Sapphire

Good point Fmxmatt - maybe I'll get the other salt this time - I need some more soon anyway. Have got a hacksaw - i think I'll be following Reefs instructions tonight and seeing if I can frag this coral. I'll try and remember to get some photos. I think probably it's the last chance it's got....

Thanks for such a thorough reply Wasp! I am going to get John to test my water with a refractometer to see what he gets, as I know my hydrometer is not the most reliable way to measure sg. All i can say is that the readings I get are consistent - and that could be consistently wrong! The red sea salt has 450ppm Ca, so if theres further Ca in the tap water I guess that could make it high? I'm thinking that the problem may have stemmed from the alkalinity being far too low for a while - even though I'm correcting it now (in the middle of the 2.9 to 3.6 meq/L range on my test ) it may have low enough long enough to cause damage. Maybe the brown jelly has just come after the damage was already done? Anyway as of this morning there is very little (if any) brown anywhere - I've been bathing in iodine solution - but the coral has receded alarmingly. There really isn't much healthy tissue on the outside of the skeleton. I'd be very keen to try and frag it but it is a ridge coral so doesn't have heads as such - can I still do it? Thanks again

Welcome! :bounce:

Thanks Wilson - but there's clearly a LONG way to go yet... I was hoping to have it looking more 'finished' (if there is such a thing - maybe I mean less bare) before posting pics but am grateful for all the help from everyone Update anyway: Certainly seems as though Reef was right re brown jelly disease as this morning there was yucky brown jelly like stuff on the exposed skeleton of the hammer. Have bathed in iodine solution (thank you John!) and fingers crossed....

Beautiful - is that ricordia another coral that is no longer on 'the list'??

ewe

Wasp do you mean the coral under the clams? I actually don't know it's correct name :oops: . I bought it as a modern coral. If that's the one even with maximum extension at night it can't reach the hammer. At the moment I'm just trying to make water quality as good as possible. I've removed some of the algae on that rock around the hammer and will continue to work to eliminate it. Although you can't see it in the photos there is now some coralline algae starting in various spots which I'm hoping will help. Thank everyone for your help! Much appreciated

What is it with onion??!! :lol: :lol: anyway: onlooker

Welcome to the forum

Thanks for such objective feedback! .....and yes now the wedding can go ahead....!!! :lol:

Stunning is all I can say

Thanks! To be honest I'm feeling a bit disheartened with the whole thing a the moment Not all of it is secured but the parts that were at risk of moving were secured with aqua knead it - not my favourite job!! I had a trial run with the rock at Johns in his rsm when it was empty and added a couple of extra bits after. It was put together piece by piece once the water was in - took a while and a bit of swearing!! It is brighter in real life but no am not dosing either of those - I will certainly look into it though as I'd like to have it as bright as possible - thanks for the suggestion! Is there anything specific you'd recommend?

Here's a link to the full tank. Sorry about the glare etc on the photos - there're lots of windows and only vertical blinds. I might be able to get a better shot at night (no promises I'm still learning how to use the camera!). As you can see still very much a work in progress... http://picasaweb.google.com/EmmaVHamilt ... 1930056178 http://picasaweb.google.com/EmmaVHamilt ... 0519990786

Yes my tank is a RSM - it's just the one that comes with the set up.

I am just using tap water a the moment - I am aware I really would be much better using RO water (on my list) I am still measuring SG with a hydrometer, but will be taking some water to John to get it checked using a refractometer (also another thing on my list to buy!). Consistently measures 1.025. The fish are fed the red sea food that came with the tank and also get some brine shrimp when I feed the sun corals. I am defrosting the shrimp and discarding the liquid before feeding polyp by polyp with a syringe. I am as accurate as I can be with feeding and certainly try to avoid waste but I know having the sun corals isn't helping at the moment The filtration is pretty much what came with the tank, but I have removed the mechanical filtration and added small pieces of cured rock to the ceramic media. I also have charcoal/phosguard and purigen. We have drilled small holes as per other recommendations into the skimmer collection cup lid and clean the collection cup daily. I have also started adding Biodigest - have added two ampules so far. Also the test results are always taken just before I do my water change so should be worst case scenario. I don't have a current tank shot but will try and get one today.... In the meantime I think I's be best move the hammer off that area as it is the worst for algae. Thank you!

Ok thanks everyone for your advice... Wasp - how do I get the calcium to fall - I've been doing weekly water changes of just over 10% and the only calcium that's added is in the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt that I use. I am still working on the alk - I'm adding Sea Chem Reef Builder - the 2.78 meq/ Lreading is worst case as the test just has a shaded graduation with the strip divided into three bands - one is low - 0-1.76, medium 1.77 to 2.8 and high 2.8 -3.6meq/L . I'm aiming to up to well into the high range and will invest in a better test. Thanks again!

Well I've been doing some reading on brown jelly disease - I really hope it isn't that. However I haven't seen the brown substances that have been described - the tissue does look like it's been scraped off. I'll see if I can take some better photos tomorrow.

Readings at last test (Sunday) Ca 500ppm (I'm not adding any other than what's in the coral salt) Ph 8.2 Alk around 2.8 meq/L (using Red Sea test kit for this which isn't that accurate) I've also been adding SeaChem Reef Builder to increase alkalinity as it was low. PO4 measured 0.03 on Salifert test Nitrate 5-10 ppm (in between colours on test) I wouldn't have thought the the brittle star would do this, it's just that I did see it take out a small xenia soon after I got it and I haven't seen this damage seems to have suddenly appeared So if it is a disease what is my best course of action? In terms of the algae I have been reducing feeding and added phosphate removers (purigen) to help. I did have cyano which is now gone but it seems on the rock that hammer is on there was algae underneath....

Hopefully that works..... have added link in above post :oops: I think it's the brittle star again but I have been feeding it so I wouldn't have thought it would be that hungry!! I do also have a flame angel but I've never seen it go for any coral and wouldn't have thought it could inflict that much damage...

Today I saw half of the coral was shrunk up (as I thought) however on closer inspection it has been significantly damaged. The tissue has just been ripped off...... See here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/EmmaVHami ... phireSTank What kind of recovery can I expect? Is there anything I can do to help it along?? PS Yes I know about the algae - working on it (it's about the last rock with any now).

what a beautiful tank

Have you checked out http://www.nano-reef.com They have some great coral ideas and their tank of the month at the moment is an 80L I believe. Although we can't get all the coral here still worth a look!

Welcome!

That's cool - I'm wanting to get black and white clowns.... I do have an anemone but it's not that big (at the moment!) and isn't on of the species generally noted in the wild as one they usually host so it'll be interesting to see what they host when (if) I do get them.... I'm wondering if they'll host my hammer instead.....

Nice! is that mandarin still there??