Scolymia trouble

[Kyle_Molin]

So I caved and bought this beautiful scolymia for my reef tank, unfortunately it is not doing well. My levels are Ph-8.0, Salinity 1.027, nitrate 9, Calc-412, Alk-9.2, Mag-1413. I need advice please!

 

[Tcook]

How long have you had it? Looks like a very young tank. Salinity is a bit high. Do you run an ato? What is your PO4? You want to keep things as stable as possible. PAR around 100.

 

[Kyle_Molin]

How long have you had it? Looks like a very young tank. Salinity is a bit high. Do you run an ato? What is your PO4? You want to keep things as stable as possible. PAR around 100.

I have had it over 2 weeks, looked really good at first and ate well for the first week and a half, the tank is a year and 3 months old. I currently do not run an ato I top off by hand but I will be picking one up tomorrow. Phosphate is at .2

 

[gbroadbridge]

I have had it over 2 weeks, looked really good at first and ate well for the first week and a half, the tank is a year and 3 months old. I currently do not run an ato I top off by hand but I will be picking one up tomorrow. Phosphate is at .2

What fish do you have in the tank - it looks like something is snacking on it.

 

[Shibaken3]

lower salinity to 1.025

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

First of all, get the sand off the coral it irritates the coral.
If your phosphate really is .2, thats very high.
It likes med/lower light and flow.

Its actually an easy hardy coral.
The sand looks new, so I will guess its a new tank, probably still undergoing some changes, which can be challenging to some corals.

 

[Kmst80]

Good luck. I have had 6 Scollys, all but the first one died a slow death like yours. Tissue recession just kept going till nothing was left.
Hope you have better luck.
First tip: Get it off the sand, i can see sand on it in the picture, that could be a reason for the decline
Second Tip: Try a Iodine dip, that could stop the recession
Third Tip: Feed it twice a week or give it shorter baths in AB+ to bring it back to healthy
All the best

 

[Kyle_Molin]

What fish do you have in the tank - it looks like something is snacking on it.

2 ocelaris clowns, 3 disbarred anthias, black leopard wrasse, long nose hawk fish, purple tang, red sea sailfin, scopes tang, and a cardinal

 

[Wasabiroot]

Could be one of the tangs picking at it. It's rare but it does happen. Do you feed nori? Otherwise maybe something is going after whatever you're feeding it and damaging it, or too much sand, etc. Try monitoring it for ~10 min during the day and then check on it w flashlight at night for pests. Stand a bit away from the tank so any fish won't be spooked. It does have physical damage but could recover with good feedings and removal of whatever is causing the irritation. I'd also lower salinity to 1.026 gradually, but .001 higher specific gravity is unlikely to be the reason it's doing poorly. Just a personal preference there

 

[Lemons]

Hmm tissue recession that fast for a scoly isnt a good sign. PO4 Is a bit high these guys like dirtier water but not that dirty, i aim for 0.06-0.8

Do you have it in high flow??

 

[Wayofthereef]

Phospate is 8.0? Thats pretty high, a good point is .1 to .01, in a pinch ive used phosphate-e and its lowered it pretty quickly.

 

[Lemons]

Whoops i meant 0.08 lol

 

[Kyle_Molin]

Could be one of the tangs picking at it. It's rare but it does happen. Do you feed nori? Otherwise maybe something is going after whatever you're feeding it and damaging it, or too much sand, etc. Try monitoring it for ~10 min during the day and then check on it w flashlight at night for pests. Stand a bit away from the tank so any fish won't be spooked. It does have physical damage but could recover with good feedings and removal of whatever is causing the irritation. I'd also lower salinity to 1.026 gradually, but .001 higher specific gravity is unlikely to be the reason it's doing poorly. Just a personal preference there

I do in fact feed nori, haven't seen any of the fish picking at it. Only thing that was interested in it when I was feeding was a nassaria snail trying to steal the food. I was recommended an iodine dip, thoughts on that?

 

[Kyle_Molin]

Hmm tissue recession that fast for a scoly isnt a good sign. PO4 Is a bit high these guys like dirtier water but not that dirty, i aim for 0.06-0.8

Do you have it in high flow??

It was in medium to low flow unfortunately wish that was the problem, what type of test kit do you use for PO4?

 

[Lemons]

I do in fact feed nori, haven't seen any of the fish picking at it. Only thing that was interested in it when I was feeding was a nassaria snail trying to steal the food. I was recommended an iodine dip, thoughts on that?

My nessarius always try to do that.. usually i end up with new hermit shells

And for phos i use Hannah ULR checker and just convert phosphorus to po4