My largest and newest frag is dying head by head, and yet my other two Candy Cane frags are doing just fine and they are all in the same spot. I looked and there are pink spiky looking things on the skeleton or "stalk" as I like to call it. Is that what's killing it? Any ideas?
What is killing my Candy Cane?
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SorshaKay
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I'm sorry, I can't get a pic to you at this time. My camera is dead but I will still try and get a picture somehow. I don't think that's what it is though. Today I came home and one of my powerheads had fallen off the glass and blew sand everywhere making the situation even worse. My candy cane that I have had forever, half of it is dying now also. I've been moving it around to see if I can get the flow right, but I can't seem to get that right either. Why would one half be okay and the other half dying? I tested my parameters and I have high nitrates. Could the powerhead falling have caused my nitrates to spike? I don't know why I would suddenly have another cycle in a 2 year old tank?? My protein skimmer has also stopped skimming like it should, it's only making little bubbles. I feel like my tank is on the verge of crashing and I'm really panicking. I don't know what to do or how to stop this, and my candy canes are drying and getting to the skeleton way faster than I would have thought. I know this is no longer about just my candy cane, but any help would be appreciated.
melypr1985
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Ok sweety, DONT PANIC! Its going to be ok. panic and decisions made while in a panic state are never a good thing. Now, it sounds to me like pests. Do you have a dip like Coral RX or Coral Revive? If not, pick some up and give those candy canes a good dip (follow the directions on the bottle). Look in the bottom of the bowl when your done and see what fell off the corals. Then report back with what you found. Pictures will always help but while we are waiting for the results of your coral dip.... What are the exact numbers for your water parameters? Do you test for Calcium, Magnesium and Alk?
Just breathe. You can do this..... we're gunna help you.
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I would begin to do a series of small water changes if you think your tank is on the verge of crashing.Then get your equipment running again properly.I recommend adding activated carbon right away to help with the ammonia that may be present. A additional hang on the back filter at this time to increase circulation may be helpful. Again it is very difficult to help without pictures or additional information.That said,it may be brown jelly disease, ammonia,phosphates and/or high nitrates causing problems.Write back soon and Good Luck!
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SorshaKay
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Thank you guys, I'm really sorry work was super busy and I had to work over so I just had to direct my husband what to do and am just now getting time to get on the computer. I was def panicking last night. I've decided to get rid of all of my coral once I can get them back on track if I can even get them to live. I just don't feel like I'm good enough to grow coral. I took your advice and he dipped the two that are half dead/dying. He said nothing fell off the coral or remained when he took it out and he done it for the full 30 minutes. He also fragged off the dead part which also was the part that had the pink spiky things on it. Tested parameters, Ammonia is 0, Nitrates 40, Nitrites 0, Calcium 440, Alk is 125.3, PH is 8.2 and I don't have the test kit for Magnesium.
We added the carbon per your advice. My husband is going to go to the LFS and get some saltwater. My tank is 75G all HOB with no sump or anything. How many gallons/when to do a water change until these Nitrates disappear? Can I do anything to make this mini cycle easier, or do you even think it's a cycle? I just don't know where the ammonia/nitrates could have came from.
No angels, my stock is a blue green chromis, a banggai cardinal, 4 osc Clowns, and a diamond watchman goby. Oh, and one emerald crab (Frank) I keep my tank very lightly stocked. At first the heads just didn't open, then they started shrinking more, then the skeleton started showing. It didn't look like anyone was eating it. I just can't get my flow right no matter what.
I'm not going to lie, the tank is a little neglected. We just bought a house and it's been kind of a nightmare and financially draining, and I have a good amount of medical problems so when I should be doing things for my tank that it probably needs, I can't unless my husband helps me. I do a 20% water change once a month and dose Kent Mag. and Aquavitro Fuel every two weeks. That is what our LFS told us to use, we have no idea what we are doing lol
I have two EcoTech XR15w Pro's set at intensity level 55% and leave them on for 7 hours every day. Is that too much? All I have are 3 Candy Cane, 1 medium sized Frogspawn (It only has two heads and literally it took a year to grow the second head) and a medium sized Xenia.
I will be happy to give any more information if it helps. Sorry about the lack of pictures
We added the carbon per your advice. My husband is going to go to the LFS and get some saltwater. My tank is 75G all HOB with no sump or anything. How many gallons/when to do a water change until these Nitrates disappear? Can I do anything to make this mini cycle easier, or do you even think it's a cycle? I just don't know where the ammonia/nitrates could have came from.
No angels, my stock is a blue green chromis, a banggai cardinal, 4 osc Clowns, and a diamond watchman goby. Oh, and one emerald crab (Frank) I keep my tank very lightly stocked. At first the heads just didn't open, then they started shrinking more, then the skeleton started showing. It didn't look like anyone was eating it. I just can't get my flow right no matter what.
I'm not going to lie, the tank is a little neglected. We just bought a house and it's been kind of a nightmare and financially draining, and I have a good amount of medical problems so when I should be doing things for my tank that it probably needs, I can't unless my husband helps me. I do a 20% water change once a month and dose Kent Mag. and Aquavitro Fuel every two weeks. That is what our LFS told us to use, we have no idea what we are doing lol
I have two EcoTech XR15w Pro's set at intensity level 55% and leave them on for 7 hours every day. Is that too much? All I have are 3 Candy Cane, 1 medium sized Frogspawn (It only has two heads and literally it took a year to grow the second head) and a medium sized Xenia.
I will be happy to give any more information if it helps. Sorry about the lack of pictures
Martin H. Lawton
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Hey Sorsha have you read what I posted on the Carolina Reef Aquaria group on facebook?
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Well,your parameters so far are pretty decent.Be sure to check the salinity as well! Your nitrates are high but the corals should be able to recover.Keep up the good work and continue the once a month water changes.It sounds like dosing is unnecessary at this time.If you can't test for magnesium you may want to stop this for now. As for lighting,how long have you had them at 55%?
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SorshaKay
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ha ha Hey Martin! I haven't gotten on there this morning (I think? I might have, I was sleepy) Okay, yeah my salinity fluctuates more than I would like it to because I don't top off like I should. The house that we are renting now it's really difficult to make the RODI. Hopefully that will change when we move into our house in a few months. I promise to be a more responsible pet parent with my marine tank. My dogs and freshwater kill me lol
Okay, I will stop dosing. What should my parameters be? I want to make my tank better after this. I've had them at 55 for about 3 months. Do you think it is to strong or not enough? The fixture I had before this was 6 long T5 bulbs and my Frogspawn looked amazing, but ever since I got the EcoTech it's only been good. It still comes out, but I have never seen a more plump Frogspawn then when I had the t5's.
My dogs and freshwater kill me lolOkay, I will stop dosing. What should my parameters be? I want to make my tank better after this. I've had them at 55 for about 3 months. Do you think it is to strong or not enough? The fixture I had before this was 6 long T5 bulbs and my Frogspawn looked amazing, but ever since I got the EcoTech it's only been good. It still comes out, but I have never seen a more plump Frogspawn then when I had the t5's.
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Well one thing I have learned over the years is to never over look salinity.That could be the problem right there.Keep track of the levels more often and top of small amounts of a regular basis.Try to keep it around 1.023-1.025.If you do find the salinity to be really high,you will want to lower it slowly.Think hours or even days.
Your posted parameters are okay with the exception of the nitrates.I try to keep mine at about 15 ppm in my mixed reef.I try to keep my mag at around 1300.As for lighting,you could try slowly bumping up the intensity to see if the corals respond well.Seven hours per day should be okay.
Your posted parameters are okay with the exception of the nitrates.I try to keep mine at about 15 ppm in my mixed reef.I try to keep my mag at around 1300.As for lighting,you could try slowly bumping up the intensity to see if the corals respond well.Seven hours per day should be okay.
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SorshaKay
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Great, thank you! I will measure the salinity and I just ordered two new powerheads (Jebao WP-25) and I think that will help a lot. Hopefully. I'm really stressing about placement where I am at work it will be hard to get the placement right, especially since I am going from 2400 GPH to however much those things are....
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SorshaKay
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Okay so both of the powerheads are in and as I said in my other thread, even both of them at the lowest setting is to much flow. Sand and my fish were blowing everywhere and all the corals closed up. I have one on the Else W3 setting and everyone seems to like it, but is that enough flow?? I feel like I should have ordered one WP-25 and one that was smaller. So now what do I do with the second one?
I went out and bought the Red Sea Magnesium test. I'm having a lot of trouble doing the Calcium and Magnesium test because it's really hard for me to determine when the solution changes from purple to blue. My husband and I are both at a loss. We even watched Youtube videos on how to do it. The API test kit for calcium says that once the solution turns purple it should only take one to two drops before the solution turns blue. It was taking us like 4-5 drops before we finally gave up/thought it might be blue. Anyone else having this problem???
Why did my Nitrates increase after the 5 gallon water change I done?
Salinity 1.026, Mag 1520 ish PPM (like I said I may have messed it up, because I stopped at what I thought was blue??), Nitrates 80PPM, Nitrites 0, Cal 440 PPM and Alk is 143.2 PPM. So Cal and Mag could be completely wrong. Fantastic.
I'm not sure of what to do now or why my Nitrates have even spiked in the first place. I'm assuming some of it is from when the previous powerhead fell and stirred up all the sand.
I'm getting ready to do a 10 gallon water change. Is that to much for my 75G? I'm assuming that is the only thing that will lower the Nitrates.
I went out and bought the Red Sea Magnesium test. I'm having a lot of trouble doing the Calcium and Magnesium test because it's really hard for me to determine when the solution changes from purple to blue. My husband and I are both at a loss. We even watched Youtube videos on how to do it. The API test kit for calcium says that once the solution turns purple it should only take one to two drops before the solution turns blue. It was taking us like 4-5 drops before we finally gave up/thought it might be blue. Anyone else having this problem???
Why did my Nitrates increase after the 5 gallon water change I done?
Salinity 1.026, Mag 1520 ish PPM (like I said I may have messed it up, because I stopped at what I thought was blue??), Nitrates 80PPM, Nitrites 0, Cal 440 PPM and Alk is 143.2 PPM. So Cal and Mag could be completely wrong. Fantastic.
I'm not sure of what to do now or why my Nitrates have even spiked in the first place. I'm assuming some of it is from when the previous powerhead fell and stirred up all the sand.
I'm getting ready to do a 10 gallon water change. Is that to much for my 75G? I'm assuming that is the only thing that will lower the Nitrates.
abinder
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I believe that with the Red Sea magnesium test kit, at least with their video, they suggest the proper point is where the color changes from purple to blue for a few seconds and then it will turn back to purple.
Also, when checking for colors in test kits, I believe that it's recommended that you look at the color with a light source that's in the white range of the color spectrum.
Also, when checking for colors in test kits, I believe that it's recommended that you look at the color with a light source that's in the white range of the color spectrum.
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SorshaKay
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We watched that video when we were doing it and still couldn't get it lol I'll just have to try again, but I did get both powerheads working! I also put my radions on a different setting, and increased the strength of the lights by 5% and my Frogspawn is looking the best it's looked since we moved Done a 5 gallon water change and will do another one Thursday and then test my water again.
Done a 5 gallon water change and will do another one Thursday and then test my water again.
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Your new pumps should work out nice.Your candy cane will like indirect and steady flow.If you feel that the pumps are too powerful,try arching them upwards.A turbulent surface is good for gas exchange.You could also try blasting them towards a wall or heavy rock to diffuse some of the force.
Good advice from @abinder regarding the magnesium test.Just keep doing the testing,it will get easier with practice.The benefits will highly out weigh the inconvenience.For calcium testing,be certain to shake the vial thoroughly after each drop.With the API calcium test it really should take only a few more drops after you hit purple.If you find it takes much more,then the water sample may have above 520ppm for calcium.Also as mentioned good lighting is helpful.
As for your nitrates,sometimes they will increase when you stir things up with a water change.Definitely increase the amount and frequency of your water changes until the nitrates become more manageable.You may want to go a full 25%,around 20 gallons.Try dividing you tank into sections and do one part at a time.One section now,another section in a few days.Then remove the rocks if possible and siphon the "mud" from underneath.If you have filter media to catch loose particles,rinse it out the day after maintenance.Again this is were a HOB can work some magic of sorts.Keep your protein skimmer squeaky clean too.
Finally,try not to stress out too much about having perfect parameters.You are on the right track educating yourself and taking action.Good luck!
Good advice from @abinder regarding the magnesium test.Just keep doing the testing,it will get easier with practice.The benefits will highly out weigh the inconvenience.For calcium testing,be certain to shake the vial thoroughly after each drop.With the API calcium test it really should take only a few more drops after you hit purple.If you find it takes much more,then the water sample may have above 520ppm for calcium.Also as mentioned good lighting is helpful.
As for your nitrates,sometimes they will increase when you stir things up with a water change.Definitely increase the amount and frequency of your water changes until the nitrates become more manageable.You may want to go a full 25%,around 20 gallons.Try dividing you tank into sections and do one part at a time.One section now,another section in a few days.Then remove the rocks if possible and siphon the "mud" from underneath.If you have filter media to catch loose particles,rinse it out the day after maintenance.Again this is were a HOB can work some magic of sorts.Keep your protein skimmer squeaky clean too.
Finally,try not to stress out too much about having perfect parameters.You are on the right track educating yourself and taking action.Good luck!
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SorshaKay
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Thank you so much! I will take your advice I think you might be right about my calcium though :/ I've stopped dosing so hopefully with a few more water changes I should be able to get things semi normalized and then I can start dosing if necessary.
I think you might be right about my calcium though :/ I've stopped dosing so hopefully with a few more water changes I should be able to get things semi normalized and then I can start dosing if necessary.
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