Lps corals closed up since buying

[JACKS REEF]

Hey guys I have 3 frogspawn corals each with about 5-6 heads. I bought them all about a couple months ago and they all sort of seem to be closed up and not open to there full potential. At times some of the heads will die off so I will have to frag them off. I do have a bit of a flatworm problem but is this really the issue? My nitrates are pretty high around 25-40 ppm. My alk is around 6.8-7.0 a little low. My lights are ration g5 xr30 blues running at 41% intensity on AB+. I haven’t had any major changes with the tank and I do water changes monthly. What could be the issue?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

What do you use as a filter? Flow?
Pics?
D

 

[blaxsun]

Alkalinity is a bit low and nitrates are a bit high. What is your pH, calcium, magnesium and phosphates?

 

[JACKS REEF]

Alkalinity is a bit low and nitrates are a bit high. What is your pH, calcium, magnesium and phosphates?

Calcium is at 390-400
Magnesium is at 800-840 which is very low
I haven’t been able to test phosphates

 

[JACKS REEF]

What do you use as a filter? Flow?
Pics?
D

Yes I have pictures I have a sump with a protein skimmer and a bio media reacted running pellets. I also dose 2 ml of iodine, 22 ml of calcium and alk daily.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Calcium is at 390-400
Magnesium is at 800-840 which is very low
I haven’t been able to test phosphates

Definitely need to raise Mg. Euphyllia hates low Mag!

 

[blaxsun]

Calcium is at 390-400
Magnesium is at 800-840 which is very low
I haven’t been able to test phosphates

Calcium could be higher (450), magnesium is way too low (1350 minimum) and you need to test phosphates.

 

[ZoWhat]

Alkalinity is a bit low and nitrates are a bit high. What is your pH, calcium, magnesium and phosphates?

No3 a bit high? Anything over 10-15 is not good at all. Ever since I stabilized my no3 at 5, my LPS tank has skyrocketed

 

[JACKS REEF]

Calcium could be higher (450), magnesium is way too low (1350 minimum) and you need to test phosphates.

Yes I totally agree the weird thing is that 90% of my sps seem to be doing well and have good colors while my lps are not. Maybe this suggests low phosphates

 

[JACKS REEF]

No3 a bit high? Anything over 10-15 is not good at all. Ever since I stabilized my no3 at 5, my LPS tank has skyrocketed

How do you suggest I lower it?

 

[JACKS REEF]

Calcium could be higher (450), magnesium is way too low (1350 minimum) and you need to test phosphates.

Do you have any phosphate test kit that you recommend?

 

[JACKS REEF]

Definitely need to raise Mg. Euphyllia hates low Mag!

Should I dose mg or will doing water changes naturally raise it?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

No3 a bit high? Anything over 10-15 is not good at all. Ever since I stabilized my no3 at 5, my LPS tank has skyrocketed

My nitrates are 80 and my phosphates are 0.5 and my euphyllia love it. A nitrate number alone doesn't tell you much, and LPS usually need higher nutrients.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Do you have any phosphate test kit that you recommend?

I like Salifert and Tropic Marin. If you are into Hanna, their PO4 egg is supposed to be good

 

[JACKS REEF]

My nitrates are 80 and my phosphates are 0.5 and my euphyllia love it. A nitrate number alone doesn't tell you much, and LPS usually need higher nutrients.

Do you think maybe the flatworms could be the problem? Because I took a closer look and there a lot of them on the polyps

 

[ZoWhat]

My nitrates are 80 and my phosphates are 0.5 and my euphyllia love it. A nitrate number alone doesn't tell you much, and LPS usually need higher nutrients.

Lol

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Should I dose mg or will doing water changes naturally raise it?

I would find a Mg supplement and follow the directions for raising it. Err on the side of caution and go slowly, but if it says you can safely raise it X ppm per day, I'd do 1/2 that dose and see how things react, but consistently dose until you're around 1400

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Do you think maybe the flatworms could be the problem? Because I took a closer look and there a lot of them on the polyps

Definitely! But the Mag is also a problem if it's really that low.
Euphyllia eating flatworms or regular ones?

 

[JACKS REEF]

Definitely! But the Mag is also a problem if it's really that low.
Euphyllia eating flatworms or regular ones?

I have no idea they are white though

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have no idea they are white though

Dip the coral to remove them but you'll need to do something else to manage them long term.
I haven't ever had a problem with flatworms, my wrasse would eat them before I even noticed I bet