Poor Torch Extension

BobbyCline · Jul 23, 2020

A couple of my torches (Dragon Tamer and Indo Gold) have not extended now for at least a few days. Both previously had nice long extensions. Rest of the tank (mostly torches) is very healthy. Nothing peeling away and no signs of pests. Just no tentacle extension.

salinity 35ppt
pH 7.6 (low, but been near this consistently for months)
alk 9
nitrate 2ppm
phosphate .1ppm
calcium 450
magnesium 1400

Any thoughts on what may be causing this? Worth noting I have recently added T5 to my LEDs. My initial thought was that they are reacting negatively to the increased lighting. However, no other torches have shown a negative effect and I am only running the T5 for a short time period and only at 20% intensity (it’s dimmable).

Thanks,

Bobby

Jason Truong · Jul 23, 2020

Try dipping it. If nothing, add more flow

BobbyCline · Jul 23, 2020

Jason Truong said:
Try dipping it. If nothing, add more flow

What’s your recommended dip?

Jason Truong · Jul 23, 2020

BobbyCline said:
What’s your recommended dip?

Go ahead with just a normal iodine dip for now. If you have an antibacterial dip, that'll do pretty well too!

MERKEY · Jul 23, 2020

Beautiful tank!

Low Ph can cause issue long term but you are just on the edge of too low so it shouldn't be hurting the corals. Calcification stops at a low enough ph so if its been like that for months maybe it could be the issue starting to show.

Not trying to scare you but have you looked at the skeletons and skin coverage? Any receding on other torches?

BobbyCline · Jul 23, 2020

MERKEY said:
Beautiful tank!

Low Ph can cause issue long term but you are just on the edge of too low so it shouldn't be hurting the corals. Calcification stops at a low enough ph so if its been like that for months maybe it could be the issue starting to show.

Not trying to scare you but have you looked at the skeletons and skin coverage? Any receding on other torches?

No flesh recession at all...just no tentacle extension.

DSEKULA · Jul 23, 2020

I've noticed mine (espically the Aussies and ones with big fat tentacles) get annoyed like that when phosphate creeps up usually starts around a 0.1 idk that this is your issue or if you normally run the tank with that level but they keep looking bad or worse and if you can knock it down a tiny bit without messing with anything else might be worth a try. I wouldn't do anything drastic just see if a .08 or so makes a difference. Just my experience could be something completely different in your case .

Rogued_Reefer · Jul 23, 2020

Hey not torch related but What tank is that?

BobbyCline · Jul 23, 2020

mario4933 said:
Hey not torch related but What tank is that?

Waterbox 80.4

Rogued_Reefer · Jul 24, 2020

BobbyCline said:
Waterbox 80.4

Looks fantastic! Good job

I’ma tempermental coral · Jul 24, 2020

@BobbyCline hello sir! How are you? Something I’ve noticed with my one of my torches and strangely one of the 2 hammers is later on in the day as the lights start to dim those two in particular will pull in harder than my others. While I haven’t pinpointed this yet and since by mid morning the next day in the lighting schedule they are back at full strength and extension it may be unrelated to your issue. But, I notice that time in the evening is when my alk almost daily takes a bit of a hit. Now due to my very low nutrients in the water I run my alk around 7.5 but my ph peaks religiously at 8.30-8.33 during the day and sinks 8.20-8.23 at night. Could your low ph possibly be cause a sudden dip or dips in alk that you aren’t picking up that is stressing these torches you are having issues with? I’m by no means an expert of the chemistry side of things that’s my husband’s territory. That said if anyone can chime in on this maybe it can help both of us! And possibly gimme something new to know maybe my husband doesn’t! Hahaha. On a separate note mind if I ask what you feed all those beautiful torches sir?

BobbyCline · Jul 29, 2020

I’ma tempermental coral said:
@BobbyCline hello sir! How are you? Something I’ve noticed with my one of my torches and strangely one of the 2 hammers is later on in the day as the lights start to dim those two in particular will pull in harder than my others. While I haven’t pinpointed this yet and since by mid morning the next day in the lighting schedule they are back at full strength and extension it may be unrelated to your issue. But, I notice that time in the evening is when my alk almost daily takes a bit of a hit. Now due to my very low nutrients in the water I run my alk around 7.5 but my ph peaks religiously at 8.30-8.33 during the day and sinks 8.20-8.23 at night. Could your low ph possibly be cause a sudden dip or dips in alk that you aren’t picking up that is stressing these torches you are having issues with? I’m by no means an expert of the chemistry side of things that’s my husband’s territory. That said if anyone can chime in on this maybe it can help both of us! And possibly gimme something new to know maybe my husband doesn’t! Hahaha. On a separate note mind if I ask what you feed all those beautiful torches sir?

Never been a fan of my low pH, but it doesn't seem to vary that much. Used to boost it up with the addition of soda ash when my Alk was also low. Alk is now in the desired range so I've pretty much given up on worrying about the pH.

I don't target feed my torches. I broadcast feed the fish with various stuff. My torches don't seem to respond well to target feedings. The seemed annoyed by it in my opinion, so I quit.