Unhappy Duncan, Possible Problem?

millticket · Mar 16, 2021

For the last week my Duncan has not extended. I recently had to move it and my frogspawn due to my maroon clown picking at them. My clown has a huge BTA it calls home, I almost tend to believe it was a territorial behavior. Anyways a couple days ago I noticed what looks to be a brown/dead patch possibly. I gave it an amino dip this morning and snapped this pic afterwards. Do you think it’s salvageable?

Parameters are stable at 8 alk, 420 cal, 1400 mag, 1.026 salinity. Frogspawn and all other corals (mostly lps, montis and stylos) are doing great!

vetteguy53081 · Mar 16, 2021

May be a sting from nearby coral
Other would be high salinity, high nitrate, lights too bright, inadequate water flow... lack of feeding and low calcium

millticket · Mar 16, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
May be a sting from nearby coral
Other would be high salinity, high nitrate, lights too bright, inadequate water flow... lack of feeding and low calcium

Stinging is an issue with where I have it placed. I just can’t get a grasp on why it stays receded. It acted like it was going to extend after the amino dip but it ended up not. All parameters are great, flow is good where it’s at, and my hammers, leptastreas, candy canes are all happy. Truly mysterious

vetteguy53081 · Mar 16, 2021

You said all parameters are great. Mag high and should be 1300 range. CA low, should be 450
What are other parameters and what test kits are you using ?

millticket · Mar 16, 2021

Should have checked my apex. Mag runs about 1360 and calcium at 420 (normal reef range is 380 to 450 coming from RHF post). I only have quick strips for nitrite/nitrate which show nothing of concern. They aren’t the most reliable but given the Duncan is the only unhappy coral out of lps and sps, I feel like everything is good. I’m due for another 5% Water change in this 10 year old 40 breeder so maybe that will perk it up? I do weekly water changes and run a 10 gallon refugium with Caleurpa.