Torch coral dying.

[BaileyAR]

What can I do? Part of my torch is dying. I just did a 10min coral dip and water change.
No other corals seem affected so I believe my water parameters are good. Half of it is still flowing strong like always but can tell hes gonna go soon too. This coral was good, great the whole time. No change in flow or lighting when it was healthy for months. What could casue this? Can it still bounce back?

 

[Lavey29]

It's hard to say without more info. Age of the tank? Complete current parameters? What par is it in? What flow level? How long have you had the coral?

 

[BaileyAR]

It's hard to say without more info. Age of the tank? Complete current parameters? What par is it in? What flow level? How long have you had the coral?

Tank has been running since june 2022. Torch was added in august 2022
salinity 35ppt
Calcium 300 ppm
Hardness 5 dKH
Phos- 0
Nitrate - 0~5

 

[DarthChaos]

Its starving to death.....

You have no nutrients. No3 & Po4 show you - your tank lacks nutrients for coral to thrive.

And 5 dKH - is ridiculously low Alkalinity.

Tank has been running since june 2022. Torch was added in august 2022
salinity 35ppt
Calcium 300 ppm
Hardness 5 dKH
Phos- 0
Nitrate - 0~5

 

[dstockwell]

Calc low, 0 Phos not good

 

[BaileyAR]

It's hard to say without more info. Age of the tank? Complete current parameters? What par is it in? What flow level? How long have you had the coral?

I havnt tested in awhile. It was normally
salinity 37ppt
Hardness 10
Calcium ~400
Phos - 0
Nitrate ~5

just tested and it was definitely swayed abit. Posted a reply with current parameters.

 

[BaileyAR]

Its starving to death.....

You have no nutrients. No3 & Po4 show you - your tank lacks nutrients for coral to thrive.

And 5 dKH - is ridiculously low Alkalinity.

I have been slowing down on feedings.(use to do at least once a week reef roids) bc of some GHA that started coming in and didnt want to fuel it. But no it seems i went little to less on feedings. What should I do to safety raise it? I did go from weekly wc to bi weekly

 

[BaileyAR]

Its starving to death.....

You have no nutrients. No3 & Po4 show you - your tank lacks nutrients for coral to thrive.

And 5 dKH - is ridiculously low Alkalinity.

Im also using api’s test kit and i dont know how accurate it really is. Ive tested 420~ cal before and went and brought a sample to WWC and they told me 350~ So hard to believe these results sometimes.

 

[Salty2021]

You want to keep your nitrates and phos elevated. But stability is what is crucial.

 

[pianosdr]

Im also using api’s test kit and i dont know how accurate it really is. Ive tested 420~ cal before and went and brought a sample to WWC and they told me 350~ So hard to believe these results sometimes.

I would not use API for almost any test (maybe any, I dunno…never actually used it for anything). I trust hanna and Red Sea for KH/PO3/4. I would buy both and use them both to increase confidence in results.

 

[DarthChaos]

Im also using api’s test kit and i dont know how accurate it really is. Ive tested 420~ cal before and went and brought a sample to WWC and they told me 350~ So hard to believe these results sometimes.

1. API are not good test kits....for saltwater, past the cycling stage. Use a more accurate test kit - Hanna, Red Sea, Salifert are far more reliable.

2. Alkalinity in natural seawater is closer to 7 dKH. Ideal in a home reef tank, is 8-12 - because this leaves wiggle room. Errors happen....so, this leaves the avg home reefer with some adjustment.

3. Corals NEED food. LPS, especially....need nutrients. Even SPS (which can take a lot lower) - but corals need nutrients in the water. If your No3 & Po4 have been low for a long time....not only are your corals suffering - they hungry...but you are also staring down the barrel of getting Dinos.

Sadly....I think this torch is done. For the rest of your tank, raise the nutrients and I can promise, your corals will thank you

 

[officialreefbros]

I unfortunately have had similar happen, where all of a sudden half of it was gone and wasn't able to save any

 

[Lavey29]

I havnt tested in awhile. It was normally
salinity 37ppt
Hardness 10
Calcium ~400
Phos - 0
Nitrate ~5

just tested and it was definitely swayed abit. Posted a reply with current parameters.

I think you already got the info you need. Your tank is way out of balance. Salinity slightly high, alk and cal low and nitrates and phosphate bottomed out. Start with a good water change to bring alk and cal up and correct Salinity. Then you can feed more to bring nitrates and phosphate up. Corals additives will also bring phosphate up like roids once a week or AB plus. You want nitrates at 10 and phosphate. 05 to .1. Try to slowly invest in better test checkers like Hanna. You need to test weekly and because your tank is new weekly water changes.