Help me figure it out... (1 Viewer)

[Ulric]

32g Bio cube...

Macro heavy display, 2 clown, 1 jaw, 1 molly, 1 rainsford, 1 clown goby, cleaner & pistol shrimp, CuC - 2x blue, 1x polka, Ceriths & Nassarius
3x red, 4x lava lamp, Discosoma's, 1 green ric
purple death paly frag, belladona Zoa, Yellow Road Zoa
1x GSP
Sinularia, kenya frags.

Over the span of 2 weeks, zoa's have been opening less..started with the belladona, yellow road a couple days later
....approx 1 week, GSP does not extend/expand as much and kenyas arent extending polyps.. Lava lamp also shows less...
expansion. I've tried reduce light...with no response.

Had to order some kits...
Of course got the lovely API 'kit'...
Ph 7.8-8, Am 0 detected, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10ppm
Salifert Carbonite Hardness/alk
7.8
Salifert Phosphate
0 detected

Filtration is macro/rubble in fuge and the Coralife biocube skimmer...with the valve mostly closed...
Did note the Scrubber was dry, which is likely why sub 8 ph.
What's the most likely source of issues here,... lack of detectable phosphates or that combined with ph shift... or something else?

Presuming this is the scenario, I've increased feeding...

 

[Team Turtle]

Any noticeable signs of pest in the tank? Gsp goes through phases of not opening but with zoas it tends to be pest.

 

[Ulric]

Any noticeable signs of pest in the tank? Gsp goes through phases of not opening but with zoas it tends to be pest.

Nothing visible to the naked eye...
I should have mentioned(forgot) I've got a duncan that has not/will not expand also.
Considering the combined types, has me thinking more chemical balance rather than pest.

 

[Ulric]

View attachment 55875

 

[Team Turtle]

Try a water change and run some carbon for a week or two. Any possible way an aerosol or copper got in the tank?

 

[Erin]

Retest phosphates, 0 is not good. If still 0, start feeding the fish more.
Also, there's a chance the toadstool is secreting toxic compounds into the water, so if you're not already doing so, run some carbon (or change it if it's been a while)

 

[Ulric]

Try a water change and run some carbon for a week or two. Any possible way an aerosol or copper got in the tank?

Done two 4gal changes in a week... It's just those corals... aerosol or copper, I'd expect reaction/impact on fish or inverts as well.

"Retest phosphates, 0 is not good. If still 0, start feeding the fish more.
Also, there's a chance the toadstool is secreting toxic compounds into the water, so if you're not already doing so, run some carbon (or change it if it's been a while)"

Started that approx 2-3 days ago... as of noon, Po4 is .03, so some headway.

LFS suggested could still be lights... going to drop % down across the board and see how everything responds from there.

 

[Cody]

Retest phosphates, 0 is not good. If still 0, start feeding the fish more.
Also, there's a chance the toadstool is secreting toxic compounds into the water, so if you're not already doing so, run some carbon (or change it if it's been a while)

The most obvious thing that stands out is no phosphates. If they can keep them above say .01 for a week or so then the corals should start opening up again. Even if that's not the issue right now, if the tank continues to have zero phosphates then it will eventually be the cause.

Water changes will only make this worse unless you're dosing phosphates to keep them up.

 

[Ulric]

The most obvious thing that stands out is no phosphates. If they can keep them above say .01 for a week or so then the corals should start opening up again. Even if that's not the issue right now, if the tank continues to have zero phosphates then it will eventually be the cause.

Water changes will only make this worse unless you're dosing phosphates to keep them up.

Di the water changes to see if was nitrate related, potential contaminate etc. Po4 was .03 again this am... going to try some Neophos

 

[Team Turtle]

It sounds like you have experience but i would advise slow down. Looks like you are doing a lot of different things at one time and results come slow in this hobby. Unless things are dying off now make a change and wait a few days, even a week before trying something else. If your corals are stressed already, numerous changes are only going to make it worse.

On a side thought have you checked the heater/water temp? Stray voltage in water a possibility or water temp swinging.

 

[decimal]

Did you say you’re using an API test kit? If you are serious bout finding out what’s going on, I would suggest you use Hanna testers or, alternatively, do an icp test. That should give you the information needed to pick a direction and make solid choices vs shooting in the dark. Just mho.

 

[Ulric]

It sounds like you have experience but i would advise slow down. Looks like you are doing a lot of different things at one time and results come slow in this hobby. Unless things are dying off now make a change and wait a few days, even a week before trying something else. If your corals are stressed already, numerous changes are only going to make it worse.

On a side thought have you checked the heater/water temp? Stray voltage in water a possibility or water temp swinging.

Cumulatively over the span of 2 weeks.. I've done 3 things. Water changes, adjust light and increased food, Neophos is used to increase phosphate... in a more controlled manner than adding a variety of food types to increase PO4.

Water Changes are the norm for many in order to replenish trace elements and the like...this is not something outside the norm.
so we've got light adjustments and food, done with a systematic approach and observing the reactions/changed based on them...by all the inhabitants, not
just the ones in question.

Neophos allows modification/monitoring of PO4 while reducing chances of overly increasing nitrates... as opposed to 'testing' food types.