Corals dying - any ideas?

DC_40gallon · 08/26/2010, 10:16 AM

I have had an Acropora die and a healthy birdsnest that was erupting in growth suddenly go south and slowly dying. I do a WC weekly at 5 gallons for a 40 breeder tank, 0 nitrates, 1400 magnesium, 480 calcium, 9-10 dkh alkalinity.

I'm running T5's with 4 month old bulbs now, K2 and a K3 each on opposite ends for flow, and a Octopus LX 1000s skimmer.

Oh and occupants are: 1 urchin, 1 peppermint shrimp, handful of snails and blue and red leg crabs, 2 mated clowns, 2 firefish. I feed the fish daily with a quarter cube of mysis shrimp and the corals get feed weekly with target feeding of Coral Frenzy.

I've had the lights on a timer from 10:30 am until 7:30pm for 6 months.

I haven't figured it out, but afraid for the other corals, any ideas folks?

Mavrk · 08/26/2010, 10:40 AM

I would post this in the reef section, you might get more answers. How old is the tank? What is the salinity and temperature?

stevek480 · 08/26/2010, 11:32 AM

Have you ever seen your urchin eating them? I had a monti cap that an urchin killed by eating a line or tissue right across it.

DC_40gallon · 08/26/2010, 01:10 PM

Nope, never seen the urchin eating any corals, just occasionally getting too close and attaching to it with this prickly needles.

Salinity is 1.026-27 and Temp is solid at 72-74 in the dark and 76-78 during the day with the lights on.

thegrun · 08/26/2010, 01:29 PM

Your water temperature is getting too low. 76 should be the lowest your tank gets for most tropical corals.

DC_40gallon · 08/26/2010, 01:34 PM

The Acro just shed all of it's deep blue skin to where it is all white now and no polyp extension. My birdsnest started on the inside and the polyps started disappearing and it's slowing growing to the outer tips which is where I suspect it will be completely absent of polyps.

Wasn't sure if that helped any knowing that info.

ritter6788 · 08/26/2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

your water temperature is getting too low. 76 should be the lowest your tank gets for most tropical corals.

+1

DC_40gallon · 08/26/2010, 03:19 PM

just bumped up the heaters. Thanks! Hopefully it's a freak thing and I lost two coincidentally...

I'm afraid to replace them or add anything now.

Jstdv8 · 08/26/2010, 03:44 PM

check salinity too. maybe your top off got out of wack somewhere.

DC_40gallon · 08/26/2010, 03:50 PM

Salinity was 1.026 yesterday and stable.

Toddrtrex · 08/26/2010, 04:40 PM

IMO, it wasn't the temps. While I don't keep mine that cool -- can't afford too -- that isn't too cool. Take a look at "copps" tank in the reef fishes section.

How long have you had these corals?

Any stray voltage?

DC_40gallon · 08/26/2010, 05:07 PM

I've had this two corals since this spring and all the others seem to be fine.

08/26/2010, 10:16 AM	#1
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	Corals dying - any ideas? I have had an Acropora die and a healthy birdsnest that was erupting in growth suddenly go south and slowly dying. I do a WC weekly at 5 gallons for a 40 breeder tank, 0 nitrates, 1400 magnesium, 480 calcium, 9-10 dkh alkalinity. I'm running T5's with 4 month old bulbs now, K2 and a K3 each on opposite ends for flow, and a Octopus LX 1000s skimmer. Oh and occupants are: 1 urchin, 1 peppermint shrimp, handful of snails and blue and red leg crabs, 2 mated clowns, 2 firefish. I feed the fish daily with a quarter cube of mysis shrimp and the corals get feed weekly with target feeding of Coral Frenzy. I've had the lights on a timer from 10:30 am until 7:30pm for 6 months. I haven't figured it out, but afraid for the other corals, any ideas folks?

08/26/2010, 11:32 AM	#3
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	Have you ever seen your urchin eating them? I had a monti cap that an urchin killed by eating a line or tissue right across it. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef w/ 40g Sump. 2x Reef Breeders Photon 32. MSX200 skimmer.

08/26/2010, 04:40 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	IMO, it wasn't the temps. While I don't keep mine that cool -- can't afford too -- that isn't too cool. Take a look at "copps" tank in the reef fishes section. How long have you had these corals? Any stray voltage? __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

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08/26/2010, 10:40 AM	#2
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	I would post this in the reef section, you might get more answers. How old is the tank? What is the salinity and temperature?

08/26/2010, 01:10 PM	#4
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	Nope, never seen the urchin eating any corals, just occasionally getting too close and attaching to it with this prickly needles. Salinity is 1.026-27 and Temp is solid at 72-74 in the dark and 76-78 during the day with the lights on.

08/26/2010, 01:29 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Your water temperature is getting too low. 76 should be the lowest your tank gets for most tropical corals.

08/26/2010, 01:34 PM	#6
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	The Acro just shed all of it's deep blue skin to where it is all white now and no polyp extension. My birdsnest started on the inside and the polyps started disappearing and it's slowing growing to the outer tips which is where I suspect it will be completely absent of polyps. Wasn't sure if that helped any knowing that info.

08/26/2010, 03:19 PM	#8
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	just bumped up the heaters. Thanks! Hopefully it's a freak thing and I lost two coincidentally... I'm afraid to replace them or add anything now.

08/26/2010, 03:44 PM	#9
Jstdv8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 1,420	check salinity too. maybe your top off got out of wack somewhere.

08/26/2010, 03:50 PM	#10
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	Salinity was 1.026 yesterday and stable.

08/26/2010, 05:07 PM	#12
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	I've had this two corals since this spring and all the others seem to be fine.