Is my coral dead?

Discussion in 'Coral' started by Regf, Jan 27, 2011.

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  1. Regf

    Regf Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Location:
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    Hey so my torch and frog spawn have been acting weird for the last week, completely retracted, to the point where I could see the frog spawns skeleton I think its called? But the thing is my bubble coral, kenya tree and green star are all completely open and look very healthy, I moved my torch and Frog spawn to the bottom with the tank where there is moderate flow, ive kept up with water changes every week, and im using Reef Complete to try and boost calcium (just started), My parameteres are/were

    Ph- 7.8,
    Am-0
    Nitrite -0
    nitrate 10ppm
    Cal - 360 ppm
    kh - 179 ppm
     

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  3. TheSaltwaterGuy

    TheSaltwaterGuy Banned

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    ph should be 8.1-8.4 and calcium is VERY low. the reason your other corals are fine is because they don't require calcium as much as LPS do. Example: torch and frogspawn
     
  4. Kevin3884

    Kevin3884 Tassled File Fish

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    IME sometimes these corals just seem to die for no real apparent reason...u could have the most flawless water and parameters in the world, and a coral could still die...just make sure nothing is picking on them and hope for the best
     
  5. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

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    +1 above.

    Raise your PH and your calcium..Try a water change and test the PH in the new water before doing the water change. if its at like 7.9 or below then add some buffer to it and let that dissolve and do the water change once the PH is at 8.1-8.2 or soo..

    But besides that, the torch looks like it may be expelling waist(pooping). But how long have you had these corals?
     
  6. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    a pH of 7.9 while not ideal, is OK as long as its a constant pH. could possibly be calc, but like above post said, sometimes they just wither away for no reason
     
  7. Kevin3884

    Kevin3884 Tassled File Fish

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    to raise ur PH u can use plain baking soda....thats all the buffer u buy in stores basically is...just with a much cheaper price tag!
     
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  9. TheSaltwaterGuy

    TheSaltwaterGuy Banned

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    well yes its not completely bad but 8.1-8.4 is to be on the safe side IMO
     
  10. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

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    Yeah, you definitely can use it. Just be sure that is unscented!!! use the regular baking soda.
     
  11. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Some basics seemed to have been missed here, clearly something is wrong in the system.

    Please help us help you (I realize you covered a few):
    Salinity
    Temp
    pH
    Nitrates
    Phosphates
    Calcium
    Alkalinity
    Magnesium
     
  12. grinder37

    grinder37 Whip-Lash Squid

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    could also be caused by a lack of o2,do you have good surface agitation?

    Edit-pertaining to the low ph