Torch Diagnosis?

stacksoner · Jun 8, 2021

Has anyone seen their torch act like this for 2+ weeks? I'm honestly shocked that it's still alive as I have never seen a torch retract like this and not begin turning to jelly.

HB AL · Jun 8, 2021

Test water params to start with. Also an iodine dip won't hurt and if it's flatworms they will not die but come out in the dip if it has them. Happened to me years ago and that's what I encountered.

kartrsu · Jun 8, 2021

I’ve seen my hammers do that at night. It should return back to normal in an hour or so. If not, I would give it an iodine dip. Might be bacterial.

NowGlazeIT · Jun 8, 2021

Phosphates?

stacksoner · Jun 8, 2021

NowGlazeIT said:
Phosphates?

Here are my parameters

fuelman · Jun 8, 2021

the po4 & no3 are both too low. the po4 being more important to the torch. i would try to bring the po4 up to around .08 & get the no3 to about 5ppm. mag is also a bit low, torch coral like a bit higher mag around 1400 is best. ph is also on the low side 8.1-8.3 is preferred need to try & bring that up also.

stacksoner · Jun 8, 2021

fuelman said:
the po4 & no3 are both too low. the po4 being more important to the torch. i would try to bring the po4 up to around .08 & get the no3 to about 5ppm. mag is also a bit low, torch coral like a bit higher mag around 1400 is best. ph is also on the low side 8.1-8.3 is preferred need to try & bring that up also.

I feed them 5x a week...reef roids, oyster feast, rods food, coral frenzy, mysis, krill...

fuelman · Jun 8, 2021

slewrock1 said:
I feed them 5x a week...reef roids, oyster feast, rods food, coral frenzy, mysis, krill...

that's great they get food on the regular, but that's something that's in addition to optimal parameters. low po4 is an issue for torch coral, a 7.8 ph is not great for any stony coral. getting the parameters in line is more important. if everything is at optimal levels you can have a beautiful torch coral & not spot feed them at all, but the other way around & results may vary.

hds4216 · Jun 8, 2021

fuelman said:
the po4 & no3 are both too low. the po4 being more important to the torch. i would try to bring the po4 up to around .08 & get the no3 to about 5ppm. mag is also a bit low, torch coral like a bit higher mag around 1400 is best. ph is also on the low side 8.1-8.3 is preferred need to try & bring that up also.

OP’s po4 is 0.3, not 0.03. Too high if anything.

homer1475 · Jun 8, 2021

fuelman said:
that's great they get food on the regular, but that's something that's in addition to optimal parameters. low po4 is an issue for torch coral, a 7.8 ph is not great for any stony coral. getting the parameters in line is more important. if everything is at optimal levels you can have a beautiful torch coral & not spot feed them at all, but the other way around & results may vary.

I could not disagree more with this post.

7.8PH is a normal PH in a reef tank in a closed up home and is perfectly fine. Only thing elevated PH does for corals is allow them to grow faster. If it wasn't for those "great" BRS videos on PH, no one would even be concerned with PH like everyone is obsessed over now.

0.3 is too low for phosphates? What you smoking willis?

fuelman · Jun 8, 2021

hds4216 said:
OP’s po4 is 0.3, not 0.03. Too high if anything.

Yup you're right I looked at it again it is .3 , way to high, my bad on that one thought it showed .03

gonzo620 · Jun 8, 2021

I believe the alk formula for DKH for the aqua spin is divide by 10? That puts alk at 17 dkh that is high.

fuelman · Jun 8, 2021

homer1475 said:
I could not disagree more with this post.

7.8PH is a normal PH in a reef tank in a closed up home and is perfectly fine. Only thing elevated PH does for corals is allow them to grow faster. If it wasn't for those "great" BRS videos on PH, no one would even be concerned with PH like everyone is obsessed over now.

0.3 is too low for phosphates? What you smoking willis?

yup the po4 completely my fault thought it showed .03 not .3 that's a pretty big difference. , 7.8ph is on the low side of acceptable 8.1-8.3 is considered optimal at least according to Randy. my tanks have never gone below 8.15 even during the off lighting period. so i guess we just differ as to what normal is on that one.

NowGlazeIT · Jun 8, 2021

hds4216 said:
OP’s po4 is 0.3, not 0.03. Too high if anything.

This is my advice also. High phosphates killed my torches last week. My po3 went from a steady .05 to .35 and I lost a lot of coral till I found the problem. Turns out adding dry rock to an established reef has its risk

hds4216 · Jun 8, 2021

NowGlazeIT said:
This is my advice also. High phosphates killed my torches last week. My po3 went from a steady .05 to .35 and I lost a lot of coral till I found the problem. Turns out adding dry rock to an established reef has its risk

Similar story, my PO3 skyrocketed after a GFO malfunction and it's been causing multiple problems. My torches are okay so far, but I’m struggling with some sps