having problems keeping Corals

i am getting really frustrated. i have been in this for about almost a year now and im having a problem keeping some corals. brains open or closed seem to be the hardest to keep. they do great for a while and then start fading away. same with my gynopohria( i dont know how to spell it). my params are pretty good but are always up and down. ph is 8.4 cal is 360 mg 1400 kh 8.0 sal .026 two weeks later ph is 8.1 cal is 420 mg is 1100 kh is 7.o and sal is .026. im setting up my 350gal reef now and dont want to go through this again. maybe you can help me through this and figure it out. thanks

 

i would drop the salinity to .023

my colt coral wouldn't open up at .025 but looks absolutely gorgeous .023

could be the same.

 

ok anythings worth a try and that was my LFS telling me corals are better kept in .026

 

1.026 is ideal.
You should fill out the asap form so everyone can get a better idea what is going on in your tank.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/asap/asap-please-start-here-54456.html

 

Hi Ranger

You list your fish on the sig, but not all your corals
do you run carbon? its possible the species of corals you are having problems with are being treated to a degree of chemical warfare by other corals in your system

some corals like leathers release toxins - designed to ensure nothing encroaches on their territory - other corals have alternative defense mechanisms like sweeper tentacles or even releasing stinging cells - again in an effort to prevent other corals encroaching on it

some corals release growth inhibitors to stop surrounding corals growing over them

carbon can remove many of these problems - so in a tank of mostly softies I run it 24/7 for this reason

Steve

 

thats really good to know i didnt know that so i will start

 

Temperature: goes from 79-82
PH:8.0-8.3
Ammonia
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0-20
Salinity:.026
dKH/KH/Alkalinity:7-10
Magnesium:1100-1300
Calcium:300-450
Phosphate:0
Test kits you own:
Liquid or Strips:liquid
Brand Name:api and salif.
Are they Expired?:maybe


Tank size?75
Estimated total system?85gal

Reef,

Current inhabitants? What and how many? 3 damsils, scopas tang, snowflake eel, lion fish, rabbit fish, one clown
Clean up crew?tons hermits and snail

How long has your tank been set-up? almost a year

Substrate. sand

Depth? 1-2 in

Live rock?
How much?150lbs
Did you recently add some?no

Filtration.
Type? fluval fx5 and sump
Protein skimmer? berlin turbo x2
Do you wet or dry skim? semi wet
Maintenance schedule for filtration? every week or two
Drilled tank/hang on back overflow? back over flow
Sump/refugium. What's in it and how much? no


Lighting.2 175w MH and 4 48" t-5 3 actintic and one t-5 aqua sun
Lighting type?
Age of bulbs?4 months

Feeding
What?reef flakes every other day and silver sides every other day for lion and eel
How much? a pinch 4 1in minnows
How often?

Water change schedule.
How much?10gal
How often?weekly
What salt brand?reef salt
Water source?rodi

Additives/supplements used? iodine, stronium, kalk

Do you have a ground probe?no
What kind of flow does your tank have? eco tech MP40

 

Do you dose Ca, Alk or mg? If not, you may want to start or at least look into that. It will help keep your parameters at correct levels.

 

well i add epsom salt when the mg is low and a alk buffer when thats low too

 

Yeah, that's weird about the brains they're super hardy. Mine has survived 91 degree temps.. (wellso brain).
Is it a goniopora that is dying? The green ones I hear are very hard to keep alive.
They really need to be fed. Iron manganese supplements, I feed mine cyclops and coral food mix. Oyster eggs are a favorite for them.
http://archiv.korallenriff.de/Sindelfingen2006/Germany-neu2.pdf