skippy Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Hi there Have attached a couple of photos (before and after) of one of my corals that is receding badly. I have another one doing something similar. Both of the corals were next to a rock absolutely smothered in frilly mushrooms and it may be that that mushrooms were resting on the coral and shading them out. Then again it could be something I'm not doing right with the water. Can supplements help? Would appreciate any thoughts anyone out there may have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I suggest you post this in saltwater too skippy as many of the marine keepers only look there and nowhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 shading looks looks like a possible culprit so could be chemical warfare form leathers or mushrooms as the remaining bit looks healthy and expanded. move it away from competition would be my first suggestion. do you experience any other problems with different colonies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Thanks for the tip Caryl - will remember that one. I'm falling into that trap already! Have already moved it, together with the other one that was on the other side of the mushrooms, about a month ago. Still seems to be receding a bit though. Have just turned it around a bit to give it a bit more light. Yes I have had a few other soft corals recede to nothingness. Weird though, my leathers go absolutely mad. Maybe it is a water issue. Bit of a dangerous game sticking my hands in the tank at the mo - mum clown has gone postal - bit me 4 times today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 :lol: :lol: :lol: :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 My guess would be the mushrooms. They are probably one of the most lethal corals, they'll maim almost any coral they touch. LPS are also prone to bacterial infections / BJ disease if the water quality is poor. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Yes I have had a few other soft corals recede to nothingness what kind? Weird though, my leathers go absolutely mad. if your leathers (soft corals) go mad what kind of other soft corals died? bit me 4 times today! if she gets big enough she'll draw blood. i know from well yeah. :-? if you have some sort of soft coral meltdown then you could have lots of toxin in the water too, are you running carbon and a skimmer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Hi Cookie I've had quite a few corals depart the scene over the years as well as anenomes. Must admit I am not real clued up on coral species so can't really tell you which ones. I've lost a flowerpot (as a rank reef novice! so no real surprise there), hammers, feather dusters, a couple of sand anenomes and LTA's plus a few others that I have no idea what they were! I seem to have most success with the leathers and mushrooms Yes I do run a skimmer but not carbon I am a bit short on space as all my gear (except the chiller) is under the tank in the cabinet. I ran a carbon filter in my old tank which just had a canister filter but still lost corals. This type of discussion is a bit scary - you start to list the things that have died and suddenly realise how much this "hobby" has cost me over the years!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I seem to have most success with the leathers and mushrooms leathers and mushrooms are probably among the most hardy species. do you have a refractometer and do you check salinity often? im taking a stab in the dark but picking your problems are most likely related to this. people do freshwater top ups but keep replacing water with 'higher salinity than usual' ASW or NSW. overtime salinity keeps creeping up until it hits a point where the corals cant handle the content. anyways, im speculating here based on it being perhaps the most common cause of coral death from what i've seen (this assumes you do regular water changes which should replace enough of the basics such as ca, mg etc required by most soft and lps corals) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Hi Chimera No I don't have a fancy refractometer, but use one of the floating glass bulb thingies with a thermometer in it to measure salinity reasonably often (maybe not as often as I should). Maybe I should get higher tech. Generally when doing water changes i put in some with less salt than required to compensate for the salinity build up. I use Red Sea Salt mix for my make up water - I'm assuming that it delivers the correct goodies. I also supplement with Coral Ca (amongst others), but have never supplemented Mg. Should I? If so any recommendation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 throw your hydrometer away, especially if its a cheap and nasty lfs one. they are usually inaccurate so wont tell you alot. see if your lfs can test with their refractometer. for the corals you have, assuming you do regular water changes i'd say that would be sufficient for keeping up with Mg (but then again, who knows) get yourself some quality test kits (eg: salifert) specifically, Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity (kH) If you have reasonable amount of live rock and keep up with regular water changes, you shouldnt need to test for ammonia and nitrate (and considering your tanks over a year old it should have fully cycled :lol: ) What fish do you have and how big is the tank? Supplementing with kalkwasser is probably the most effective additive (in terms of both cost and its use in the tank) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Its not a cheap and nasty one (actually it was free - Richard at Northland Aq and Pets gave it to me :lol: ) but it is pretty rudimentary. Got the test kits (Salifert Ca, Alk/carbonate Hardness and the other ususal suspects.) Tank is about 360 litres (bow front so bit hard to measure), about 35-40 kg of live rock. Fishies include pair of fire clowns, yellow tank, 6 line wrasse, brown bar (chimaera) goby, blue green chromis, Potters Angel, Blue damsel. yellow clown goby, fire shrimp, and cleaner shrimp. i've got some kalkwasser (came with the tank secondhand) but to be honest I have no idea how or how much I'm supposed to put in. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Cool, you're onto it with the test kits Sounds like a max for your bioload, especially without a skimmer. Kalkwasser around about 1 tablespoon per gallon in your topup water. Get (beg, steal, borrow) a refractometer for peace of mind http://www.simplifiedreefkeeping.com/faq/17.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 especially without a skimmer I do run a skimmer - but not carbon Point taken on the refractometer. Any suggestions on make/model. Figure it is probably money well spent if it stops my corals dying. Wil also look into the mg test kit thanks for the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Oooooh first time trying the quote box and I stuffed it up. Do you need a "quote" both sides? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 yeah, easiest way is once you've copied/pasted the text, highlight it first, then click the 'quote' button I do run a skimmer - but not carbon oops, my bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Last edited by chimera on Mon May 29, 2006 7:34 pm; edited 1 time in total are we allowed to edit again are we Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I think so but for a limited time??? 5 minutes maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 maybe not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 errr, just lucky i guess was given edit rights on the reference sites 'sticky' at the top, looks like it flowed down to all threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 indeed. i just tried a "slideshow" on your gallery link KP,... took me a few seconds to realise you only have 1 photo :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 errr, just lucky i guess was given edit rights on the reference sites 'sticky' at the top, looks like it flowed down to all threads. no one argue with chim, you will never win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 no one argue with chim, you will never win :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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