Duncan Help (1 Viewer)

[Elixibren]

Long story short, my boss meant to order some cheap $13 corals, and hit a wrong button (or more) and accidentally ordered six $165 Duncans. Of course, it's my job at this new location to care for pretty much all the corals, so I need help. Right now it's about 5 inches below the water line on a system with 4x 48" T5 HO (2 blue 2 white) in a designated frag tank. The area of the tank they're in has moderate to low flow in it. Since I just got to this store, I've been running tests and they, for some reason, have the Calcium level at 1200+ ppm (WTF).

What do I need to do to ensure these expensive beauties don't die on my shift?

Will upload pictures of them tomorrow. Forgot to do it tonight.

 

[alexrex20]

sell them quickly at cost to ensure their safety.

 

[Elixibren]

Yes, thank you for that well explained, thought out reply. I appreciate the hinted insult. Now would someone like to actually provide information on proper care of these corals or do we have a few more useless quips left?

 

[fishcraze_1]

duncans are very hardy

should do fine in moderate to low flow areas

lighting is adequate

i'd be more concerned about parameters

check those, and water change if necessary to achieve normal levels

i have mine at the bottom in all my tanks

and growing like crazy

 

[Jasonc]

With a CA level that high I'd be really concerned about ALK. I'd do some water changes to get back to normal CA/ALK levels.

Lighting sounds good
Flow sounds good
I feed mine mysis a few times a week

 

[alexrex20]

Yes, thank you for that well explained, thought out reply. I appreciate the hinted insult. Now would someone like to actually provide information on proper care of these corals or do we have a few more useless quips left?

Aww, did I hurt your feelings? I'm sorry - or am I? - that you thought I was trying to insult you or your staff. If you think your corals are going to die, why is it so insulting that someone recommended you sell them quickly? At $165, they obviously will only sell to those that can properly care for them.

Sell them at cost or at a loss, or let them potentially die in your care. I really couldn't care less.

 

[tektite]

That could be too much light for them if they're not used to it. Just keep an eye on their color.

What are your alk and mag levels? Are you sure the cal test kit is good? 1200 is insanely high.

 

[steveb]

Yeah I was thinking the same and I have been scouring chemistry forums to see if that level is even possible. I suppose it is. If it really is that high I would bet Alk is negligible otherwise I think a precipitation event would have occurred.

 

[steveb]

Elixibren - I wish I had the money and my big tank setup. I would offer to take a few off your hands.


Where are da pics I want to see these beauties!

 

[DustinB]

What test kit is it? That's insane. Do they even dose that tank? If they only do water changes then it is impossible to have a Ca level that high. Last time I saw it everything was dying so something is wrong with it for sure. Is the sand hard like a rock?

As for the coral care there's nothing really special that I have seen. Standard water parameters, decent lights, etc...

Your only course of action needed may be to find out how old the bulbs are, make sure the temp is stable at the right level, check for proper alk/cal/mag levels, and maybe do some water changes. Whatever changes you do, don't do anything really fast. Quick changes will kill faster than unfavorable conditions.

I would be interested to see if you could find out exactly what has been done to that tank and how often it was maintained. I don't know what it looks like now, but when I saw it a couple months ago it wasn't good.

 

[Elixibren]

Yea I'm going to need to do a water change on it myself it looks like. According to the old Animal Care Manager, she said they havn't done a water change on the frag system in many many months, and the continue to add Liquid Calc to the system. The Duncans look great so far, but we do have some bleached coral. The test kit I used was a standard API Calcium test with test tube, drops ect. 1200 is an estimation since the chart itself doesnt go that high, but the it took 52~ drops to get the solution to turn blue. I ran it twice to be sure.

I forgot to take pictures today It was insanely busy. A Few MARSH buddies stopped by and saw them to oggle the expensive things lol.

 

[fishcraze_1]

how big are those duncans

estimate on number of heads

 

[Elixibren]

Alot of heads lol. I keep forgetting to take pictures (sorry!) I'll probably run up there today on my day off to take pictures LOL. A couple of Marshians stopped in just to look at them the last couple of days. Anyone care to detail what they saw on them? They're looking really good so far, so I guess I'm doing things right.

 

[fishcraze_1]

Glad to hear they are doing well

 

[Elixibren]

Each one has 16 heads it looks like. Trying to get pictures but they keep coming out purple because of the actinic lol

 

[Kabuto]

I would assume that is CaCO3 levels. That is only about 500ppm CA++. IO salt water change should lower that.

 

[Elixibren]

Here we go, finally! Still very purple but you know what? Best I could do with a Phone Camera.

 

[arthur08]

the look good that guy alex is always pissing ppl off

 

[mwilliams62]

Those really look good. Man I wish I had the spare $165 I would take them. I need to get me some duncans for my tank.