Saving corals after temp spike

[Jessican]

Hi all, hoping to get some advice on how to bring some corals back from the brink. We had a heat wave a few weeks ago, and one of the tanks hit 87degF before I realized it was climbing. Ever since, things haven’t looked great - euphyllia and zoas shrinking, color changes, some bleaching, shriveling BTAs - and a velvet outbreak to top it off.

I think all of this had to do with the temp spike - the couple of corals added after that are doing fine, it’s just the ones that were in the tank at the time of the spike that are declining. Is there anything I can do to help turn things around, or is this a wait and see game at the moment?

All but one fish has been removed for treatment (still trying to catch the last one - he fortunately isn’t showing signs of illness, but I know that he’s a carrier at this point). Parameters are all good and stable, with only nitrate being a bit high, but I’m working on that (and would expect that it will come down with water changes while it’s fishless). Currently readjusting dosing because alk isn’t getting used up like it was before, I’m assuming because things are just barely hanging on instead of growing.

Parameters:
NH4/NO2: 0ppm
NO3: 16ppm
Salinity: 1.025
KH: 10.1dkh
Ca: 413ppm
Mg: 1440ppm
pH: 8.11
PO4: 0.02ppm
Temp: 78degF
Last ICP test showed nothing out of whack with trace elements

System info:
Tank: Red Sea Reefer Nano (21gal display, 7gal sump)
Salt: Tropic Marin Classic (5gal WC every 3 weeks)
Dosing: Tropic Marin All-for-Reef (contains KH, Ca, Mg, and trace elements)
Reactors: Biopellets and carbon (was running GFO but removed for now since PO4 is staying down)
Flow: IceCap 1k (10% up, 60% down) and return pump - I’m wondering if flow might be a bit too low
Lighting: AI Prime (70% UV, Violet, Royal, & Blue, 5% Green, Deep Red, and Cool White)

I suspect that there’s nothing I can do besides keep things stable and feed the corals, but wanted to get some other opinions. Thanks in advance for any advice that you can offer!

 

[JumboShrimp]

I’d say just stay-the-course and ride it out. I live in Florida and we had to replace our entire air conditioning system last week. We were down for 3 days, and my FOWLR and two 7-gallon nanos got to 90+ degrees! (The fish I keep at fairly low salinity, and I increased oxygenation with additional air stones. 20 fish came through it fine; not even heavy breathing.) As for the corals in the nano tanks— not very happy— but in a week’s time are back to near 100%. Best wishes!

 

[brandon429]

you should redo your lighting as new led ramp up vs full production lighting/extended as the tank would normally run, after enduring power outages or heat spikes and in my case, an extended cold spike that bleached my whole system but it was brought back over 50 days of perfect light and feed. if its already been a few days of full on lighting, they're prob ok but for sure the very next light cycle after a stress event is less harmful when its 40% reduced and slowly ramped, an ideal for next time.

 

[John3]

Wait it out, all those corals should come back. BTW I think 16ppm nitrates is just fine for what your keeping.

 

[Jessican]

I’d say just stay-the-course and ride it out. I live in Florida and we had to replace our entire air conditioning system last week. We were down for 3 days, and my FOWLR and two 7-gallon nanos got to 90+ degrees! (The fish I keep at fairly low salinity, and I increased oxygenation with additional air stones. 20 fish came through it fine; not even heavy breathing.) As for the corals in the nano tanks— not very happy— but in a week’s time are back to near 100%. Best wishes!

Ouch, 90+? I’m glad yours are all doing okay!

you should redo your lighting as new led ramp up vs full production lighting/extended as the tank would normally run, after enduring power outages or heat spikes and in my case, an extended cold spike that bleached my whole system but it was brought back over 50 days of perfect light and feed. if its already been a few days of full on lighting, they're prob ok but most assure the very next light cycle after a stress event is less harmful when its 40% reduced and slowly ramped, an ideal for next time.

Interesting, that hasn’t occurred to me. It’s already been a couple of weeks since the temp spike, but I will definitely keep that in mind if it were to happen again (hopefully not!)

Wait it out, all those corals should come back. BTW I think 16ppm nitrates is just fine for what your keeping.

I’m most worried about that hammer in the first picture. The tentacles have gotten so skinny and it looks so sad. Hopefully stability and feeding will turn it around. And good, I’m glad the nitrates aren’t a problem.