Torch Coral Will Not Open

Alex114 · 11/04/2019, 08:48 PM

So I’ve had this torch for about 3 months in an 8 month old 29g tank. It had been doing fine and I did not notice anything out of the ordinary. Last week I noticed it stopped opening up and after some research figured I had it in too much flow. So I moved him to the bottom of the tank 4 days ago in a lot less flow and much further from the light and no change.

Just tested the water using API Master test kits (I know I need a better kit lol) and got Ammonia, nitrite at 0, nitrate at about 5, phosphate at 0.25, kH at 11, pH at 8.2, and calcium at about 400. The light is a kessil a80, I do weekly water changes. I did also get some new frags about the same time the torch stopped opening up. One of the new frags was another torch but it is doing great currently. Not sure what else to do. Any thoughts?

Here is a picture
ECE12C5E-7A37-4B78-9D30-16C0CFE45FB5.jpg

Alex114 · 11/04/2019, 08:56 PM

image.jpg
Sorry wrong picture. Here is the correct picture

Uncle99 · 11/05/2019, 10:36 AM

Mine "shrink" from time to time, with no apparent cause, all 8 parameters fully stable for years now, then, it just seems to bounce back.

I believe moving anything that has done well in the past in one spot, is not the best idea as it takes weeks, even months, before it "may" get happy again.

I have a yellow tang for years and every 3 months or so he will not eat and hides for days. So I left him and changed nothing, and 3-5 days later, he back to normal. Yesterday was the ninth time he has done this.

I think it's easy to jump to a conclusion that what looks abnormal, must be bad.

Sk8r · 11/05/2019, 02:30 PM

Calcium s/b at least 420, and you should have 1350 magnesium. The low calcium may be your cause, and if the mag is under 1200 it may be why the calcium is a little low.

Alex114 · 11/06/2019, 04:56 PM

Thanks, I will begin to raise the calcium and see if it helps

mcgyvr · 11/07/2019, 05:36 AM

Those types of corals can be totally fine for days/weeks/months and then just go downhill.. Sometimes they will recover.. Other times they won't..
Its very common and usually nothing you can do..

It is unlikely that its related to your calcium.. Anything from 380-450 or so is totally fine..

gprdypoo04 · 11/11/2019, 03:17 AM

I'd go with a different test kit.

NWoods · 11/13/2019, 01:20 PM

I've had torch corals shrink from time to time. Nothing out of the ordinary. If it was doing fine in its' original location, I would move it back.

Alex114 · 11/15/2019, 09:01 AM

Yeah I did order a Red Sea test kit a few days ago. And he’s starting to come back somewhat. Looks better than when I first posted the question. Good to know it wasn’t necessarily something I did wrong. Thanks all who replied

five.five-six · 11/15/2019, 10:53 AM

I highly doubt it’s too much flow. I run over 10,000 GPH flow in my 225 and my euphyllia are thriving for years.

11/04/2019, 08:48 PM	#1
Alex114 Registered Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 162	Torch Coral Will Not Open So I’ve had this torch for about 3 months in an 8 month old 29g tank. It had been doing fine and I did not notice anything out of the ordinary. Last week I noticed it stopped opening up and after some research figured I had it in too much flow. So I moved him to the bottom of the tank 4 days ago in a lot less flow and much further from the light and no change. Just tested the water using API Master test kits (I know I need a better kit lol) and got Ammonia, nitrite at 0, nitrate at about 5, phosphate at 0.25, kH at 11, pH at 8.2, and calcium at about 400. The light is a kessil a80, I do weekly water changes. I did also get some new frags about the same time the torch stopped opening up. One of the new frags was another torch but it is doing great currently. Not sure what else to do. Any thoughts? Here is a picture ECE12C5E-7A37-4B78-9D30-16C0CFE45FB5.jpg

11/05/2019, 02:30 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Calcium s/b at least 420, and you should have 1350 magnesium. The low calcium may be your cause, and if the mag is under 1200 it may be why the calcium is a little low. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/07/2019, 05:36 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Those types of corals can be totally fine for days/weeks/months and then just go downhill.. Sometimes they will recover.. Other times they won't.. Its very common and usually nothing you can do.. It is unlikely that its related to your calcium.. Anything from 380-450 or so is totally fine.. __________________ Who me?

11/13/2019, 01:20 PM	#8
NWoods Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 77	I've had torch corals shrink from time to time. Nothing out of the ordinary. If it was doing fine in its' original location, I would move it back. __________________ Current build: 50G SCA Starfire cube \| More to come Current Tank Info: 75G mixed reef

11/15/2019, 10:53 AM	#10
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	I highly doubt it’s too much flow. I run over 10,000 GPH flow in my 225 and my euphyllia are thriving for years. __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

11/04/2019, 08:56 PM	#2
Alex114 Registered Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 162	image.jpg Sorry wrong picture. Here is the correct picture

11/05/2019, 10:36 AM	#3
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Mine "shrink" from time to time, with no apparent cause, all 8 parameters fully stable for years now, then, it just seems to bounce back. I believe moving anything that has done well in the past in one spot, is not the best idea as it takes weeks, even months, before it "may" get happy again. I have a yellow tang for years and every 3 months or so he will not eat and hides for days. So I left him and changed nothing, and 3-5 days later, he back to normal. Yesterday was the ninth time he has done this. I think it's easy to jump to a conclusion that what looks abnormal, must be bad.

11/06/2019, 04:56 PM	#5
Alex114 Registered Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 162	Thanks, I will begin to raise the calcium and see if it helps

11/11/2019, 03:17 AM	#7
gprdypoo04 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 389	I'd go with a different test kit.

11/15/2019, 09:01 AM	#9
Alex114 Registered Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 162	Yeah I did order a Red Sea test kit a few days ago. And he’s starting to come back somewhat. Looks better than when I first posted the question. Good to know it wasn’t necessarily something I did wrong. Thanks all who replied