Red Dragon Coral Rehab Suggestions

[Alabamareef]

So I made a bad mistake the other day, very costly. I was working on my reef and my ATO had went dry. The Kalk stirrer feeds from the ATO and had got air in the line. So after filling my ATO i turned on the pump that feeds my Kalk Stirrer trying to purg it and fell asleep on the sofa. Three sleepless nights caught up to me. After maybe an hour I woke up to a tank that looked like milk and my pH was 10. Took about three more hours to do a large water change and used vinagar to lower my pH to 8.5. Then next day I had lost my Naso Blond and all corals looked stressed, some dead. I turned my lights back and am making sure my water parameters are stable. Alk is 7.7, Ca 420, Mg 1360, Po4 0.00, Nitrates 0, SG 1.024. My Red Dragon colony looked almost dead but tonight I took this photo at night, just trying out my new iphone and it looks like there may still be some life. What are your thoughts and is there any thing else I could be doing? Oh I also dumped in some benificial bacteria just trying to boost things back up.... Here is the Red Draon I was talking about

 

[Alabamareef]

I cant really see this much color in the day...

 

[Rob.D]

I fully believe it best to let the corals ride it out, IMO, messing with them after a stressful event with cause further stress, which in turns makes recovery harder.

 

[Alabamareef]

Thats my plan for now. I figure when alage starts growing on it then take it out...

I fully believe it best to let the corals ride it out, IMO, messing with them after a stressful event with cause further stress, which in turns makes recovery harder.

 

[Alabamareef]

Is turning my lights back a good or bad idea?

 

[Rob.D]

I would, but shorten the photo period.

 

[maroun.c]

I've had many corals recover or at least partially recover to many issues. I'd take out any part that gets algae on till it's all gone or shows tissue recovery.

 

[Alabamareef]

Any other advice?

 

[swk]

I fully believe it best to let the corals ride it out, IMO, messing with them after a stressful event with cause further stress, which in turns makes recovery harder.

This +1

Cutting a coral when already stressed can be a death blow ime. I never cut anything until the coral has recovered, unless you're trying to mitigate rtn...

 

[Alabamareef]

This +1

Cutting a coral when already stressed can be a death blow ime. I never cut anything until the coral has recovered, unless you're trying to mitigate rtn...

Understand I feel the same but I was not planing on cutting anything. Only trying to nurse this guy back to health and wondered if there is anything else I need to be doing. I'll not pull any coral out or cut anything until I see alage growing on it.

 

[hybridazn]

I think your on the right track. Just let the coral do it's own thing, just keep the water quality up to par and ride it out.

Best of luck!

 

[Chameleon]

Hi,
I'd second just riding it out with a reduced photo period now that things are stable. I had a similar incident with 5 gallons of kalk into a 65 gallon that took out almost everything. Do you have any idea how much water went through the kalk stirrer and into the tank based off the pump flow rate? If it doesn't make it let me know as mine just really started taking off and I will be able to get you a frag if you need it.

BTW did you get them VHO's hooked up yet? If so maybe just run them for a few days as they are a lot softer light than leds.

 

[Alabamareef]

Thx. VHOs will be up andrunningon the 12.