Receding bubble coral

BWallace · 02/28/2007, 12:25 PM

I need some guidance please. I am currently running a 24 gallon Nanopod tank with a metal halide (sp?) lamp. In the tank, I have a pulsing xenia (doing well), two frogspawns (doing well), a yellow scroll coral (doing well), a tigers eye bubble (doing well) a couple of mushrooms, and a large green bubble coral that is beginning to show more and more of its skeleton / base. I introduced these pieces into my tank two weeks ago and the water quality was fine at the time. Currently, my calcium is at 420, nitrates are at 10 and nitrites are 0. My PH is low at 8.1 but I need to do a small water change to lower my alkalinity from 5 before I can use reef buffer to increase the PH.

If it matters, I have two clown fish, a yellow tang and a green chromis in the tank as well. Water is circulated using two small power heads, one at the top left of the tank and the other at the bottom left. The water flow is along the side, then front, then right side. The bubble coral is in the middle of the tank and has a gentle current. Any idea about what the problem could be?

Thanks!

DSMpunk · 02/28/2007, 02:46 PM

Is your bubble coral in the shade? I know mine really likes the low flow and low light parts of the tank. If its under my halides at all it shrivels up and looks like crap.

It could also be the mushrooms if they are close to your bubble coral.

You seriously have a yellow tang in a 24 gallon tank? =O

aztbs · 02/28/2007, 02:49 PM

Have you tested Magnesium and alkalinity? My green bubble is the first one to show signs of low Mg. I also agree that they prefer less light.

BONDQ · 02/28/2007, 02:51 PM

Less light and flow seem to work well, in general.

My hammer coral prefers the same conditions.

02/28/2007, 12:25 PM	#1
BWallace Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 4	Receding bubble coral I need some guidance please. I am currently running a 24 gallon Nanopod tank with a metal halide (sp?) lamp. In the tank, I have a pulsing xenia (doing well), two frogspawns (doing well), a yellow scroll coral (doing well), a tigers eye bubble (doing well) a couple of mushrooms, and a large green bubble coral that is beginning to show more and more of its skeleton / base. I introduced these pieces into my tank two weeks ago and the water quality was fine at the time. Currently, my calcium is at 420, nitrates are at 10 and nitrites are 0. My PH is low at 8.1 but I need to do a small water change to lower my alkalinity from 5 before I can use reef buffer to increase the PH. If it matters, I have two clown fish, a yellow tang and a green chromis in the tank as well. Water is circulated using two small power heads, one at the top left of the tank and the other at the bottom left. The water flow is along the side, then front, then right side. The bubble coral is in the middle of the tank and has a gentle current. Any idea about what the problem could be? Thanks!

02/28/2007, 02:46 PM	#2
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	Is your bubble coral in the shade? I know mine really likes the low flow and low light parts of the tank. If its under my halides at all it shrivels up and looks like crap. It could also be the mushrooms if they are close to your bubble coral. You seriously have a yellow tang in a 24 gallon tank? =O __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

02/28/2007, 02:49 PM	#3
aztbs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 4,492	Have you tested Magnesium and alkalinity? My green bubble is the first one to show signs of low Mg. I also agree that they prefer less light.

02/28/2007, 02:51 PM	#4
BONDQ Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: So CA Posts: 621	Less light and flow seem to work well, in general. My hammer coral prefers the same conditions.