Torch coral/LPS issues

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

Hey guys!
I have a 10 gallon reef tank that I have been running for 10 months. I've had corals in it for some time and everything was good. Recently my LPS and torch started having issues. The polyps are reteacted and they look bad. I haven't seen any evidence of BJD. Any advice? I dont want to lose them :/ my softies look good (mushrooms and zoas)

Water parameters: (Tropic Marin)
Salinity - 1.025
Temp - 77.8
Alk - 8.1 (thats my normal)
Calcium - 455
Mag - 1340
Phosphate - .04
Nitrate - 3

Iam_Mitch · Apr 9, 2020

How is flow? Low flow I find over time will cause LPS to not be so happy.

zapbap99 · Apr 9, 2020

im gonna have to be honest that looks like a ton of algae down there i dont know if thats correct phosphate and nitrate you sure? otherwise its needs more flow from the looks or less flow

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

Iam_Mitch said:
How is flow? Low flow I find over time will cause LPS to not be so happy.

I dont know the exact GPH but its about 200/hr. This torch has been in here for about 5 months

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

zapbap99 said:
im gonna have to be honest that looks like a ton of algae down there i dont know if thats correct phosphate and nitrate you sure? otherwise its needs more flow from the looks or less flow

I agree. Recently there has been a huge bloom of GHA and I dont know where it came from. I used Hanna Checkers for Phosphate and my LFS for Nitrate. And this was it when it was healthy

Iam_Mitch · Apr 9, 2020

Algae can be causing the issue, fighting the coral for the nutrients. Maybe a series of water changes will help.

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

Iam_Mitch said:
Algae can be causing the issue, fighting the coral for the nutrients. Maybe a series of water changes will help.

I just did one a few days ago, I may try one on Saturday.

Iam_Mitch · Apr 9, 2020

I would do weekly water changes at 20% for a few weeks and see if that helps. Also, try different placements in the tank. Maybe with an area of more flow to get it going again. Nitrates and phosphates are likely low due to algae uptake.

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

Iam_Mitch said:
I would do weekly water changes at 20% for a few weeks and see if that helps. Also, try different placements in the tank. Maybe with an area of more flow to get it going again. Nitrates and phosphates are likely low due to algae uptake.

I'll give it a shot! Should I try to hand pick the algae as well during changes?

Iam_Mitch · Apr 9, 2020

Definitely, try to hand pick and siphon as much as possible. Do you have any better photos of the algae?

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

Iam_Mitch said:
Definitely, try to hand pick and siphon as much as possible. Do you have any better photos of the algae?

At the moment, no. I'm at work but I'll try to get some tomorrow. It looks like GHA and its growing on my zoa plugs pretty good.

Iam_Mitch · Apr 9, 2020

If you can remove the plugs so you can brush off the GHA and pull off and siphon whatever is on the rocks that’s a good start. Try not to brush the rocks in the tank as it will just cause the spores to grab a hold elsewhere on the rocks.

Landoh17 · Apr 9, 2020

Iam_Mitch said:
If you can remove the plugs so you can brush off the GHA and pull off and siphon whatever is on the rocks that’s a good start. Try not to brush the rocks in the tank as it will just cause the spores to grab a hold elsewhere on the rocks.

I've been trying to pull them off the past few days. It feels like they come back in force lol
I feel like everything took an odd turn when I knocked my aqauscape over during a WC

Iam_Mitch · Apr 10, 2020

When you can, take a couple good pics of the algae to make sure it’s not Dino’s. Manual removal and water changes for a few weeks is where I would start first. Your tank is very small so swings in water parameters can happen very quickly. Good thing is a water changes and thinga should start moving the right direction.