Why can't I keep chalices alive?

[WesF]

All living things need a little phosphate.

I've seen chalices do great in some pretty dirty tanks. Phosphate levels of 0.05 definitely won't harm them.

They are much less sensitive than SPS.

 

[always reefin]

All living things need a little phosphate.

I've seen chalices do great in some pretty dirty tanks. Phosphate levels of 0.05 definitely won't harm them.

They are much less sensitive than SPS.

What won't "harm" them and what's in their best interest may be 2 different things :bigsmile:

 

[WesF]

growing huge and colorful isn't in their best interest?

 

[always reefin]

thread asking for help. Op states phosphates?, just trying to help

 

[bct15]

How do you acclimate them? Also, do you have pictures of your chalices and information on where you placed them. In my experience, like many other corals, placement is keen with chalices. If you give a certain species of chalice too much flow it will die fast just as another species may die because it is not in direct flow.

I acclimate everything the same, I temp acclimate in a Tupperware container, then add 10 oz of aquarium water every fifteen minutes for about an hour to two hours while floating the Tupperware. I placed both of them on the sand. Below is the only pic I have of the one I have now, it actually started growing then stopped and started receding. It completely grew over the white you see in the pic then reversed. This is when I first got it, it only has two eyes left.

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[amppdx]

I have 3 chalices and tons of softies in a 29g. I frequently get bits of skeleton showing up along the edges and in every case I have tracked it down to a neighbor not playing nice. Of the 3 chalices 2 can touch and be jsut fine, but if either gets too close to the third they will get munched. I have also had discosoma mushrooms and yumas take a bite of the chalices. They always heal eventually, but never grow tissue back over the exposed skeleton.

 

[tapout]

Any wild coral colony can be a bit finicky as compared to aquacultured. When acclimating them to your tank keep them in a shaded area and slowly move them out of the shade. Then you may move them where you want on the sand bed. Try spot feeding them 1-2 times weekly.

 

[WesF]

You are barking up the wrong tree is all I'm sayin

 

[always reefin]

You are barking up the wrong tree is all I'm sayin

Really, no ones "barking" pal! I clearly stated my "opinion" my "experience" and "no offense" As stated I'm just trying to help. How about you?

 

[KJAG]

To interject with an outside perspective here : agreed that a little PO4 is beneficial. I wouldn't however, tank any advice from a reefer who let(s) their phosphates creep up to 1.65

 

[WesF]

Really, no ones "barking" pal! I clearly stated my "opinion" my "experience" and "no offense" As stated I'm just trying tio help. How about you?

It's a figure of speech. No offense. I'm trying to help by pointing out that chasing your magic number of 0.01 is a waste of time because that's not what is killing the chalices. Hence, "barking up the wrong tree."

 

[jt17]

With weekly gfo change out your water may be "too clean". I've read other threads stating their chalices don't like when they run gfo. Your phosphate level could be the answer. My chalices and other LPS are happier than my SPS and my phosphates aren't exactly perfect.

 

[Emoney]

are you dosing anything?? how are you keeping calcium levels up? (reactor, kalk, dosing?)

no expert but ive lost some expensive corals for dosing bionc manually (imo from alk swings) chalices hate alk swings IMO

 

[always reefin]

are you dosing anything?? how are you keeping calcium levels up? (reactor, kalk, dosing?)

no expert but ive lost some expensive corals for dosing bionc manually (imo from alk swings) chalices hate alk swings IMO

good point

 

[KLR]

I acclimate everything the same, I temp acclimate in a Tupperware container, then add 10 oz of aquarium water every fifteen minutes for about an hour to two hours while floating the Tupperware. I placed both of them on the sand. Below is the only pic I have of the one I have now, it actually started growing then stopped and started receding. It completely grew over the white you see in the pic then reversed. This is when I first got it, it only has two eyes left.

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Acclimation is definitely not the problem then. Whenever you say the 2 were wild do mean like they were recently imported or they have been sitting at some store for X amount of time but before that they were wild? Also, have you considered trying a chalice that has been aqua cultured for years, like the Miami Hurricane? This test could prove the wild potential issue valid or invalid.

 

[KLR]

are you dosing anything?? how are you keeping calcium levels up? (reactor, kalk, dosing?)

no expert but ive lost some expensive corals for dosing bionc manually (imo from alk swings) chalices hate alk swings IMO

This too^.

 

[jedidad]

Not a chalice guy but could the nitrates being over 20 be part of the problem? That seems a bit high.

 

[bct15]

are you dosing anything?? how are you keeping calcium levels up? (reactor, kalk, dosing?)

no expert but ive lost some expensive corals for dosing bionc manually (imo from alk swings) chalices hate alk swings IMO

I am dosing 2 part, I used to use a calcium reactor but it was loud and sometimes problematic. The two part is dosed in five intervals throughout the day, with 45 minutes between calcium and alk.


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[bct15]

Not a chalice guy but could the nitrates being over 20 be part of the problem? That seems a bit high.

That was a typo, I meant

Nitrates < 20ppm

My test indicator only reads to 20ppm but my color change does not get that far but there is a slight color change. I'm just using the multiple test dip sticks.


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[renoeb]

chalices prefer "dirty" water, and a nutrient deficient system will slowly starve them.