labnjab
05-06-2009, 11:30 AM
As some of you know, we've been having problems with 2 of our sps, a purple birdsnest that we've had since January and it has been growing great till a few weeks ago. Now its almost all white and doesn't extended polyps. Our purple cap has also turned completely white with no polyp extension. We've only had this one for a month. We have 2 other sps and they are doing great and all other coral and the BTA are doing great
I've been trying to rule things out and haven't had much success. I know our lighting is good (4x39 HO t5) and their both high up in the tank. ammonia, nitrate and phosphate are all 0. Tank is pretty much nuisance algae free and has been for over a month so that backs up the phosphate being 0.
Calcium is 440, just started test magnesium last week and have brought it up to 1250, and alk is 9. We have a slightly more then normal night/day ph swing, from 7.8-8.2, but I thinks its always been that way so I'm not ready to change that yet (I do have a refugium with chaeto that runs on a reverse schedule) If it were more then these 2 coral with problems then I would try and reduce the swing, but at this point its not worth the added risk
I've been running out of ideas but then it hit me. Our toadstool leather is very near the affected coral. Could it be possible that its haveing a chemical war with these 2 sps, but its not affecting the softies or anything else? The guy we bought it from said after he fragged it, a nearby chalice went south quickly, but that was after it was cut. Last night I moved the leather to the opposite end of the tank just to rule it out. I've had it since February 18 and didn't start having problems till a few weeks ago
Can they emit chemicals even when their not injured? If not what else could be affecting just these 2 coral and nothing else
I've been trying to rule things out and haven't had much success. I know our lighting is good (4x39 HO t5) and their both high up in the tank. ammonia, nitrate and phosphate are all 0. Tank is pretty much nuisance algae free and has been for over a month so that backs up the phosphate being 0.
Calcium is 440, just started test magnesium last week and have brought it up to 1250, and alk is 9. We have a slightly more then normal night/day ph swing, from 7.8-8.2, but I thinks its always been that way so I'm not ready to change that yet (I do have a refugium with chaeto that runs on a reverse schedule) If it were more then these 2 coral with problems then I would try and reduce the swing, but at this point its not worth the added risk
I've been running out of ideas but then it hit me. Our toadstool leather is very near the affected coral. Could it be possible that its haveing a chemical war with these 2 sps, but its not affecting the softies or anything else? The guy we bought it from said after he fragged it, a nearby chalice went south quickly, but that was after it was cut. Last night I moved the leather to the opposite end of the tank just to rule it out. I've had it since February 18 and didn't start having problems till a few weeks ago
Can they emit chemicals even when their not injured? If not what else could be affecting just these 2 coral and nothing else