Receding Corals...

MrYenko · 02/27/2006, 04:48 PM

I cant figgure this one out. Ive got a very stable tank, been set up since 10-31-04, but in the past 2-3 months, everything except my mushrooms have receded, and in a few cases, receded to nothing.

Water chemistry checks out, zero ammonia, zero nitrates, zero nitrites, PH between 7.8-7.9. The only thing I can think of is the slightly low PH, and maybe low alkalinity. (around .4-.5 meq/l, my test is kind hard to get right)

Its a 4.4g tank, with maybe a third of the water volume displaced by live rock. Inhabitants include a very healthy colony of blue and red mushrooms, 5 polyps 4in across or more, plus 10-15 smaller ones, two EXTREMELY small polyps of Ricordea Florida. They've receded with the rest of the tank, but seem hardier. Theres a small colony of green zoanthids, but they're just about to dissapear now. I also had a healthy head of xenia, but it receded to nothing as well. Also, a very happy zebra hermit, and an un-IDed snail that just appeared in the tank one day, and has grown up.

Ive had one mini crash, when my peppermint shrimp died overnight, and threw the water chemistry out, also killing a 5-6in colony of hammerhead coral, but that was 6 months ago+...

Any ideas?

BigReefing · 02/27/2006, 04:56 PM

nanos are just really hard. I haven't tried it yet.

tankslave · 02/27/2006, 05:03 PM

your tank might be too clean. Try feading them at night...

MrYenko · 02/28/2006, 03:19 PM

Any other ideas? This is really buggin me.

smleee · 02/28/2006, 03:36 PM

Salinity?

eee

02/27/2006, 04:48 PM	#1
MrYenko Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 111	Receding Corals... I cant figgure this one out. Ive got a very stable tank, been set up since 10-31-04, but in the past 2-3 months, everything except my mushrooms have receded, and in a few cases, receded to nothing. Water chemistry checks out, zero ammonia, zero nitrates, zero nitrites, PH between 7.8-7.9. The only thing I can think of is the slightly low PH, and maybe low alkalinity. (around .4-.5 meq/l, my test is kind hard to get right) Its a 4.4g tank, with maybe a third of the water volume displaced by live rock. Inhabitants include a very healthy colony of blue and red mushrooms, 5 polyps 4in across or more, plus 10-15 smaller ones, two EXTREMELY small polyps of Ricordea Florida. They've receded with the rest of the tank, but seem hardier. Theres a small colony of green zoanthids, but they're just about to dissapear now. I also had a healthy head of xenia, but it receded to nothing as well. Also, a very happy zebra hermit, and an un-IDed snail that just appeared in the tank one day, and has grown up. Ive had one mini crash, when my peppermint shrimp died overnight, and threw the water chemistry out, also killing a 5-6in colony of hammerhead coral, but that was 6 months ago+... Any ideas? __________________ Radar controllers do it in the dark.

02/27/2006, 05:03 PM	#3
tankslave Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,893	your tank might be too clean. Try feading them at night... __________________ Whoever said fishkeeping will lower your blood pressure never had a reef aquarium... "A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought." -Lord Peter Wimsey, "Gaudy Night" Current Tank Info: Tankless Reefer

02/28/2006, 03:19 PM	#4
MrYenko Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 111	Any other ideas? This is really buggin me. __________________ Radar controllers do it in the dark.

02/27/2006, 04:56 PM	#2
BigReefing Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 454	nanos are just really hard. I haven't tried it yet.

02/28/2006, 03:36 PM	#5
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Salinity? eee