What’s wrong with my torch ?

[ReefKeeper666]

This guys been in my tank 4 months. Never a problem before today. Nice big torch I paid 60 bux for. Been in same spot the whole time. Now today he’s shrunk up. What happend? He’s been this way all day.
tank has one pajama cardinal in it For 9 days.
had velvet and tank was fallow for 46 days before adding cardinal. All other corals look good.
torch is not close to other corals. Last water change 11 days ago.
salinity 1.024
Temp 78.8
Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10

 

[HairyGary]

What about PO4? Detectable? Torches can be really finicky. They can cruise along fine for a while and then just start to melt away.

Has your lighting changed at all?

 

[ArmyReefer]

Honestly torch corals are super weird like that. I had my torch garden for over 2 years then all of a sudden two had polyp bail out with in a month of each other. The only advice I can give you is, move it to low flow. Keep an eye on it, because if it releases its head from the skeleton he can float into another coral. (trust me I know)

 

[Marc2952]

the fact that you have 0 nitrates makes me believe that PO4 is also either 0 or very low. Bring the nutrients up it just looks like its starving.

 

[ReefKeeper666]

How do I bring them up?

the fact that you have 0 nitrates makes me believe that PO4 is also either 0 or very low. Bring the nutrients up it just looks like its starving.

 

[ReefKeeper666]

What about PO4? Detectable? Torches can be really finicky. They can cruise along fine for a while and then just start to melt away.

Has your lighting changed at all?

A lil bit I had no white light cause of no fish. I bumped the white light up from 0 to 5 pct

 

[HairyGary]

How do I bring them up?

Well, I think your nitrates say 10 right? More fish and feed to raise if nutrients are undetectable.

Re Lighting - I don't know what lights you have and why you needed to have whites at 0. If Leds, I would just make sure they are not getting too much light.

 

[ReefKeeper666]

Ok I’ll have 2 out of QT on Friday.
I have LED lights
Currently at :
Blue: 96%
White: 5%
purple: 1%
red: 2%
cyan: 1%

what should I adjust the lights too?

Well, I think your nitrates say 10 right? More fish and feed to raise if nutrients are undetectable.

Re Lighting - I don't know what lights you have and why you needed to have whites at 0. If Leds, I would just make sure they are not getting too much light.

 

[Marc2952]

How do I bring them up?

I personally will buy trisodium phosphate ( very cheap on amazon ) aswell as nitrate and make my own solution. Its very cheap and its better to dose phosphate then just feed alot since you gonna be adding more then just nitrates and phosphates. Dont be surprises if you add tons of phosphates and still read 0 since your rock and sand will absorb alot of it before it is detectable in the water column.

 

[HairyGary]

Ok I’ll have 2 out of QT on Friday.
I have LED lights
Currently at :
Blue: 96%
White: 5%
purple: 1%
red: 2%
cyan: 1%

what should I adjust the lights too?

Intensity is important with Leds. Too much intensity can fry any coral. I would do some research on the brand of light you have and what programs others are running?

 

[ReefKeeper666]

Sounds good. In the meantime would bumping up the red light a lil help?

Intensity is important with Leds. Too much intensity can fry any coral. I would do some research on the brand of light you have and what programs others are running?

 

[HairyGary]

Sounds good. In the meantime would bumping up the red light a lil help?

I would not. Just keep colors as is and figure out best intensity on your lighting system. But again, you have to do things slow in this hobby. We all lose corals from time to time for some unknown reason. I would just not rush to try to fix something quick as it may be detrimental to those corals doing well. Good luck!

 

[ReefKeeper666]

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

I would not. Just keep colors as is and figure out best intensity on your lighting system. But again, you have to do things slow in this hobby. We all lose corals from time to time for some unknown reason. I would just not rush to try to fix something quick as it may be detrimental to those corals doing well. Good luck!

 

[HairyGary]

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

You are welcome!