My montipora is sick :'(

Eienna · Sep 4, 2013

Something's really wrong with my montipora. At first I just thought that it was injured by the peroxide dip I gave it, but it just keeps looking worse. I need help...assuming it's not already too late...

This poor thing's supposed to be purple T.T

Part of it had white shreds hanging off but I don't see them now. Maybe something scraped it off.

Next post will contain params.

Eienna · Sep 4, 2013

Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity 11-12
Calcium 320
Phosphate 0.5
Nitrate 0
pH 7.8

I don't have a mag test.

I notice the calcium's a little low but enough to cause this...?

I'm aware the phosphate should be 0. I'm working on that.

It used to look like this:

I'm just sick about it.

Connie · Sep 4, 2013

Need to get your calcium up and even though your alk is within the accepted range, it would probably be better around 8. My tank does best in the lower alk range. It think it is a goner. When algae is growing on the dead part, it very rarely if ever comes back. I hope it makes it though. Good luck!

Eienna · Sep 4, 2013

Connie said:
Need to get your calcium up and even though your alk is within the accepted range, it would probably be better around 8. My tank does best in the lower alk range. It think it is a goner. When algae is growing on the dead part, it very rarely if ever comes back. I hope it makes it though. Good luck!

I can't bring the alk down without reducing the salinity too :/ it's the salt mix.

I wonder if that box of old additives I got with a used tank would still work....

Anyone have any hints for increasing calcium when you can't buy an additive right then?

Eienna · Sep 4, 2013

Well, I dug up an only-God-knows-how-old bottle of Kent Liquid Calcium from the used supplies I got with a thirdhand tank. It doesn't have an expiration date and looked/smelled okay inside, so I added a half-teaspoon (hoping I didn't just OD that...I goofed and added the max dose for 25g instead of 20.)

It makes me nervous using a secondhand bottle of additive, but it's all I can do right now. :/

Even if the monti survives it looks like I'll be avoiding SPS for a while. All my LPS look to be doing fine and dandy, but this will be my second monti lost.

Are there SPS that do well with an alk around what I have?

Do you think switching to Red Sea Coral Pro salt from IO might be a good idea at some point? I just ordered a 200g box of IO because I kinda figured a salt change while trying to move the reef to another tank may not be a good idea, but once that's gone I'm open to the possibility.

Chameleon · Sep 4, 2013

you dont need to switch salt. IO is proven and works well. If you do its your preference. Calcium supplements dont usually expire and the amounts you dosed is not all that much. If you want you can keep dosing calc until its in an acceptable range. as for the monti it looks like a gonner but you never know. your alk is higher than most successful sps tanks that I have seen, but that doesn't necessarily means its too high. as your calcium goes up you may notice a drop in your alkalinity. My tank sits at around 7.5-8.5 for alk and I have used reef crystals and IO salt and they never bumped up the alk. I maintain my alk and calc with 2 part made from soda ash for alk and calcium chloride for calcium

Connie · Sep 4, 2013

Red Sea Coral Pro Salt has high ALK also. It doesn't hurt anything to alternate salts. I have been doing this for a year and my tank is looking better than ever. I make a water change weekly, alternating RSCP and RC. It's not going to make a difference with your ailing monti though.

Eienna · Sep 4, 2013

Okay, thanks for the info.
I hate losing corals and am quite fond of this frag :/

I want to try dipping it in Coral RX but my package doesn't get here until next Monday. I fear it may be too late (if it would have helped at all.)

At least everything else seems to be okay.
I'll dose it again today and test tomorrow to see where I'm at. Do you think the cal dropped because of the phosphate? I have had quite a bit of coralline algae start growing too, though. That might be the culprit. I'm sure I don't have enough coral frags to suck up the calcium that fast, especially with the 5g weekly water changes I've been giving it.

I think maybe I'm just not ready for SPS. Maybe in about a year I'll try montis or maybe seriatopora.

On a side note, my goniopora seems to be doing okay. I haven't seen obvious growth, maybe because of the calcium deficit, but it's not receding or bleaching either, and seems to be accepting my efforts to feed it.

Connie · Sep 5, 2013

I couldn't grow SPS until the 3 year mark. I don't know why...My parameters were always good. I guess the tank just had to mature and stabilize. That may be the case for you as well.

Eienna · Sep 5, 2013

Connie said:
I couldn't grow SPS until the 3 year mark. I don't know why...My parameters were always good. I guess the tank just had to mature and stabilize. That may be the case for you as well.

I'm thinking perhaps that's the case. Just wishing nothing had to die to get me to realize it.

Eienna · Sep 6, 2013

Calcium is up to 340...I think I'm gonna keep going until I get it up to 420 or so and keep it there.

Just doing the math now...1/2 a teaspoon is increasing it 10 points per dose.

childress5tyler · Sep 8, 2013

.5 phosphate is pretty high as well

Eienna · Sep 8, 2013

childress5tyler said:
.5 phosphate is pretty high as well

I know. I've got some phosphate rx coming in the mail to combat that part.

Eienna · Sep 8, 2013

childress5tyler said:
.5 phosphate is pretty high as well

Haha. Just rechecked the phosphate and it's going down on its own. Now it's at .25. I haven't changed water or dosed anything other than calcium since the last reading. Cool!

The monti is still with me, so I'm still hoping.... :/