Is my pocillopora

[ChefReeferThomas]

Is my Pocillopora going to die? Not sure what’s going on…

had a cyano outbreak so obviously nutrients went out of wack but I can’t find where. Is it doomed or sick? I can’t tell I’m too new to this.

 

[Gtinnel]

If the question was is it dead, it sure looks like it.

 

[T-J]

Completely dead.

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

Completely dead.

Darn. Well that’s a lesson learned.

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

If the question was is it dead, it sure looks like it.

Even if the little polyps come out?

I assume it’s dead.

Wasn’t the smartest first coral I guess.

 

[Gtinnel]

Even if the little polyps come out?

I assume it’s dead.

Wasn’t the smartest first coral I guess.

If it has any polyps then it isn't completely dead, but unfortunately with the way it currently looks I'd say even if not completely dead it will be soon. There looks to be a little color on some of the polyps on the bottom but not much. It's a fairly easy coral as far as SPS go, but definitely not a starter coral IMO.

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

If it has any polyps then it isn't completely dead, but unfortunately with the way it currently looks I'd say even if not completely dead it will be soon. There looks to be a little color on some of the polyps on the bottom but not much. It's a fairly easy coral as far as SPS go, but definitely not a starter coral IMO.

white light shows basically no color for sure, and under bluer/UV light you can see neon green polyps but basically zero extension most of the time. I assume it’s on its way out the door. Set up is most likely too low budget for any sps.

only other coral is an aussie lord. It’s looking much better than the poci most of the time.

wonder what I did to kill my poci :/

 

[Gtinnel]

With any SPS coral parameter stability is important, which is often hard to maintain in a new tank. Too much/ too little light and flow both can potentially kill an SPS (or actually any coral).
If there is any color left on the coral I'd leave it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up that it'll survive.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Even if the little polyps come out?

I assume it’s dead.

Wasn’t the smartest first coral I guess.

Pocillopora is actually a good beginner sps coral. Good luck.

 

[Gtinnel]

Pocillopora is actually a good beginner sps coral. Good luck.

For SPS absolutely, but not an ideal first coral to add to a new tank IMO.

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

With any SPS coral parameter stability is important, which is often hard to maintain in a new tank. Too much/ too little light and flow both can potentially kill an SPS (or actually any coral).
If there is any color left on the coral I'd leave it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up that it'll survive.

Heard that.

No hopes held high for sure. And if I fail the poor thing… maybe a future, more well-equipped and experienced me can get another and treat it right.

 

[Gtinnel]

Heard that.

No hopes held high for sure. And if I fail the poor thing… maybe a future, more well-equipped and experienced me can get another and treat it right.

Trust me we all have killed out fair share of corals, or at least I know I have. I killed several corals before I found out that 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates were hard on corals. I thought my parameters were great and turns out I was starving the corals to death.

 

[ReefChasers]

white light shows basically no color for sure, and under bluer/UV light you can see neon green polyps but basically zero extension most of the time. I assume it’s on its way out the door. Set up is most likely too low budget for any sps.

only other coral is an aussie lord. It’s looking much better than the poci most of the time.

wonder what I did to kill my poci :/

The Micromussa (Acan) Lords are really, really hardy. It takes a serious issue to kill them dead quickly.

The SPS on the other hand are very sensitive, even the easy ones. A bit harder to keep them without constant monitoring of a variety of parameters (alkalinity stability, nitrates/phos etc.)

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

For SPS absolutely, but not an ideal first coral to add to a new tank IMO.

I had a few bucks to waste and got impatient, clearly.

I feel bad, but it’s all lessons to be learned. I’ll watch with a close eye so I know when/where things go wrong next time.

tank needs time to mature, and some much needed upgrades concerning lighting and nutrient export. Current build won’t cut it clearly.

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

Trust me we all have killed out fair share of corals, or at least I know I have. I killed several corals before I found out that 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates were hard on corals. I thought my parameters were great and turns out I was starving the corals to death.

thanks actually, makes me feel a lot better.

it’s hard accepting your first coral is dead within a couple months… but like fish I assume it as a very real possibility.

more research, to be done. More money to be spent. I love my new hobby. It’s been a wild transition from freshwater.

 

[ReefChasers]

thanks actually, makes me feel a lot better.

it’s hard accepting your first coral is dead within a couple months… but like fish I assume it as a very real possibility.

more research, to be done. More money to be spent. I love my new hobby. It’s been a wild transition from freshwater.

That's a great attitude to have in this because nothing comes quick or easy in the Reef but mastering it can bring much enjoyment!

Nothing wrong with sticking with some softies for a while those can be real stunning and pleasing to look at (some crazy cool mushrooms, zoas, etc.)

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

The Micromussa (Acan) Lords are really, really hardy. It takes a serious issue to kill them dead quickly.

The SPS on the other hand are very sensitive, even the easy ones. A bit harder to keep them without constant monitoring of a variety of parameters (alkalinity stability, nitrates/phos etc.)

I’m looking into Hanna checkers for nitrates and phos. I’m stuck on api for those parameters.

consistently testing weekly (but not adjusting anything wildly or at all for stabilities sake) since I’ve picked up the salifert kits for alk, ca, & mg.

you can tell nothings stable by looking at my log. I’m doing 90% of this all by hand at home using RO/DI filtration, scales and fritz rpm. Weekly 33% water changes.

I should note that the tank sat without corals until 8/3/21. Definitely needed more time since I started testing below 20 ppm in nitrate.

 

[ReefChasers]

I don't see PO4 on your chart (phosphates) but it looks like NO3 has been running pretty good between 5-10 try to keep maybe a little lower but you don't have to go much lower it's not a bad reading.

The dkH readings are abit concerning looks like you had some massive swing there from 8->12 (18 seems like a mis-test or something) but then back down to 8 again. That kind of swing in alkalinity can definitely hurt some corals more than others especially SPS. Are you trying to supplement Alkalinity with something? Trying to understand where that rise and subsequent fall came from.

MG is semi-worthless to monitor or supplement, it basically never moves around much and doesn't change often.

CA should be a bit lower (you are over 500, try to get it down with water change to 450) but I am also wondering why you are running high on that one -- are you supplementing with something?

 

[ChefReeferThomas]

I don't see PO4 on your chart (phosphates) but it looks like NO3 has been running pretty good between 5-10 try to keep maybe a little lower but you don't have to go much lower it's not a bad reading.

The dkH readings are abit concerning looks like you had some massive swing there from 8->12 (18 seems like a mis-test or something) but then back down to 8 again. That kind of swing in alkalinity can definitely hurt some corals more than others especially SPS. Are you trying to supplement Alkalinity with something? Trying to understand where that rise and subsequent fall came from.

MG is semi-worthless to monitor or supplement, it basically never moves around much and doesn't change often.

CA should be a bit lower (you are over 500, try to get it down with water change to 450) but again I am wondering why you are running high on that one -- are you supplementing with something?

Nope, I was just screwing up monumentally mixing my own salt by hand.

i was using IO reef crystals, and a swing arm hydrometer for parameter testing.

it’s worthy noting that this log is an absolute logical mess as testing equipment has been changed or added since the inception of the log.

I haven’t supplemented or done anything different to the water except switch from IO to Fritz RPM. Following package instructions I went from high dKH to about that 8 level at the same temp and salinity/spec g.

 

[Gtinnel]

I’m looking into Hanna checkers for nitrates and phos. I’m stuck on api for those parameters.

consistently testing weekly (but not adjusting anything wildly or at all for stabilities sake) since I’ve picked up the salifert kits for alk, ca, & mg.

you can tell nothings stable by looking at my log. I’m doing 90% of this all by hand at home using RO/DI filtration, scales and fritz rpm. Weekly 33% water changes.

I should note that the tank sat without corals until 8/3/21. Definitely needed more time since I started testing below 20 ppm in nitrate.

A Hanna checker is almost a necessity for phosphates IMO. It's nice for nitrate (only the High Range one) and alkalinity too though.
The good thing is that your parameters are getting better as you go. I do question some of your reading though, unless you were dosing something it's unlikely your alkalinity was 18.