New Corals = Stressed Fish?

Kanicky · 09/16/2007, 10:56 AM

Okay, so, we added MH's to our tank about a week ago, and decided to add our first corals last night. We went to a meeting of our local "fish society" and a fellow reefer gave us free frags of Pulsating Xenia and SPS. We also bought a bright orange Plate Coral. When we added everything last night, every thing was fine. The Xenia was pulsating, and the small polyps on the SPS were starting to come out. We put the Plate Coral on the sand, in full light and in light flow...

This morning, we've noticed that our Pygmy Angelfish is... well, basically freaking out. She swims really fast from one side of the tank to the other, and seems stressed/excited. Everyone else seems to be okay...

The Pulsating Xenia isn't pulsating, though (the lights have been on for 6 hours.) And as a side note, we made sure all of the corals are far enough away from each other, and they're small frags anyway. (Is there a rule of thumb as to how far away they have to be from each other?)

I fed the tank as normal and everyone ate as normal.

The parameters are as follows:

PH: 8.0 - never goes down or up. I'd like to get it to 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10-25 ppm - will be washing out the sponge and cleaning the skimmer shortly
SG: 1.021 - we're getting some R/O mixed saltwater today to raise the salinity to preferably 1.023 or so.

Temperature is 79 - 81

Tested the Calcium last night but was unable to finish. I know it's over 300...

Any ideas as to what's going on? Any advice you can give as to the corals/fish? Did some research, but wasn't really able to find much. I am ordering Borneman's book on corals...

Sorry for the ramble!

csb · 09/16/2007, 12:38 PM

Test for alkalinity ... if your alkalinity is low, you could be experiencing PH fluctuations.

1.021 SG isn't too bad ... stability means more than the actual number. If you want to raise it, try to keep the change to .001 per day.

frederickk · 09/17/2007, 11:34 AM

If you want to raise it just use bicarbonate and it should help raising it by 0.01 a day.

am3gross · 09/17/2007, 12:01 PM

how long has the tank been setup? as far as the xenia not pulsating... give it some time. it is really hard to kill xenia!

as far as the placement of corals i just make sure that none of the corals touch. just watch for the ones that have sweeper tenticles that like to come out at night and sweep around to get food.

and i have never seen a fish freak out over adding corals.... thats weird!

Kanicky · 09/17/2007, 12:10 PM

Bicarbonate? Hmm, I'll have to check into that. Thanks for the heads-up.

And yeah, when we went to our LFS yesterday, our "fish guy" said the Pygmy is probably just "excited" over the changes in her environment. She seemed calmer yesterday evening and today, and all seems well.

Thanks for the replies! I know I can always count on ReefCentral

09/16/2007, 10:56 AM	#1
Kanicky Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 194	New Corals = Stressed Fish? Okay, so, we added MH's to our tank about a week ago, and decided to add our first corals last night. We went to a meeting of our local "fish society" and a fellow reefer gave us free frags of Pulsating Xenia and SPS. We also bought a bright orange Plate Coral. When we added everything last night, every thing was fine. The Xenia was pulsating, and the small polyps on the SPS were starting to come out. We put the Plate Coral on the sand, in full light and in light flow... This morning, we've noticed that our Pygmy Angelfish is... well, basically freaking out. She swims really fast from one side of the tank to the other, and seems stressed/excited. Everyone else seems to be okay... The Pulsating Xenia isn't pulsating, though (the lights have been on for 6 hours.) And as a side note, we made sure all of the corals are far enough away from each other, and they're small frags anyway. (Is there a rule of thumb as to how far away they have to be from each other?) I fed the tank as normal and everyone ate as normal. The parameters are as follows: PH: 8.0 - never goes down or up. I'd like to get it to 8.2 Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 10-25 ppm - will be washing out the sponge and cleaning the skimmer shortly SG: 1.021 - we're getting some R/O mixed saltwater today to raise the salinity to preferably 1.023 or so. Temperature is 79 - 81 Tested the Calcium last night but was unable to finish. I know it's over 300... Any ideas as to what's going on? Any advice you can give as to the corals/fish? Did some research, but wasn't really able to find much. I am ordering Borneman's book on corals... Sorry for the ramble! __________________ Katie & Nick Seahorse, 45G Hex: h. kuda (4); Sexy Shrimp (5) Undecided, 1/2G Pico: Possibly a couple of Sexy Shrimp Current Tank Info: 45G Seahorse

09/16/2007, 12:38 PM	#2
csb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 541	Test for alkalinity ... if your alkalinity is low, you could be experiencing PH fluctuations. 1.021 SG isn't too bad ... stability means more than the actual number. If you want to raise it, try to keep the change to .001 per day. __________________ Winter ski bum, summer reef bum. Tank pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/snojrnl Current Tank Info: 30g mixed reef

09/17/2007, 12:01 PM	#4
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	how long has the tank been setup? as far as the xenia not pulsating... give it some time. it is really hard to kill xenia! as far as the placement of corals i just make sure that none of the corals touch. just watch for the ones that have sweeper tenticles that like to come out at night and sweep around to get food. and i have never seen a fish freak out over adding corals.... thats weird! __________________ There are five things that you cannot recover in life: (1) The Stone...........after it's thrown, (2) The Word...............after it's said, (3) The Occasion......after it's missed, and ...(4) The Time.............after it's gone. (5) A person...............after they die Current Tank Info: 210 display, 75 gallon fuge

09/17/2007, 12:10 PM	#5
Kanicky Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 194	Bicarbonate? Hmm, I'll have to check into that. Thanks for the heads-up. And yeah, when we went to our LFS yesterday, our "fish guy" said the Pygmy is probably just "excited" over the changes in her environment. She seemed calmer yesterday evening and today, and all seems well. Thanks for the replies! I know I can always count on ReefCentral __________________ Katie & Nick Seahorse, 45G Hex: h. kuda (4); Sexy Shrimp (5) Undecided, 1/2G Pico: Possibly a couple of Sexy Shrimp Current Tank Info: 45G Seahorse

09/17/2007, 11:34 AM	#3
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	If you want to raise it just use bicarbonate and it should help raising it by 0.01 a day.