

[SudzFD]

Do you have good advice on raising and maintaining the pH? I typically just do water changes and haven't had much luck with adding buffers and things.

I'm not sure it's related to the salinity. I typically keep my tank at that level, but I realize it's on the high side.

Where do you keep your salinity at for best results?

 

[oceangirl2009]

I add the Kent marine buffer, others dose kalk (definitely do your research if you go that method). I would say the change in flow is the main culprit, I would try moving the coral or the power head. Or you could just leave it and it will probably adjust over time, but I would seriously keep an eye on it and move it if it starts to look really bad.

 

[Sicklid]

What about the temperature of the tank? Try to keep it stable, Euphyllia corals can be sensitive to any swing on temperature. I try to keep mine on 77-78 F.

 

[SudzFD]

I would say overall it is looking better than a few days ago and so I am pretty sure it is flow related. Hopefully it is slowly acclimating. It looks healthy overall and it seemed to eat when I target fed today.

The temp has been stable at 79, and everything is as it was other than the pH, it went from 8.2 to 7.9 since the wave maker was added. I'm not sure if that is coincidence or related in someway??

I will try the buffer and keep an eye on the frogspawn and see if it continues to improve.

I'd love to hear any other thoughts by anyone too. Thanks!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Need to test for ALK and MAG also, as these guys need that to grow. Also, did I read to fast and miss it? What lights is it under?

 

[Tab28]

Your salinity goes up or down only when it is not mixed right. Or you have a massive evaporation issue. Since water evaporates but the salt does not. Ph, alk, calcium and magnesium are connected. If not stable with each other you will not be able to maintain alk/ph and calcium at stable levels. You will always be adding buffers.

 

[13jake]

I have a frogspawn like that and I usually have my calcium 420 and it grows great. Also my dad had one of my frogspawn frags and it had been closed completely for about a month and I got it to come back so don't worry it can be closed for a long time.

 

[SudzFD]

Need to test for ALK and MAG also, as these guys need that to grow. Also, did I read to fast and miss it? What lights is it under?

It I under Marineland Reef LED's (YES I know some people hate them, but all of my corals including this frogspawn were/are very happy since I switched from my power compacts). The lighting has been used or a while now, and the coral grew under this light so I don't think that is the issue.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Your right, I don't think your lights are the issue, 1 watt LEDs would be the least amount of light I'd put them under.
Gotta be the water. Are you able to check for ALK and MAG?

 

[SudzFD]

I don't have those test kits but I will take a sample down to the LFS. What parameters do you recommend on those two (Since I don't trust the LFS guy enough to tell me anything that doesn't result in selling more products) !

 

[jasonp87]

I don't have those test kits but I will take a sample down to the LFS. What parameters do you recommend on those two (Since I don't trust the LFS guy enough to tell me anything that doesn't result in selling more products) !

Where are you in southern cali? I can maybe suggest a couple good LFS that you may end up loving. If you're in the area you should also come by San Diego Reef Forums

 

[SudzFD]

I'm in North Orange County. I have a good guy I go to but I have to drive past 3 others to get to him and not sure I can do that tomorrow. I will probably just go to the closest guy to get some readings.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I don't have those test kits but I will take a sample down to the LFS. What parameters do you recommend on those two (Since I don't trust the LFS guy enough to tell me anything that doesn't result in selling more products) !

ALK- 7-12dKH
MAG- 1250-1350

 

[SudzFD]

So, the LFS guy said he didn't have an alkalinity test :/. He acted like my pH wasn't the issue. (This is the better LFS guy too). He maintains mostly corals so, I more or less trust him. He thinks it's the flow, and I feel the same way. I moved the frag into a little nook in the live rock where it has plenty of light and room but is more protected from the current.

I also will do a 20% water change

Thank you all for the insights. I will update with any changes !

Another thought I had was the frag was very close to my Jasmine polyps. Perhaps they were stinging the frogspawn?

 

[SudzFD]

So, my frogspawn seems to be appreciating the move. It seems to be open longer and maybe 25% fuller. I think it must mostly be adjusting to flow. Thanks all for the input