problem with my tank...I think torch and mushrooms are dying

toned · 04/14/2012, 12:43 AM

some info:
55 gallon tank
well established (setup with me for about 2 months, but was up previous 2-3 years)
2xmj1200 powerheads + wavemaster pro

tank contains:
clown
baby tang (a bit bigger then a quarter)
peppermint + cleaner shrimp
about 10 snails and 20-30 shrimp
2 mushrooms

temp: 80f
salt: 1.023
I also run carbon + filter floss in my sump, that's it

I don't have a protein skimmer but I do weekly water changes and monitor my levels closely

lighting: 150w MH light (waiting on an AI controller to come in)

I've had the clown in there for about 1.5 month and the tang for about 2 weeks

last weekend I went and purchased a starfish, a torch and zoas

I acclimated them, placed them in the tank, about 3 days ago I bought and added some coral vite (I kept it light and only used 3ml instead of the recommended 5ml-10ml per 50 gals...this was recommended to me by a friend)...a day after (2 days ago) I noticed the torch wasn't opening as much as before...I noticed the starfish molting
yesterday the torch barely opened, mushrooms seemed smaller.

today, starfish is dead and the torch looks like it's dying and the mushrooms are shriveled up and went from being a bit over 2 inches across to the size of a quarter...I don't get it, nothing has changed
the hammer coral does seem to be splitting, but it doesn't explain the mushrooms and everything I've read about the torch splitting says it shouldn't shrivel up during the split

my water parameters are good, I checked that twice now (I have the API kit, checked for ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates)

can anyone steer me in the right direction here? I am totally lost as to what to do next...is there anything else I should test for?

livestock all seems fine, shrimp are great, everyone's eating, just my corals having problems...from what I know shrimps are sensitive to water conditions and would be the first to go?

any help is appreciated

Wasabijim · 08/30/2012, 11:14 AM

I had a similar incident. My tank is about 3 months old. I had a torch coral that had been doing great and a colony of mushrooms that I had for about 2 weeks that were doing great also. I had purchased a black tip seastar and within a week the star fish had died. My parameters all looked good. After the seastar died my torch coral and the mushrooms went down hill fast. The torch wouldn't open and over the course of a week it slowly retracted in until it was just a skeleton left. I lost the torch but about half of the mushrooms have started to come back. They open up to maybe half the size they used to but are getting bigger little by little. The only thing I can think of is the seastar dying poisoned the tank. I won't be adding any of those again.

Reeferz412 · 08/30/2012, 01:16 PM

Do not dose anything you cannot test for. Don't dose that stuff anymore, and just worry about Calcium, Magnesium, and Alkalinity. The rest will be replenished in your water changes. Besides, you have very little coral and you really do not need to dose strongly for soft corals or even lps, besides maybe strontium but thats if you have A LOT of corals.

Curtis.H · 08/30/2012, 01:36 PM

Not sure about anything else but your tank isn't big enough for a tang of any size. Tangs need lots of open swimming area and even though it's small now it will grow quickly.

04/14/2012, 12:43 AM	#1
toned Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 35	problem with my tank...I think torch and mushrooms are dying some info: 55 gallon tank well established (setup with me for about 2 months, but was up previous 2-3 years) 2xmj1200 powerheads + wavemaster pro tank contains: clown baby tang (a bit bigger then a quarter) peppermint + cleaner shrimp about 10 snails and 20-30 shrimp 2 mushrooms temp: 80f salt: 1.023 I also run carbon + filter floss in my sump, that's it I don't have a protein skimmer but I do weekly water changes and monitor my levels closely lighting: 150w MH light (waiting on an AI controller to come in) I've had the clown in there for about 1.5 month and the tang for about 2 weeks last weekend I went and purchased a starfish, a torch and zoas I acclimated them, placed them in the tank, about 3 days ago I bought and added some coral vite (I kept it light and only used 3ml instead of the recommended 5ml-10ml per 50 gals...this was recommended to me by a friend)...a day after (2 days ago) I noticed the torch wasn't opening as much as before...I noticed the starfish molting yesterday the torch barely opened, mushrooms seemed smaller. today, starfish is dead and the torch looks like it's dying and the mushrooms are shriveled up and went from being a bit over 2 inches across to the size of a quarter...I don't get it, nothing has changed the hammer coral does seem to be splitting, but it doesn't explain the mushrooms and everything I've read about the torch splitting says it shouldn't shrivel up during the split my water parameters are good, I checked that twice now (I have the API kit, checked for ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates) can anyone steer me in the right direction here? I am totally lost as to what to do next...is there anything else I should test for? livestock all seems fine, shrimp are great, everyone's eating, just my corals having problems...from what I know shrimps are sensitive to water conditions and would be the first to go? any help is appreciated

08/30/2012, 01:16 PM	#3
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	Do not dose anything you cannot test for. Don't dose that stuff anymore, and just worry about Calcium, Magnesium, and Alkalinity. The rest will be replenished in your water changes. Besides, you have very little coral and you really do not need to dose strongly for soft corals or even lps, besides maybe strontium but thats if you have A LOT of corals. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

08/30/2012, 11:14 AM	#2
Wasabijim Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 11	I had a similar incident. My tank is about 3 months old. I had a torch coral that had been doing great and a colony of mushrooms that I had for about 2 weeks that were doing great also. I had purchased a black tip seastar and within a week the star fish had died. My parameters all looked good. After the seastar died my torch coral and the mushrooms went down hill fast. The torch wouldn't open and over the course of a week it slowly retracted in until it was just a skeleton left. I lost the torch but about half of the mushrooms have started to come back. They open up to maybe half the size they used to but are getting bigger little by little. The only thing I can think of is the seastar dying poisoned the tank. I won't be adding any of those again.

08/30/2012, 01:36 PM	#4
Curtis.H Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 139	Not sure about anything else but your tank isn't big enough for a tang of any size. Tangs need lots of open swimming area and even though it's small now it will grow quickly.