How Do My Corals Look

[Reef Devils]

Not all, most can slough off detritus. It’s a good practice to gently do that before water changes for the rocks though.

Ok thanks for the advice!

 

[blaxsun]

Lighting, flow and (stable) parameters - as mentioned above from several others - are key.

* Flowerpots can be temperamental at times (flow is important)
* Birds nests can be finicky (stable parameters help)

Q: Is that a 0.9ppm phosphate reading or 0.09ppm?
Q: Do you run any GFO in a reactor (etc.) in your tank?

(Sorry if I missed answers to the above in earlier replies).

 

[Viking_Reefing]

No major issues imo. Most thing look happy. I would however get those alk swings under control and lower n and p somewhat.
A fuge would probably work wonders…although I find that they are generally better at binding nitrates than phosphates.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

No major issues imo. Most thing look happy. I would however get those alk swings under control and lower n and p somewhat.
A fuge would probably work wonders…although I find that they are generally better at binding nitrates than phosphates.

I understand the nitrate phosphate thing and people driving lower nutrient systems but mine is thriving on .1 phos and 44 nitrate no issues or algae coraline growing encrusting of sps so if its working for his system why does he need to lower? Jw tbh cause i never understood the ultra low nutrient systems....

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I understand the nitrate phosphate thing and people driving lower nutrient systems but mine is thriving on .1 phos and 44 nitrate no issues or algae coraline growing encrusting of sps so if its working for his system why does he need to lower? Jw tbh cause i never understood the ultra low nutrient systems....

Some tanks can handle that but generally speaking lower numbers will lead to greater success long term.

 

[ReeferTang44]

Birdsnest, for being touted as an easy beginners coral can be finicky. The picture looks ok to me - maybe flow?

What's wrong with the Duncan in your opinion? It looks good in those pictures - at least what I'm seeing.

Gonis are temperamental and can be difficult. They either love your tank or hate it. I find mine like a medium flow, very random. When it's too high they tend to stay closed or at least tight to the skeleton.

The hammer makes me think flow is fairly low in the tank?

I took the pictures with the flow off so it would be clear and not blurry but there is pretty good flow

 

[ReeferTang44]

Lighting, flow and (stable) parameters - as mentioned above from several others - are key.

* Flowerpots can be temperamental at times (flow is important)
* Birds nests can be finicky (stable parameters help)

Q: Is that a 0.9ppm phosphate reading or 0.09ppm?
Q: Do you run any GFO in a reactor (etc.) in your tank?

(Sorry if I missed answers to the above in earlier replies).

I don’t run gfo haven’t quite figured that out the people at wwc where like it can be challenging according to them they said stick to water changes

 

[ReeferTang44]

Ok so I did t see this before but what could be causing this to happen
Today

Last Friday

 

[tbrown]

Ok so I did t see this before but what could be causing this to happen
Today

Last Friday

Mine does that sometimes. Snails, fish, your hand... Something could have "scared it" so it retracted. Do you notice it happening at a specific time that might coincide with a light ramp up/down or a powerhead changing flow intensity or direction?

 

[ReeferTang44]

Mine does that sometimes. Snails, fish, your hand... Something could have "scared it" so it retracted. Do you notice it happening at a specific time that might coincide with a light ramp up/down or a powerhead changing flow intensity or direction?

I believe it more chemistry than anything just because it’s been good for weeks before this

 

[tbrown]

Then your answer has already been given - stability. Corals (and fish) like stable water parameters. Don't "chase numbers" or you can cause more harm than good. Corals can have bad days here and there and trying to adjust quickly to fix a perceived problem can be worse than what you're trying to fix.

I've had alkalinity up to 12.4 and down to 6.8 without losing anything. I adjusted back slowly to where I wanted it and all was good.

I have high nitrates (flashing at 75+) and nothing seems affected by it, so I'm slowly trying to bring that under control.

I've had 0 phosphates and my SPS really started going downhill so I slowly brought those up to 0.14 where I try to stay and I haven't had really any problems from "high" phosphates.

My magnesium rides right around 1260 which is low, I've brought them up to 1350 and they tend to fall back down with no real issues (except a slow down in growth).

My calcium is at 490 - high and I can't even seem to bring it down.

Stability. When I rush and make a decision to bump something up or down, I've had corals really sulk for a day or two or just die overnight.

 

[tbrown]

Also, please understand I'm far from being an expert, just trying to help where I can.