Toadstool bleaching, Xenia shrinking

[mjw88]

Hi, for the past week or so my toadstool has one branch thriving and apparently splitting for new growth but on side is bleaching and my Xenias look like some are shrinking and wilting. Tank params are ok, salinity has been slightly high 1.027-1.028, doing a 40% water change today. Ammonia is 0, nitrate 2ppm, ph right at 8, temp 77’. I did lose a cluster of Duncan’s about a month ago to brown jelly disease, but never did find a root cause other than a tiger cowrie I had was caught as he started to much on the Duncan’s and GSP, he is no longer a resident in the tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That high salinity will be an issue alone
It is simple to bring it down. Take BBC a large cup and bail out the cup of water. Replace it with a full cup of RODI water and continue until you’ve reached desired salinity
What test kits are you using?
Both require moderate light and water flow

 

[mjw88]

In addition, my rainbow Anemone has blown up, came out from hiding over the past month or so and has gotten very large, I’d almost guess he’s doubled in size or more, don’t really have any old photos but he was maybe palm sized before, now he’s much larger (sorry the clowns absolutely refuse to get out of my way, they’re worse than dogs for begging for food)

 

[mjw88]

That high salinity will be an issue alone
It is simple to bring it down. Take BBC a large cup and bail out the cup of water. Replace it with a full cup of RODI water and continue until you’ve reached desired salinity
What test kits are you using?
Both require moderate light and water flow

Thank you, yes I topped off yesterday and got it to 1.027, going to change the water and keep the batch at 1.024 to try and balance it out, just waiting for it to warm up. Can a coral rebound from that much bleaching? Also my test kits are Salifert brand

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you, yes I topped off yesterday and got it to 1.027, going to change the water and keep the batch at 1.024 to try and balance it out, just waiting for it to warm up. Can a coral rebound from that much bleaching?

Yes- proper salinity and light for zooxanthellae will help restore color

 

[Treefer32]

Yes, get the salinity down. Soft corals don't like things that harsh. Well, I don't know of much in the reef that will thrive at that high salinity level. It's o.k. to be lower but not necessarily higher.

Also, nutrients. Xenia and Toadstools like nutrients. It used to be said that xenia would grow in the back of toilettes. As long as the water was somewhat salty and dirty it would grow. I have too much xenia because I have phosphates at .05 and nitrates at 20. They like dirty water. My toadstool is also huge and open everyday... If I start to get cleaner water then I run into issues with my softies.

 

[mjw88]

That high salinity will be an issue alone
It is simple to bring it down. Take BBC a large cup and bail out the cup of water. Replace it with a full cup of RODI water and continue until you’ve reached desired salinity
What test kits are you using?
Both require moderate light and water flow

Thank you, yes I topped off yesterday and got it to 1.027, going to change the water and keep the batch at 1.024 to try and balance it out, just waiting for it to warm up. Can a coral rebound from

 

[mjw88]

Yes, get the salinity down. Soft corals don't like things that harsh. Well, I don't know of much in the reef that will thrive at that high salinity level. It's o.k. to be lower but not necessarily higher.

Also, nutrients. Xenia and Toadstools like nutrients. It used to be said that xenia would grow in the back of toilettes. As long as the water was somewhat salty and dirty it would grow. I have too much xenia because I have phosphates at .05 and nitrates at 20. They like dirty water. My toadstool is also huge and open everyday... If I start to get cleaner water then I run into issues with my softies.

ok good to know, I don’t think I have much for nutrients, my protein skimmer is rarely dirty, it gets a slight green buildup on the tube but the reservoir is pretty clean, this is about a week of run time, when I had more fish I seemed to have a lot dirtier skim, wondering if I need to just add more food more often

 

[mjw88]

So to increase nutrients and make my water “dirtier” Do I just need to feed my corals more frequently? I usually feed them once a week, I make up a slurry of tank water and reef food, then baste feed directly. Should I change this up?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So to increase nutrients and make my water “dirtier” Do I just need to feed my corals more frequently? I usually feed them once a week, I make up a slurry of tank water and reef food, then baste feed directly. Should I change this up?

Don’t food them too much especially dry foods which can shoot up your phosphate in no time

 

[vetteguy53081]

So to increase nutrients and make my water “dirtier” Do I just need to feed my corals more frequently? I usually feed them once a week, I make up a slurry of tank water and reef food, then baste feed directly. Should I change this up?

That diet you mentioned is adequate as is fish poo for them

 

[mjw88]

That diet you mentioned is adequate as is fish poo for them

So another question, I hade relatively no phosphate reading on my test kit, after the water change I ran a test for the heck of it and my phosphate is between .25 and .5 on the color chart, I ran it multiple times and checked my RO water source and it was not readable. Is it common for phosphates to spike after a water change? I did test shortly after feeding the clowns, would that have an effect on the increase? I changed out 15 gallons on a 40 gallon cube

 

[PokeFish]

So another question, I hade relatively no phosphate reading on my test kit, after the water change I ran a test for the heck of it and my phosphate is between .25 and .5 on the color chart, I ran it multiple times and checked my RO water source and it was not readable. Is it common for phosphates to spike after a water change? I did test shortly after feeding the clowns, would that have an effect on the increase? I changed out 15 gallons on a 40 gallon cube

maybe u kicked up detitus or something

 

[vetteguy53081]

So another question, I hade relatively no phosphate reading on my test kit, after the water change I ran a test for the heck of it and my phosphate is between .25 and .5 on the color chart, I ran it multiple times and checked my RO water source and it was not readable. Is it common for phosphates to spike after a water change? I did test shortly after feeding the clowns, would that have an effect on the increase? I changed out 15 gallons on a 40 gallon cube

What test kits are you using
If you checked right after a water change , you likely have false readings as you want suspended matter to first settle.
Check 8-12 hours after water change

 

[mjw88]

What test kits are you using
If you checked right after a water change , you likely have false readings as you want suspended matter to first settle.
Check 8-12 hours after water change

Salifert reagent tests.