Saving a Duncan

Hey Everyone,

One of my roommates friend's just gave me his 30g reef tank because he is moving to Canada and doesn't have the ability to take it with him.

He has a bunch of soft corals, but he also had a torch and a duncan. Unfortunately, a couple weeks before he gave it to me, they both started going downhill. By the time I was able to pick it up, the torch was "gone", but the Duncan was still alive, though in bad shape.

Water parameters are as follows:

Temp-78
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Phosphate-0
Magnesium-1100
Calcium-390
Alkalinity-9.0

I believe the mag and cal are a little low, but could that cause a huge downward spiral? Lighting is a dual t5 (10,000K and actinic) on for 10 hours per day. Bulbs are 3 months old.

Right now, I have them situated near the bottom of the tank and I have started target feeding them and they seem to be doing better, but would love to get them to thrive again. Any suggestions?

 

A touch, I'd bring them both up, Mg first. Don't go more than 100ppm per day. Target 1300-1400, then bring the Ca up to 425-450 (don't go more than 50ppm per day).

Doubtful.

What's the condition of the tank like? Algae everywhere or spotless?

Assuming you bring up those parameters, keep up the target feedings, the only other thing you can do is give them time.

 

Bump the Mg to 1280 or so and the Ca to 420. Otherwise you are on the right path. It will take several weeks for them to recover. Keep the water quality high and the feeding going.

 

Well, the good news is that the duncan is starting to make a recovery! I think the bumping up the params and target feeding really helped.

The only problem is that my fire shrimp is a crafty little so and so and as soon as I target feed the duncan he comes out and starts digging around in them to get the food

 

give the shrimp a large piece of something right before you target feed your corals.