Coral Health

[Vinny Tang]

Hey this is my first thread, but have been reading through RC for at least a year. I'm running a 90 gallon mixed reef tank, with a 30 gallon custom sump/fuge, and a Vertex IN-180 Skimmer. I upgraded to the 90 from a 55g about 10 months ago and have been reefing pretty hard ever since.

I purchased a large showpiece leather coral (not sure of the name) in October. It took a few days for the polyps to open, but they eventually did. Everything was fine for a few months, and then I started noticing the polyps retracting around the top edges of the coral. I am running a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower, and my first thought was that I was giving it too much light. I started using 4 bulbs for a while, but it starting "balding" around the lower edges as well, and at this point I knew it wasn't the lighting. I was running 5 powerheads and reduced to 3, thinking that there was too much current, this also didn't solve the problem. I tried the above methods for 1-2 months.

90% of the other corals have been doing well and surviving, but only a few are flourishing and growing at a decent pace (xenia, GSP, zoo colony). I probably have 50 pieces of coral all together, but I'm not seeing the growth rate I'd like.

I'm using Seachem's supplements Reef Complete, and Reef Plus regularly. I was feeding the tank with DT's phytoplankton and Reef Roids, but only about once or twice a week. I have since upped the feedings.

I am picking up a Tunze wavebox, hopefully this week.



My tank parameter are as follows

Temp 79-81
salinity 1.024
pH 8.2
Nitrates <5
Phosphates 0
Nitrites 0
Calcium 450
KH was 7 when I tested a week ago, and have since started using Seachem's "Reef Builder"

Mag 5 Return pump
Vertex IN-180
Chaeto and Mangroves



Here are some photos of the setup





Any feedback is welcome

Thanks!!