How do I know if coral is dead?

Alex 220gal · 12/28/2009, 07:37 PM

well I posted this the other day and did not get good feedback to help me?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1764028

well my question is when will I know if my coral is dead and when should I remove from the tank? I have 2-toads that have not open it 3 weeks?
I have zoas/polys that also will not open in the 3 weeks i had tank running.Sps bleached so no worry. My acons also bleached

I think my maybe its dead already thats why its causing a little high ammonia?
I am thinking of doing one more 35gal water change tomorrow but a nevourse that its 2 water changes in a week?
what do you think?

kwpgrooming · 12/28/2009, 07:45 PM

They aren't dead if they are just bleached or not opening.. It's probably your high ammonia causing the problem with your corals. What are the rest of your parameters? Get those under control and your corals will probably recover. 2 water changes in a week should be fine if it gets your numbers better. You did not say what your salinity is in your other post.

Alex 220gal · 12/28/2009, 07:50 PM

1.025,so doing to big water changes a week is ok?

kwpgrooming · 12/28/2009, 07:51 PM

how much water are you changing out at a time?

kwpgrooming · 12/28/2009, 07:54 PM

If you are doing 35 gal water changes on a 220 gal that is not a big change. You may need to do more changes. You just don't want your parameters to have a huge change at one time and shock your livestock.

Alex 220gal · 12/28/2009, 08:04 PM

so do one more 35gal or go bigger?

kwpgrooming · 12/28/2009, 08:13 PM

I would do a few more 35 gal. changes. Keep checking your parameters.

kwpgrooming · 12/28/2009, 08:15 PM

When you moved everything over to the 220 did you also move sand and water?

Alex 220gal · 12/28/2009, 08:40 PM

moved the water but not the sand, just the top layer of my old sand to seed it.
Testing amonnia with API test kit are hard to read if zero or .25?
Any better kits out there?

AMDphenomx4 · 12/28/2009, 08:47 PM

Well, I would do a 70G water change twice for the first week or even 3 times, then go to the 35G changes. Do you have any fish?

Alex 220gal · 12/28/2009, 08:52 PM

I should do a 70gal water change tomorrow?

I have 8-10 small fish that are looking healthy then ever, always hungry. Only feeding 2x a day

AMDphenomx4 · 12/28/2009, 09:04 PM

Yea do a 70G tomorrow and check ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

jarrett shark · 12/28/2009, 09:17 PM

I read that instand ocean salt has alk of 13
maybe this is causing it to melt

Alex 220gal · 12/28/2009, 09:21 PM

I tested before and my alk/dkh is at 14 today?
what reading of alk/dkh is to high?
does all salt mixes cause diffrent readings?
should I change salt mix?
I am so confused.....

kwpgrooming · 12/28/2009, 09:58 PM

14 dkh is to high. My corals seem very sensitive to alk changes. Check your calcium. High alk can mean low calcium. I noticed when I raise my calcium my alk lowers. You just have to find the balance. Alk is the one thing I test most often for. I try to keep it in the middle around 10. I test it every day. I agree a 70 gal won't hurt you. Try not to get discourage.

SnowManSnow · 12/28/2009, 10:17 PM

7 to 10 is acceptable. The thing with ALK is to keep it steady.

as for the water changes.... You'll be fine with a few bigger water changes for a few weeks. Also skim wet for a while if you can.

B

Flipper62 · 12/29/2009, 02:00 AM

Instant Ocean has changed their Parameters, However IO was always good for a Fish only tank. It didn't have enough calcium....ect...ect for a Reef tank. If you do use IO, you will need dose the proper eliments.

Thats why people use salts like Reef Crystals....Oceanic.....ect

Normal water changes are done with 10% weekly....or 20% every two weeks.

You dont want to do a large water change....this can shock the tank.

twiggyb · 12/29/2009, 07:36 AM

My GSP closed up for about a week after I spiked my alk, it was around 15-16, it's stable now around 12 and the GSP came back out, but they're a lot duller in color compared to the new polyps popping up, I can't seem to get the alk to go down any further than that though, I guess as long as everything is doing good it's no problem

Alex 220gal · 12/29/2009, 07:47 AM

well new test this am with lights on
calcuim = 460
alk/dkh = 12.3
mag = 1290
po4 = 0
nitrate=0
nitrite=0
ph=8.2
amonnia= 0-.20 (very hard to read API test kit)
sality= 1.025
I want to hook up my calcuim reactor soon, what do you think?

Going to do a 40gal water change today

Alex 220gal · 12/29/2009, 08:38 PM

well did 40gal water change today.
well back to top of post - How do I know my coral is dead?????
My 2 -toals looks like it has brown alge growing on it now, my zoas when I toach them release some kind of gas color from them when I touch them also all are still closed up

Alex 220gal · 01/08/2010, 06:32 PM

well new test this am, I have did (2) 50 gals water changes since last 12/29
calcuim = 420
alk/dkh = 10.3
mag = 1290
po4 = 0
nitrate=0
nitrite=0
ph=8.2
amonnia= 0 (very hard to read salifert test kit)
sality= 1.025
I did hook up my calcuim reactor

I do see some of my rocks that have sponges start to fade away?
Will dead sponges cause ammonia spike?
I also removed some zoas/polyps that still did not open since I transferd tank

Also my last thought is copper in the tank from when I bought a used skimmer maybe it had some from owner before. but my shrimp are doing great. I lost most snails but?

Should I keep doing water changes every 4 days to make sure ammonia does not come back from dead coral I cant see in tank?

12/28/2009, 07:37 PM	#1
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	How do I know if coral is dead? well I posted this the other day and did not get good feedback to help me? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1764028 well my question is when will I know if my coral is dead and when should I remove from the tank? I have 2-toads that have not open it 3 weeks? I have zoas/polys that also will not open in the 3 weeks i had tank running.Sps bleached so no worry. My acons also bleached I think my maybe its dead already thats why its causing a little high ammonia? I am thinking of doing one more 35gal water change tomorrow but a nevourse that its 2 water changes in a week? what do you think?

12/28/2009, 09:17 PM	#13
jarrett shark Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,518	I read that instand ocean salt has alk of 13 maybe this is causing it to melt __________________ President of "NY REEF CLUB" OFFICE 300gal SPS reef tank with 400gal sump,150 GAL Frag tank,30gal frag= 890gal total HOUSE 400gal reef tank with 250gal sump = coming soon. 5x3x3 with 1" think acryli

12/28/2009, 10:17 PM	#16
SnowManSnow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 956	7 to 10 is acceptable. The thing with ALK is to keep it steady. as for the water changes.... You'll be fine with a few bigger water changes for a few weeks. Also skim wet for a while if you can. B __________________ It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef

12/29/2009, 02:00 AM	#17
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Instant Ocean has changed their Parameters, However IO was always good for a Fish only tank. It didn't have enough calcium....ect...ect for a Reef tank. If you do use IO, you will need dose the proper eliments. Thats why people use salts like Reef Crystals....Oceanic.....ect Normal water changes are done with 10% weekly....or 20% every two weeks. You dont want to do a large water change....this can shock the tank. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

12/29/2009, 07:36 AM	#18
twiggyb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DeSoto, MO Posts: 3,813	My GSP closed up for about a week after I spiked my alk, it was around 15-16, it's stable now around 12 and the GSP came back out, but they're a lot duller in color compared to the new polyps popping up, I can't seem to get the alk to go down any further than that though, I guess as long as everything is doing good it's no problem __________________ -Daniel- Love, grease and chicken peace! Chicken are people too. Current Tank Info: 29g since March 2012

12/28/2009, 07:45 PM	#2
kwpgrooming Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 106	They aren't dead if they are just bleached or not opening.. It's probably your high ammonia causing the problem with your corals. What are the rest of your parameters? Get those under control and your corals will probably recover. 2 water changes in a week should be fine if it gets your numbers better. You did not say what your salinity is in your other post.

12/28/2009, 07:50 PM	#3
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	1.025,so doing to big water changes a week is ok?

12/28/2009, 07:51 PM	#4
kwpgrooming Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 106	how much water are you changing out at a time?

12/28/2009, 07:54 PM	#5
kwpgrooming Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 106	If you are doing 35 gal water changes on a 220 gal that is not a big change. You may need to do more changes. You just don't want your parameters to have a huge change at one time and shock your livestock.

12/28/2009, 08:04 PM	#6
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	so do one more 35gal or go bigger?

12/28/2009, 08:13 PM	#7
kwpgrooming Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 106	I would do a few more 35 gal. changes. Keep checking your parameters.

12/28/2009, 08:15 PM	#8
kwpgrooming Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 106	When you moved everything over to the 220 did you also move sand and water?

12/28/2009, 08:40 PM	#9
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	moved the water but not the sand, just the top layer of my old sand to seed it. Testing amonnia with API test kit are hard to read if zero or .25? Any better kits out there?

12/28/2009, 08:47 PM	#10
AMDphenomx4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 170	Well, I would do a 70G water change twice for the first week or even 3 times, then go to the 35G changes. Do you have any fish?

12/28/2009, 08:52 PM	#11
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	I should do a 70gal water change tomorrow? I have 8-10 small fish that are looking healthy then ever, always hungry. Only feeding 2x a day

12/28/2009, 09:04 PM	#12
AMDphenomx4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 170	Yea do a 70G tomorrow and check ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

12/28/2009, 09:21 PM	#14
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	I tested before and my alk/dkh is at 14 today? what reading of alk/dkh is to high? does all salt mixes cause diffrent readings? should I change salt mix? I am so confused.....

12/28/2009, 09:58 PM	#15
kwpgrooming Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 106	14 dkh is to high. My corals seem very sensitive to alk changes. Check your calcium. High alk can mean low calcium. I noticed when I raise my calcium my alk lowers. You just have to find the balance. Alk is the one thing I test most often for. I try to keep it in the middle around 10. I test it every day. I agree a 70 gal won't hurt you. Try not to get discourage.

12/29/2009, 07:47 AM	#19
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	well new test this am with lights on calcuim = 460 alk/dkh = 12.3 mag = 1290 po4 = 0 nitrate=0 nitrite=0 ph=8.2 amonnia= 0-.20 (very hard to read API test kit) sality= 1.025 I want to hook up my calcuim reactor soon, what do you think? Going to do a 40gal water change today

12/29/2009, 08:38 PM	#20
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	well did 40gal water change today. well back to top of post - How do I know my coral is dead????? My 2 -toals looks like it has brown alge growing on it now, my zoas when I toach them release some kind of gas color from them when I touch them also all are still closed up

01/08/2010, 06:32 PM	#21
Alex 220gal Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 34	well new test this am, I have did (2) 50 gals water changes since last 12/29 calcuim = 420 alk/dkh = 10.3 mag = 1290 po4 = 0 nitrate=0 nitrite=0 ph=8.2 amonnia= 0 (very hard to read salifert test kit) sality= 1.025 I did hook up my calcuim reactor I do see some of my rocks that have sponges start to fade away? Will dead sponges cause ammonia spike? I also removed some zoas/polyps that still did not open since I transferd tank Also my last thought is copper in the tank from when I bought a used skimmer maybe it had some from owner before. but my shrimp are doing great. I lost most snails but? Should I keep doing water changes every 4 days to make sure ammonia does not come back from dead coral I cant see in tank?