Pipe Organ Coral not Opening?

[Kasey Grohowski]

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.

I appreciate the help, I control feed the sharks agressively, and any DOCs are skimmed out. Also I use salifert red sea and api test kits all say 0 phosphates. Also the sharks are babies they don't eat much... yet. I do not have live phytoplankton (will my uv sterilizer kill them if I added?) Also what do you mean filter pumps? I don't believe I have any.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Hm I have to find a substitute word for "also" lol.

 

[KrisReef]

Filter pumps, in my system return the water from the sump. In the DT I have circulation pumps that just move water around. Feeding coral, I cut the main return pump off and let the circulation pumps move the food around the tank. (When I feed my fish, I don't shut my pumps off)

The UV would kill plankton, so I'd shut that down when feeding coral if you can?

Do you have algae growing in the tank? If you do, there is like some phosphate in the water, just low or reading zero because the algae is pulling it out of the water and keeping it low/non-detect.

edit Also, LOL! Our english teachers ghosts are haunting us perhaps?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Filter pumps, in my system return the water from the sump. In the DT I have circulation pumps that just move water around. Feeding coral, I cut the main return pump off and let the circulation pumps move the food around the tank. (When I feed my fish, I don't shut my pumps off)

The UV would kill plankton, so I'd shut that down when feeding coral if you can?

Do you have algae growing in the tank? If you do, there is like some phosphate in the water, just low or reading zero because the algae is pulling it out of the water and keeping it low/non-detect.

edit Also, LOL! Our english teachers ghosts are haunting us perhaps?

Ah okay yes just a return pump, there is no algae in the tank, nor has there every been (not even during the cycle oddly). I can shut the uv sterilizer down and will. Know of any good sources for live phytoplankton?

 

[KrisReef]

Lots of sponsors on here,
https://www.algagendirect.com/
http://reedmariculture.com/promo/family-of-plankton
I am sure there are others, just found those with a quick search.
My LFS have plankton, so that is where I get mine.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I broadcast fed reef roids ONCE, and now there are sprinkles of brown diatoms in my tank, wow.