Pipe Organ Coral not Opening?

[Kasey Grohowski]

Ill take a picture when my lights turn back on tomorrow, but I have a pipe organ coral that was opened and beautiful when it first arrived and after 7 days in my tank, the polyps closed and it's losing its purple color. Not sure whats wrong. I keep it high in my tank for pretty good light and moderate flow. Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrates: 10 Mag: 1250 Calcium: 460 pH: 8.0 ALK: 7.0 phosphate: 0 Temperature: 78°F. My pH and alk are low but stable. I just broadcast fed reef roids also. I read these are a hardy coral, but mine looks like its on the verge of death and I'm not sure why. Thank you for any input.

 

[UCF Alum]

They love strong flow and low to moderate lighting.
Where are they?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

They love strong flow and low to moderate lighting.
Where are they?

about 20 inches or so from my lights, middle of my tank. I had the flow maxed out (25x turnover per hour). I read they like lowish flow so I turned it down some. My lights provide 150 par.

 

[UCF Alum]

Ill take a picture when my lights turn back on tomorrow.

Let see some pics...
Params look good. Although, like GSP, they are excellent indicators of an issue with water quality

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Let see some pics...
Params look good. Although, like GSP, they are excellent indicators of an issue with water quality

What issue can there be? I tested all my params right before posting this to be sure. Also my SG is at 1.025

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Let see some pics...
Params look good. Although, like GSP, they are excellent indicators of an issue with water quality

The only thing I don't test for is iodide (or is it iodine?) and strontium. Not sure how big of a factor they are.

 

[UCF Alum]

This is just an example.
When I was running a sulfur Denitrator and it would start spiting sulfur back into the tank, my GSP would tell me before I could smell the sulfur coming out of the effluent. I knew something was wrong bc my GSP were not opening. In answer to your question, it could be anything. You using RODI? Tap? Bottled? Is this the only coral in the tank? How olds the tank? Are you melting them with your lights?

Even if my SPS look great, but my GSP aren’t opening I know there’s a problem.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

This is just an example.
When I was running a sulfur Denitrator and it would start spiting sulfur back into the tank, my GSP would tell me before I could smell the sulfur coming out of the effluent. I knew something was wrong bc my GSP were not opening. In answer to your question, it could be anything. You using RODI? Tap? Bottled? Is this the only coral in the tank? How olds the tank? Are you melting them with your lights?

Well as a matter of fact I just pulled out a dead sinularia the day before, not sure how that died either. It had a slight stink of sulfur and it was near the pipe organ. Didn't raise ammonia or nitrates. Tank is 4 months old. I have 2 sharks that are happy and healthy in this tank. They require very pristine water conditions (maybe even more so than the coral). I have an rodi unit, although I need to change the DI block, because the water it produces has a TDS of 7. I light acclimated them in my QT tank, started at 7 hours and added 15 minutes daily until it reached 11 hours. So I'm guessing the sinularia probably was affecting it, although I don't think it was dead for very long.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I also run activated carbon, purigen, matrix, and a 55 watt uv sterilizer.

 

[UCF Alum]

I’m speaking now I’m terms of my tank.
If I had a tank with 7 TDS half my coral wouldn’t open. Start with some new DI resin, WC and see how it goes.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I’m speaking now I’m terms of my tank.
If I had a tank with 7 TDS half my coral wouldn’t open. Start with some new DI resin, WC and see how it goes.

Wow, I didn't think 7 tds was that much. I will definitely put in a new DI resin ASAP.

 

[UCF Alum]

Wow, I didn't think 7 tds was that much. I will definitely put in a new DI resin ASAP.

I change mine when the meter hits 1.

 

[sfin52]

Wow, I didn't think 7 tds was that much. I will definitely put in a new DI resin ASAP.

Up untill recently I was running just ro no di. I don't have clue what my tds are but I'm sure they are high. I just run softies and my coral are thriving. Sps I don't dare put in the tank.

 

[KrisReef]

Filter feeders like organ pipe coral like ample nutrients and do better in older tanks (lots of cryptic sponge?) Feed the fish to bump your phosphate.

Also, imo- I don't think Reefroids are the right food for an organ pipe coral.

Are you also running a skimmer? The tank may be too clean?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Filter feeders like organ pipe coral like ample nutrients and do better in older tanks (lots of cryptic sponge?) Feed the fish to bump your phosphate.

Also, imo- I don't think Reefroids are the right food for an organ pipe coral.

Are you also running a skimmer? The tank may be too clean?

Yes I run a protein skimmer (Bubble Magus Curve 9) rated for 400 gallons. I'd say 80% of the time it just fizzes and the other 20% it skims. It fizzes due to no DOCs I assume.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

But if my tank were to clean then the nitrates would be at 0 wouldn't they?

 

[KrisReef]

But if my tank were to clean then the nitrates would be at 0 wouldn't they?

Your phosphate are at zero, so they are more of the limiting nutrient in your system than nitrates.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Filter feeders like organ pipe coral like ample nutrients and do better in older tanks (lots of cryptic sponge?) Feed the fish to bump your phosphate.

Also, imo- I don't think Reefroids are the right food for an organ pipe coral.

Are you also running a skimmer? The tank may be too clean?

I can't really my fish anymore, I have 2 baby catsharks and 1 clownfish. Sharks are fed every other day. There must be something I can feed it though?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Your phosphate are at zero, so they are more of the limiting nutrient in your system than nitrates.

I always thought phosphates should be kept at 0?

 

[KrisReef]

I am kind of amazed that your phosphates are that low with sharks!
Organ pipe coral is one of my all time favorites, so I hope you can figure this out.

Some people dose phosphates, but I am wondering what test kit you are using for phosphate? Do you use Hanna ULR Phosphorus? Phosphates are basic nutrients for plants, same as nitrates. Coral symbionts need some nutrients in the water to thrive. Ultra low or zero nutrients will starve the coral.

Come to think of it, do you have access to live phytoplankton? Put a little in the water at night with the filter pumps off. If it is hungry it will open.

Because if your coral isn't suffering from low nutrients, and if your water doesn't have other issues (metals, toxins from the dead Sinularia, or ?) I cannot image what else is bothering your organ pipe? HTh.

Maybe a second or third opinion #reefsquad