Recommendations for my candy cane

[Qasim]

hello,

I have a candy cane coral got it a month ago but not opening and it started to show signs of die off any recommendations. Photos are as follows it also shows the placement of the coral but it is the only one Im having trouble and the only LPS coral i have. My water parameters are as follows:

Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0.25
Calcium 400
Kh i didnt test but was 16
Mg 1020 but im dosing daily to increase

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Are you running a gfo or other chemical filtration?
When my smaller tank started , small amounts would make mine shrink up to the bone.

 

[Fourstars]

Mine like high light med flow. When you feed do they repond?

 

[Qasim]

No GFO, I have filter socks only other than that I have chaeto and mangroves

 

[Qasim]

Mine like high light med flow. When you feed do they repond?

I feed them but no much respons though it stays as it is with some slyme on the heads catching the food

 

[Jeff Hall]

Mg of 1020 and KH of 16 are kind of out of the "sweet spot". I would get your parameters back in check and see if the coral responds.

 

[Fourstars]

If they aren’t extending their feeders I’d move you to higher par area. Turkey bast them twice a week. You need to test KH weekly. The transition between flesh and base should be white.

 

[Fourstars]

Dinner time ;-)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’d retest the alk. And try to determine your par.

What’s Light is it, what percent , and and how high above the tank?

 

[Qasim]

I’d retest the alk. And try to determine your par.

What’s Light is it, what percent , and and how high above the tank?

I will test the alkalinity today, i have current usa ic led light and it is around 40-50 cm above the coral.

 

[DanTer]

I have a Current USA Marine Orbit LED about 35-40 cm above my candy canes and they're doing great. Obviously there's more than just light that go into play. Just a side note, mine took a LONG time before they fully acclimated and puffed up. Upwards of a month and a half if I remember correctly. For a while they just sat there shriveled up then eventually they showed some volume and started growing

 

[Qasim]

I just did a test for the test kits I have and the results are as follows:
March 11 mag 1050, phosphate 0,nitrate 5, ph 8.2, dkh 9, kh 161.1, calcium 340

 

[chris k.]

Mine are sensitive to parameters that were out of range. Definitely work on mag. Make sure nothing is irritating them also. They look great when they open up.

 

[Qasim]

Just moved them a little bit down to a lower flow area two heads have got some puffing it seems they like low flow. Yeah Im dosing magnesium daily thats where I have got it up from 1020 to 1050 I will continue to add maybe do a water change next weekend in the meantime I will continue dosing mag

Im dosing this,

 

[DSC reef]

IME candy cane (calaustrea) do not like high flow as it can damage the sensitive tissue of the coral. Don't worry about a feeding response at this point. Once your parameters are level and stable it will throw out it's feeders when happy. We've grown candy cane coral in all levels of light but for the most part med to low light and low indirect flow is what kept the coral happy and growing quickly.

 

[lbacha]

I had mine in a frag rack in my DT which is designed for SPS so high light and high flow they opened ok but once I moved them to my fuge with about 100par and low flow they took off.

Also they for the most part extend their tentacles at night so I wouldn't use that as an indication of too little light

 

[Fourstars]

My point on the light is the coral is receding and not feeding so needs a jump start and a little nutrition. Candy canes will grow long reaching for the light and look quite ugly with long skeleton tubes IMO

 

[DSC reef]

Bottom of the tank, started with one head 2 months ago.

 

[Fourstars]

Looks great in blue. Nice job.

 

[Fourstars]

I would personally never put a damaged coral in a low flow low like environment.