SPS Help!

[Brandon Rush]

So I recently picked up some corals at RAP Orlando and seem to be having some trouble with two pieces of SPS, a bubblegum digi and a neon birds nest. It seems the bubblegum digi has fully retracted and hasn't extended it's polyps in about 2-3 days. I recently did a water change as I was dripping kalkwasser and I was afraid I may have overdosed, but after checking parameters all seemed alright. Any idea what could be stressing these pieces out. As you can see in the pics my other corals are doing fine, just the SPS seems to be having trouble. I've tried moving the pieces to lower light, but not sure if that will fix the problem. Any guidance/help would be appreciated.

The tank is a JBJ frag tank running a Micmol light. Ran a par meter and seem to be getting around 200 PAR by the frags.

Latest parameters are : 9.5 DKH, 1200 Mag, and 485 Calcium

 

[Dilan Patel]

can you take pics without blue lights as well as list parameters please

 

[Dilan Patel]

nevermind I did not see the parmeters. I think your issue is that you keep moving the coral around. let them sit for a couple days and they should open up(only applicable if I can see the coral without blue lights on to make sure they are still alive.)

 

[Brandon Rush]

nevermind I did not see the parmeters. I think your issue is that you keep moving the coral around. let them sit for a couple days and they should open up(only applicable if I can see the coral without blue lights on to make sure they are still alive.)

Thanks for the reply, it's so hard to adjust these lights once set so I'll post one when the whites are on. There's is still some color on the top and sides though which leads me to believe it's still alright and just upset. Would you recommend stopping the kalk drip or starting it back up?

 

[SeaDweller]

Thanks for the reply, it's so hard to adjust these lights once set so I'll post one when the whites are on. There's is still some color on the top and sides though which leads me to believe it's still alright and just upset. Would you recommend stopping the kalk drip or starting it back up?

Seeing how you only have a few small frags, you can probably stop the drip for now and just monitor the alk. How much are you dripping? 9.5 is kind of high for my tastes, also your Mg is low as well. What’s your NO3/PO4 at?

 

[Brandon Rush]

Seeing how you only have a few small frags, you can probably stop the drip for now and just monitor the alk. How much are you dripping? 9.5 is kind of high for my tastes, also your Mg is low as well. What’s your NO3/PO4 at?

I think it's the red sea salt I'm using. They are only in here for another 3 weeks then they'll be going to my display. Haven't tested it as there is hardly anything in this tank

 

[Dilan Patel]

personalkly I keep my alk high but if you keep it high you have to have nutrients in the tank. what is your po4, no3 at?

 

[SeaDweller]

I think it's the red sea salt I'm using. They are only in here for another 3 weeks then they'll be going to my display. Haven't tested it as there is hardly anything in this tank

I’d just stop dosing for 4-5 frags, especially if they’re only in there for a few weeks.

 

[Mal11224]

Your parameters seem out of balance. I believe that alkalinity, calcium and magnesium should be in balance. Your alk and calc seem a little high compared to your magnesium. Also, tank looks a little new. I’m curious as to what your nitrates and phosphate levels are. Lighting may be a factor as well.

 

[Brandon Rush]

Seeing how you only have a few small frags, you can probably stop the drip for now and just monitor the alk. How much are you dripping? 9.5 is kind of high for my tastes, also your Mg is low as well. What’s your NO3/PO4 at?

Drop a second, yea I did notice the magnesium being a little low. Other than water changes I don't have any magnesium supplements

 

[Brandon Rush]

Your parameters seem out of balance. I believe that alkalinity, calcium and magnesium should be in balance. Your alk and calc seem a little high compared to your magnesium. Also, tank looks a little new. I’m curious as to what your nitrates and phosphate levels are. Lighting

personalkly I keep my alk high but if you keep it high you have to have nutrients in the tank. what is your po4, no3 at?

I've been feeding the corals, but maybe not enough

 

[Brandon Rush]

Here's an updated pic

 

[Dilan Patel]

digi looks dead sorry to say

 

[Trevor40]

You do not need to add any kalk, alk or calcium at this point. I would just do small weekly water change. It looks like your tank is very new with no coraline algae.

 

[Brandon Rush]

digi looks dead sorry to say

I figured I'll leave it there for a few just to see. I'm thinking I dosed the kalkwasser too fast and shocked them, I'm working on bringing the mag up. Think the birds nest is salvageable?

 

[Mal11224]

I figured I'll leave it there for a few just to see. I'm thinking I dosed the kalkwasser too fast and shocked them, I'm working on bringing the mag up. Think the birds nest is salvageable?

How old is your tank? With so few corals, I doubt dosing is even necessary. The digi def looks pretty bad. Small weekly water changes may be enough to get you on the track to stability until you are really ready to dose.

 

[Dilan Patel]

birdsnest looks rough but can make a recovery. keep levels stable