Favia dying from the mouth out, huge coral problems with good parameters

[KurtL]

alk 8
cal 400
po4 0
ph8.1
sg 1.023

Also, most of my zoa colonies are closed. The red hornets and blue hornets were the last to close. Sunny D's seem to strain for light, yet stay partialy closed, no tentacle extension, even up near the top of the tank. After doing that for a while they close up completely and hug the plug. Duncan never opened since I bought it 2 weeks ago. Clam is fine, toadstool is fine, colt coral is fine, frogspawn is fine.One zoa colony open fully but also receeding from the middle out.

Recent changes:GFO removed yesterday chemi pure added. This has been going on for weeks. One year old damsel never fed (eats algae) started feeding him yesterday. Possible lack of nutrients?

Ever since i finally beat dynoflaggellates my corals have never been the same. Parasites not the problem.
Please help

 

[KathyC]

Mag? Nitrates? Temp?
Can you post any pics of the corals?

 

[1329eheim]

alk 8
cal 400
po4 0
ph8.1
sg 1.023

Also, most of my zoa colonies are closed. The red hornets and blue hornets were the last to close. Sunny D's seem to strain for light, yet stay partialy closed, no tentacle extension, even up near the top of the tank. After doing that for a while they close up completely and hug the plug. Duncan never opened since I bought it 2 weeks ago. Clam is fine, toadstool is fine, colt coral is fine, frogspawn is fine.One zoa colony open fully but also receeding from the middle out.

Recent changes:GFO removed yesterday chemi pure added. This has been going on for weeks. One year old damsel never fed (eats algae) started feeding him yesterday. Possible lack of nutrients?

Ever since i finally beat dynoflaggellates my corals have never been the same. Parasites not the problem.
Please help

Have you made any changes to your lighting recently? What did you use to beat the dinoflagellates? Is it possible this is having a residual effect on your coral? Also, how old is the tank? Are you sure it has fully cycled?

Good luck.

Mike

 

[KurtL]

mag 1100
nitrates 0
temp 80
Well i made the tank brighter a few days ago but no serious change. I used hydrogen peroxide for the dinos. No, i dont think theres a residual effect. The tank has been up for years and it has pretty extensive coraline growth.

 

[petraio]

hydrogen peroxide cause for oxygen to diminish and some corals can suffer from it while some won't be affected !!! water change !!! twice a week ! with good ro water and salt !

 

[KurtL]

The peroxide treatment was months ago

 

[KurtL]

anyone im at a loss

 

[Tonyscoots84]

As already asked by kathy please post a pic so we can identify...

 

[KurtL]

im having my wife take some pix ill post them tonight thank u

 

[KurtL]

In the last pic the polyp on the left is about as much as those open then its like they give up and close again.

 

[KurtL]

look at the favias mouths some on the top right quadrant are turning white

 

[basiab]

1. Damsels are carnivors. Not likely to live for a year on algae. Must be getting food somewhere.
2. How big is the tank. That mix of corals will not work well in a small tank.
3. Why keep adding corals if you have not resolved old problems. You are just adding to the problem.

 

[Jan]

Stoney corals like higher calcium(480-500), mag (1350) and SG (1.026).

Do you think you've done 100% water change after dosing peroxide? Have you looked at the zoanthinds closely to make sure they don't have nudibranch or zoas spiders? You should feed your damsel some meaty food. Did you have all of these corals before the dino outbreak? Have you dipped or Qt'd them all? Could be a couple of things going on.

 

[KurtL]

1. Damsels are carnivors. Not likely to live for a year on algae. Must be getting food somewhere.
2. How big is the tank. That mix of corals will not work well in a small tank.
3. Why keep adding corals if you have not resolved old problems. You are just adding to the problem.

1.Damsels are omnivores many species "tending" theyre own algae gardens
2.25 gallons
3.I added stuff before this happened I dont understand how you get "you keep buying stuff when theres a problem"please read more carefully

 

[KurtL]

Stoney corals like higher calcium(480-500), mag (1350) and SG (1.026).

Do you think you've done 100% water change after dosing peroxide? Have you looked at the zoanthinds closely to make sure they don't have nudibranch or zoas spiders? You should feed your damsel some meaty food. Did you have all of these corals before the dino outbreak? Have you dipped or Qt'd them all? Could be a couple of things going on.

Yes ive done at least a 100% water change.
No theyre arent any parasites please read the first post.
As far as feeding the damsel now I am.
I dipped everything during the outbreak.
There is a change in one colony. Its opened up quite a bit more than yesterday. Maybe adding food to tank is already making a difference as far as nutrients go *duh* I know its not the damsel picking at them I stare at the tank all the time.

 

[fishman1069]

You need to add some nutrients to the tank, as you just figured out judging from your last post. A mixed reef will actually thrive of of small feedings. Lps and zoas love dirtier water. Thus is the main reason people have problem when they start adding higher end Sps. Either the tank is too clean for the zoas and lps or to dirty for the Sps. You have to try and find that perfect medium. Good luck man

 

[Jan]

Dipping everything after it's already been in your pico doesn't help. You have a very small system. It's easy for pests to take over. I'd look at night with a flashlight to make sure you haven't introduced anything.

Yea, I read. Read more about picos, pests and Qt. Picos are known for being unstable. A pico is too small for a damsel. Consider stocking nano fish that don't grow more than 1/2"-1"

Adding a lot of corals in such a small space with little water volume does not allow for chemicals from chemical warfare to be flushed out.

I did not see where you mentioned water flow? What are you using for flow? Also very important especially in a pico.

How much water do you change and how often? How many years has this tank been set up?

A full tank shot to see where everything is in proximity would help greatly.

Yes ive done at least a 100% water change.
No theyre arent any parasites please read the first post.
As far as feeding the damsel now I am.
I dipped everything during the outbreak.
There is a change in one colony. Its opened up quite a bit more than yesterday. Maybe adding food to tank is already making a difference as far as nutrients go *duh* I know its not the damsel picking at them I stare at the tank all the time.

 

[Jan]

Omnivores eat and need both meat and veggies. I suggest you use vitamins at this point as well. dip/soak foods in a marine vitamin.

1.Damsels are omnivores many species "tending" theyre own algae gardens
2.25 gallons
3.I added stuff before this happened I dont understand how you get "you keep buying stuff when theres a problem"please read more carefully

 

[KurtL]

Dipping everything after it's already been in your pico doesn't help. You have a very small system. It's easy for pests to take over. I'd look at night with a flashlight to make sure you haven't introduced anything.

Yea, I read. Read more about picos, pests and Qt. Picos are known for being unstable. A pico is too small for a damsel. Consider stocking nano fish that don't grow more than 1/2"-1"

Adding a lot of corals in such a small space with little water volume does not allow for chemicals from chemical warfare to be flushed out.

I did not see where you mentioned water flow? What are you using for flow? Also very important especially in a pico.

How much water do you change and how often? How many years has this tank been set up?

A full tank shot to see where everything is in proximity would help greatly.

No theres no pests I checked last night as well. I did consider the chemical warfare part but before the dyno incident, I had the same type of corals PLUS sps and didnt have this problem. Perhaps the chemipure is making a difference as well. As far as water flow I have an MP10, and a Tunze plus the return. Water changes are 3 gallons once a month. The salt is Seachem Salinity. Tank is ~3 years old.

 

[jcdeng]

Do you have anything that can rust in your tank?