IS MY CORAL OK ??

[Duncan62]

At 65 watts you might to crank it up for the guys on the bottom. It should be fine for chalice. Something else is wrong.

Turn all blues to 100%. Whites 10. The rest 10. It'll help.

 

[Emma_fish]

Hard to tell with a blue light pictures. White lighting would help us see things a bit better, but the first picture definitely looks like exposed skeleton on the edges.

Do you have your other parameter levels? Salinity? Phosphates? Alkalinity? Calcium? What are your lights set at? More information will definitely help diagnose any potential problems.

I would say first that having 0 nitrates is not a good thing for corals. Second, a lot of chalices are moderate/lower light corals so you could be blasting it with too much light too soon. Knowing your lighting settings will help.

I’m not sure if they are still wanted but I’ve managed to get white light pictures
I also added my favia because I think that also looks slightly off

 

[Duncan62]

I’m not sure if they are still wanted but I’ve managed to get white light pictures
I also added my favia because I think that also looks slightly off

Top pic is in bad shape. Don't throw it out yet. Favia looks OK. He can take moderate light. He'll grow faster. As long as the other has a mouth and some color he might make it. Maybe. Good luck.

 

[muzikalmatt]

The favia doesn't look too bad but that chalice is definitely in rough shape. I think you need to test your other parameters (salinity and alkalinity at a minimum) and report back.

 

[Emma_fish]

Thank you for your advice I will test tomorrow and report back
Is there anything I should be doing in the meantime ?

 

[muzikalmatt]

It might be worth moving it to a lower light area just in case. I know others have commented that it's probably not overlighting that's the issue but it certainly wouldn't hurt it. You're much more likely to kill a coral with too much light than not enough, especially a chalice.

 

[Duncan62]

It might be worth moving it to a lower light area just in case. I know others have commented that it's probably not overlighting that's the issue but it certainly wouldn't hurt it. You're much more likely to kill a coral with too much light than not enough, especially a chalice.

The favia needs all the light that fixture has. Put the chalice in a corner. Mine do best between 50 and 100 par . No more. The favia can take it. Agree with above. To much will finish the chalice.

 

[TaylorP78]

Thank you for your advice I will test tomorrow and report back
Is there anything I should be doing in the meantime ?

Water changes never hurt

 

[Duncan62]

Water changes never hurt

I'd test tomorrow. One day won't matter. I hope it works out.

 

[Emma_fish]

Just tested my tank
Alk: 5.4
Calcium: a few drops over 500 (more than what is in the test)
What do you suggest I do from now ?
up the Alk or lower the cal?

 

[Duncan62]

Just tested my tank
Alk: 5.4
Calcium: a few drops over 500 (more than what is in the test)
What do you suggest I do from now ?
up the Alk or lower the cal?

Raise alk. Not with baking soda. Use a product for raising alk. Kalkwasser. Kent. Fluval. These things help. The calcium will be used by corals and inverts more efficiently. That's way low. Test one more time then raise it slowly min of 7 04 8. Mines kept around 10.

 

[Duncan62]

Raise alk. Not with baking soda. Use a product for raising alk. Kalkwasser. Kent. Fluval. These things help. The calcium will be used by corals and inverts more efficiently. That's way low. Test one more time then raise it slowly min of 7 04 8. Mines kept around 10.

Did you test pH?

 

[mdb_talon]

Just tested my tank
Alk: 5.4
Calcium: a few drops over 500 (more than what is in the test)
What do you suggest I do from now ?
up the Alk or lower the cal?

First thing i would do is confirm you did the tests correct. Alk of 5.4 and calc over 500 seems unreasonable unless you are dosing calc but not alk.

 

[Emma_fish]

Did you test pH?

It is 8.3

 

[Emma_fish]

First thing i would do is confirm you did the tests correct. Alk of 5.4 and calc over 500 seems unreasonable unless you are dosing calc but not alk.

I did both tests twice as it was my first time using the Salifert tests and got
1st time:
Alk: 6.1(I think i did it wrong this time)
Cal: ? (Solution didn’t turn blue with just one syringe)
2nd time:
Alk: 5.4
Cal: just over 500 (used 1 syringe and a couple more drops after that)
Going to my lfs tmr I will pick up some Alk plus solution or something similar

 

[mdb_talon]

I did both tests twice as it was my first time using the Salifert tests and got
1st time:
Alk: 6.1(I think i did it wrong this time)
Cal: ? (Solution didn’t turn blue with just one syringe)
2nd time:
Alk: 5.4
Cal: just over 500 (used 1 syringe and a couple more drops after that)
Going to my lfs tmr I will pick up some Alk plus solution or something similar

I just would be really careful dosing alk because the numbers you are listing dont really make sense. 5.4 alk, 8.3 ph, and 500+ calc just would be pretty tough to get.

Also to confirm what alk test are you using and that the 5.4 is a dkh reading?

 

[Emma_fish]

I just would be really careful dosing alk because the numbers you are listing dont really make sense. 5.4 alk, 8.3 ph, and 500+ calc just would be pretty tough to get.

Also to confirm what alk test are you using and that the 5.4 is a dkh reading?

I used The Salifert one
I mean I will test again tomorrow if it is needed ?

 

[Duncan62]

First thing i would do is confirm you did the tests correct. Alk of 5.4 and calc over 500 seems unreasonable unless you are dosing calc but not alk.

Calc can be high because with alk of 5 the animals just can't use it. Most reef salts seem to be on the high side. I think your correct about retesting first. I'm curious to see pH under these conditions. Just saw. 8.3. RETEST. lol.

 

[mdb_talon]

Calc can be high because with alk of 5 the animals just can't use it. Most reef salts seem to be on the high side. I think your correct about retesting first. I'm curious to see pH under these conditions. Just saw. 8.3. RETEST. lol.

Ya i mean it is possible to have calc over 500 and alk of 5.4 i just saying extremely unlikely barring a dosing mishap. And ya alk 5.4 and ph 8.3 also os a big red flag.

 

[mdb_talon]

I used The Salifert one
I mean I will test again tomorrow if it is needed ?

I would suggest having fish store test alk with their kit before dosing anything just because those numbers seem so unlikely and if alk is actually not that low the last thing you want to do is make things worse and make it too high.