Why can't I keep frogspawn? Grrrrr...

[jeffchapok]

My alkalinity has varied more than anything else. You can see I had this big drop back in Feb, so I started dosing after that. Since then it hasn't varied more than .5 dkh and I've only had the frogspawn since mid-March, so they didn't experience this swing.

 

[Katie M]

You posted about your nitrate and phosphate being stable early in the thread but how stable has your alkalinity been? Swings in alkalinity can cause delayed reactions of what you are seeing. Do you dose? Is your alkalinity dropping a bunch between water changes then jumping up 2, 3, or more dkh when you do your water change every 2 weeks?

This is exactly what I was referring to earlier, and I see what you posted after this. Alkalinity is a huge variable when it comes to coral decline and though it's not swinging much, it might still be the culprit, I'm sorry you lost some more polyps .... that sucks!

 

[Katie M]

Quick question, what are you using to test your Alkalinity? (and other parameters)?

 

[jeffchapok]

Quick question, what are you using to test your Alkalinity? (and other parameters)?

Salifert kits

 

[jeffchapok]

2 down, 2 to go...

I have decreased white light and flow. Hopefully these last two heads will hang on.

I think turbulence from my magnetic scraper may have been responsible for knocking the other heads loose. At least I hope that's what it was. I tried to be careful around them, but who knows. I have moved them further away from the glass now.

 

[brandon429]

how has your feeding and export been tuned, above steady states and current levels...those are likely top 2 needs along with white reduction intensity.

 

[Gernader]

It looks like it could be temperature or salinity related.

1. Try increasing the temp to 77 to 78 degrees
2. Bring the salinity up to 1.026 sg.
3. Increase magnesium to around 1400.

 

[jeffchapok]

It looks like it could be temperature or salinity related.

1. Try increasing the temp to 77 to 78 degrees
2. Bring the salinity up to 1.026 sg.
3. Increase magnesium to around 1400.

Doing all 3 things slowly...

 

[Webslinger]

You need to increase calcium. Start running kalk in your ato or adjust. They are calcium hogs. I run mine at 460

 

[jeffchapok]

So I moved the surviving heads to a location where they are a bit more sheltered from flow. I had lowered it, but didn't want to sacrifice other corals simply for the sake of these so I turned it back up.

Temp has been raised to 79 deg (inverts seem more active!) and salinity is up to 1.025. Haven't addressed calcium yet -- that's next

Here's where they are now. Unfortunately there's a little less light too, but they still seem happy enough.

Here's the flow they are under now. Does this look okay? These heads also appear to have pulled away a little, but haven't gotten any worse in the past day. Once they do this, can they ever reattach? None of mine ever have.

 

[jeffchapok]

I give up...

Maybe they were already damaged too much.

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

You said you were using red sea Coral pro? That salt mixes at higher alk than what your testing shows- their website says 11-12 dkh so I don't rally understand how yours is down to between 8-9 if your dosing as well.

Have you tested the Alk of freshly made batch of saltwater before you do the water change?

 

[jeffchapok]

Have you tested the Alk of freshly made batch of saltwater before you do the water change?

No I have not. I'll do that next time. But they've never experienced anything outside of the 8-12 dkh I see posted everywhere for their care. In fact, until I started using Reef Fusion two days ago to raise my calcium, they've only ever been in the 8.7-9.2 range.

 

[jeffchapok]

I'm going to take another stab at euphyllia, a hammer this time. I picked up this gorgeous piece on Craigslist last night from a local reefer for $30. Its coloration is insane! This is an unretouched photo. Wish me luck. I'm going to upset if this doesn't make it.