SOS save my SCOLY!

[tnewell]

Because the reef crystals salt contains the proper levels of calcium, magnesium and alkalinity. I believe it's important to test water parameters, however in my specific situation im doing frequent water changes on a tank that doesn't have any acropora or other fast growing sps corals, so my corals have been doing fine without any dosing, just using the elements added to the tank with the water change every week. That being said, I will test my major elements like calcium, alk and magnesium occasionally to make sure everything is in order.

I agree, but I will suggest testers in the near future, lps are big calcium suckers.

 

[dimitrinivo]

Because the reef crystals salt contains the proper levels of calcium, magnesium and alkalinity. I believe it's important to test water parameters, however in my specific situation im doing frequent water changes on a tank that doesn't have any acropora or other fast growing sps corals, so my corals have been doing fine without any dosing, just using the elements added to the tank with the water change every week. That being said, I will test my major elements like calcium, alk and magnesium occasionally to make sure everything is in order.

I didn't mean to give off the give that testing isn't important, it is. I've just chosen to pay more attention to nitrate than any other parameter

 

[Tcook]

Is this the only LPS you have? How long has it been in the tank? What's your PO4?

 

[dimitrinivo]

I agree, but I will suggest testers in the near future, lps are big calcium suckers.

I work at my lfs so I'll bring in a water sample to test on my next shift. I can't justify buying test kits for my elements as I don't think Its necessary to test weekly in my case, nitrates on the other hand, I test twice a week because my tank has some big appetite fish

 

[tnewell]

I work at my lfs so I'll bring in a water sample to test on my next shift. I can't justify buying test kits for my elements as I don't think Its necessary to test weekly in my case, nitrates on the other hand, I test twice a week because my tank has some big appetite fish

No hate man! Every tank is different and every reefer is different. Trust your gut, you now the ins and outs of the tank better then anyone!

 

[dimitrinivo]

Is this the only LPS you have? How long has it been in the tank? What's your PO4?

No I have 2 scolys, a hammer, a few favias, acans, an elegance, a few chalices. The scoly I've had for about a month. I also have a leptoseris, cyphastrea, 2 montis, for hard corals and gorgonians and zoanthids for softies

 

[dimitrinivo]

No I have 2 scolys, a hammer, a few favias, acans, an elegance, a few chalices. The scoly I've had for about a month. I also have a leptoseris, cyphastrea, 2 montis, for hard corals and gorgonians and zoanthids for softies

All are doing well and growing well

 

[dimitrinivo]

Is this the only LPS you have? How long has it been in the tank? What's your PO4?

Haven't tested phosphate recently tbh, I'll test that on Thursday (my next shift). I'm guilty on this one, I shouldn't skip po4 testing

 

[Hincapiej4]

You can know your tank as well as you think you want to. But when you think you're having issues with a coral, and you tell me you don't test an important parameter like alk...that's gg.

The FIRST thing you do when you see anything wrong with a coral is test everything...it doesn't bother the coral, and eliminates that issue.

How are we or anyone supposed to say if something is wrong or not. A picture? I'm not gonna blow smoke. Picture looks fine to me, even under so much blue. Whether it is or isn't who knows. Do you know what happens to your parameters on day to day?


If you don't, you don't know your tank that well, and if you don't, nobody does. I'm not gonna sugar coat anything and I'm giving it like it is. Harsh or not.

For example, like clock work i can tell you

One day my alk is 163, with cal 485ish, mag 1350.

Then I can usually expect to see alk 161, 485, mag 1320 the next day.

For some reason it goes back and forth like that. It could be the test itself, but that's 7 days of testing it and 2 months of testing almost everyday.

 

[dimitrinivo]

You can know your tank as well as you think you want to. But when you think you're having issues with a coral, and you tell me you don't test an important parameter like alk...that's gg.

The FIRST thing you do when you see anything wrong with a coral is test everything...it doesn't bother the coral, and eliminates that issue.

How are we or anyone supposed to say if something is wrong or not. A picture? I'm not gonna blow smoke. Picture looks fine to me, even under so much blue. Whether it is or isn't who knows. Do you know what happens to your parameters on day to day?

If you don't, you don't know your tank that well, and if you don't, nobody does. I'm not gonna sugar coat anything and I'm giving it like it is. Harsh or not.

I can't argue with that, you're right. The first thing is should've done is tested everything, however my tank is doing really well and this is the only thing that's out of line, hence why I'm asking. I'll go test all my parameters, leave the coral alone and if I find anything wrong I'll let you guys know.

 

[dimitrinivo]

You can know your tank as well as you think you want to. But when you think you're having issues with a coral, and you tell me you don't test an important parameter like alk...that's gg.

The FIRST thing you do when you see anything wrong with a coral is test everything...it doesn't bother the coral, and eliminates that issue.

How are we or anyone supposed to say if something is wrong or not. A picture? I'm not gonna blow smoke. Picture looks fine to me, even under so much blue. Whether it is or isn't who knows. Do you know what happens to your parameters on day to day?


If you don't, you don't know your tank that well, and if you don't, nobody does. I'm not gonna sugar coat anything and I'm giving it like it is. Harsh or not.

For example, like clock work i can tell you

One day my alk is 163, with cal 485ish, mag 1350.

Then I can usually expect to see alk 161, 485, mag 1320 the next day.

For some reason it goes back and forth like that. It could be the test itself, but that's 7 days of testing it and 2 months of testing almost everyday.

Thanks for reminding me how important this stuff is. I'm by no means an newbie or an inexperienced reefer, but i can clearly see you're more experienced and know your tank better than i know mine. I'll start testing p04 and my major elements, atleast until i can see a consistent pattern in my parameters, while doing the same maintenance every week.

 

[dimitrinivo]

heres a better picture. I've noticed it's feeders haven't been out alot recently

 

[Hincapiej4]

When's the last time you fed it? Not that it means too much, but some coral do actually have an appetite.

 

[dimitrinivo]

When's the last time you fed it? Not that it means too much, but some coral do actually have an appetite.

I feed it, and all my corals reef roids, mixed with marine snow every Sunday

 

[dimitrinivo]

Also if anyone wants to know a good coral feeding trick: instead of using tank water to mix your reef roids, use phytoplankton or marine snow. Just don't use too much or nitrates will go crazy

 

[Hincapiej4]

Try something a little meatier (bigger) like mysis, or especially lrs reef frenzy. See how it reacts to that.

The lights being off, i can't really complain about the little white that I'm assuming is skeleton?? Even the whites it's showing dont look unhealthy to me and just looks like what happens when these squishy corals are asleep. Hehe

 

[Hincapiej4]

What you should worry about seeing are the bones that look like blades. These are fine, imo.

 

[dimitrinivo]

Try something a little meatier (bigger) like mysis, or especially lrs reef frenzy. See how it reacts to that.

The lights being off, i can't really complain about the little white that I'm assuming is skeleton?? Even the whites it's showing dont look unhealthy to me and just looks like what happens when these squishy corals are asleep. Hehe

Ok that's really good news, I'll still start testing the elements tho as you've reminded me that's a good habit to get into. I'll try feeding it some krill because I don't have mysis. I feed krill to my duncan's and they've doubled in size in like a month.

 

[P-Dub]

It could be stressed, it could be fine. I personally don't see a huge problem at this point even with that last photo. That doesn't mean one is not brewing.
I have to back up @Hincapiej4 on how important regular testing of Alk and Ca and to a lesser degree Mag, though I don't know that I'd be as harsh in the delivery. While you say that you regularly perform a 10% water change, how do you know you are actually replenishing the levels an acceptable amount. For example, let's say that your Alk is at 8.9, a week goes by and you change 10%, but if your Alk dropped to 8.0 in that week, a 10% water change would only bring your Alk up to 8.89. Over time and with growth exponentially increasing Alk consumption, you can obviously see how your levels can drop precipitously.
Test everything at regular intervals. I test for Alk every couple of days at the same time during the day. Once a week for Calcium and once every couple of months for Mag.

 

[Hincapiej4]

Make sure to take the shell off the krill if it has any. Makes it hard to digest, and a little goes a long way! Krill is kinda dirty, so don't give them a .....tummy ache haha